Tarong/talong/eggplant

Talong is a coarse, usually branched, prickly or unarmed, erect, half-woody plant, growing to a height of 0.5 to 1 meter. Leaves are ovate to oblong-ovate, 10 to 25 centimeters long, stellate-hairy beneath, and irregularly or shallowly lobed at the margins. Flowers are axillary, purplish, about 2.5 centimeters long. Fruit is fleshy, smooth, purple, up to 25 centimeters long, extremely variable in shape, round, oblong, or cylindric-oblong. 

- A good source of powerful antioxidants, such as nasunin and chlorogenic acids, and phytonutrients.

- A good source of vitamins A, B, and C.

- A good source of calcium, phosphorus, and iron; carbohydrates and fiber

- for asthma and as a general stimulant

- for the treatment of syphilis

- suspected syphilitic eruptions of the hands

- for rheumatism, inflammation and foot pain

- for stomach troubles and sore throat
- used for various ailments: diabetes, otitis, toothaches, cholera, bronchitis, asthma, dysuria, among many others 

- Native to the Philippines.

- Cultivated throughout the Philippines for the edible fruit; the elongated variety, the most cultivated.

- Nowhere spontaneous.

- Also native to Assam, Bangladesh, Borneo, China South-Central, China Southeast, East Himalaya, Hainan, India, Jawa, Laos, Lesser Sunda Is., Madagascar, Malaya, Mauritius, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Réunion, South China Sea, Sri Lanka, Sulawesi, Thailand, Vietnam, West Himalaya.

- Cultivated in all warm countries. 

- decoction of roots taken internally: asthma

- boiled root of the wild plant, mixed with sour milk and grain porridge: syphilis

- Decoction of roots, dried stalk, and leaves: for washing sores, exudative surfaces and used as astringent for hemorrhage from the bladder and other hemorrhagic fluxes

- Juice of the fruit, sometimes with pounded leaves: rubbed on suspected syphilitic eruptions of the hands

- decoction or infusion of leaves: for stomach troubles and sore throat