Eggplant Extract Benefits

The eggplant plant grows up to 1.5 meters. It has oblong, lobed green leaves that are somewhat darker on top than the underside. It produces light purple flowers, and the stems can sometimes be prickly. The eggplant fruit is either round or oblong and can be either white, purple, or green, depending upon the variety. It is a widely eaten fruit all over the world, from America to Africa to everywhere in Asia. Interesting eggplant recipes can be prepared using stuffed, fried, baked, roasted, or pureed eggplants. It is even used in the preparation of chutneys and dips. Eggplant extract has various health benefits when medically administered, as outlined in the paragraphs that follow.

Eggplant Extract

To obtain the extract, the eggplant is cooked (this could be with or without the skin) till it softens, pressed, and the juice that is obtained after the removal of any solid pulpy material, is combined with oxidants to prepare the extract. Ferrous and/or ferric salts are generally used as oxidants. Once the extract is prepared, it is treated with chemical stabilizers to prevent degradation and to keep it active over a long period of time. This extract is used to treat a variety of disorders such as inflammation, gastrointestinal problems, and a number of other medical conditions. Once it dries, it can be used for oral administration in the form of pills and capsules, or can also be used as suppositories, liquids or creams.

Oral Administration
The extract in its liquid form can be made suitable for drinking by adding sweeteners, flavors and/or carbonated drinks. Once the extract has dried, it can be combined with binders and rolled into pills and capsules, which are then specifically targeted to treat gastrointestinal inflammation disorders, like peptic ulcer disease, gastroenteritis, gastritis, etc.

Topical Administration
For topical administration, the eggplant extract is blended with fats and emulsifiers for the preparation of creams and lotions, which can be directly applied to the skin. This kind of administration is an effective way to counter skin inflammations, external hemorrhoids, psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema, and even sunburns and other types of burns.

Rectal Administration
The eggplant extract can also be used in the form of suppositories, if it is combined with fats, waxes and binders and used in the treatment of external hemorrhoids and other colon-related disorders. If the treatment of any ailment requires rectal administration, the eggplant extract is mixed with a foaming agent to prepare a rectal foam which is used in the treatment of rectal inflammation and hemorrhoids. The extract can be administered as an enema if it is combined and diluted with water. Ailments such as colitis, ulcerative colitis, proctitis, Crohn's disease, etc., can be treated using this method.

Eggplant Nutrition

The nutritional information for a raw, unpeeled eggplant is given in the table below:

Nutrient	Units
Water	506.41g
Energy	132KCal
Protein	5.53g
Total Fats	1.04g
Total Dietary Fiber	18.6g
Sugar	12.88g
Calcium	49mg
Iron	1.32mg
Magnesium	77mg
Phosphorus	137mg
Potassium	1260mg
Sodium	11mg
Zinc	0.88mg
Copper	0.449mg
Manganese	1.37mg
Selenium	1.6mcg
Vitamin C	12.1mg
Thiamin	0.214mg
Riboflavin	0.203mg
Vitamin B-6	0.460mg

Eggplant is highly nutritious and is considered to be rich in vitamin B (B1, B2, B3 and B6), copper, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, niacin and folic acid. Consuming eggplant is known to reduce the growth of cancerous cells in the body, which is also known as Angiogenesis. It contains a powerful antioxidant known as nasunin, commonly found in the peel, which helps limit the spread of such cells. It also contains chlorogenic acid, which not only has antiviral and anti-microbial properties, but is also a powerful agent in reducing bad cholesterol. Eggplant juice also possesses anti-inflammatory properties. People with diabetes should also include eggplant in their diet. Since eggplant is known to contain low-soluble carbohydrates, has a low glycemic index, and is also an excellent source of dietary fiber, it keeps blood sugar in check and also aids in weight management. Nowadays, eggplant extract supplements are available in the market in the form of topical ointments and pills, but these should be taken only after consulting with your health care professional.