Germinated potatoes are inedible, which can easily lead to food poisoning. The reason is that germinated potatoes contain a toxin called solanine, which is a neurotoxin. Excessive intake of solanine can cause vomiting, diarrhea and other symptoms, which can be life-threatening in severe cases.

Germinated potatoes are inedible, which can easily lead to food poisoning. Potato, commonly known as potato or potato, belongs to Solanaceae and contains Solanum nigrum. Germinated potatoes all contain solanine. Solanum nigrum is a toxic substance. When potatoes are intact, their content is very small. Once it germinates and turns green, the content of Solanum nigrum will increase sharply, especially in bud, eye, skin and rotten places. If you eat potatoes that sprout and turn green, it will cause poisoning. Solanum nigrum has strong stimulation on gastrointestinal mucosa, paralysis on respiratory center and motor center, and can cause brain edema and congestion.

The solanine content per 100 g fresh weight potato is as high as 500 mg in tender buds, 30-64 mg in outer skin and 7.5-10 mg in whole potato (after bud removal and peeling). After cooking, it can be detoxified and decomposed by adding acid. Seasoning with vinegar has detoxification effect. The content of solanine in mature potatoes is low, so it can be safely eaten. However, immature potatoes or potatoes whose skins turn green and germinate during storage contain a lot of solanine, which may cause acute poisoning after eating.

Solanum nigrum alkaloids are white needle-like crystals at room temperature, and taste bitter. Insoluble in pure water, easily soluble in a few organic solvents such as pyridine, acetonitrile, hot ethanol and methanol, but almost insoluble in most nonpolar organic solvents such as ether and benzene. Because Solanum nigrum is weakly alkaline, it can be dissolved in acidic solution and precipitated under alkaline conditions. Solanum nigrum is relatively stable to alkali, and acid can hydrolyze the glycosidic bond of Solanum nigrum under heating and decompose it into solanine and sugar, so the toxicity is reduced.