ABSTRACT
I. INTRODUCTION Eggplant or brinjal is thought to have originated in tropical India (1). It is a staple vegetable in many tropical countries. In the United States, the South Atlantic States, New Jersey, and California grow considerable quantities of eggplant for shipment, although the fruit is of minor importance in the United States. It is of great importance in the warm areas of the Far East and is grown more extensively in India, China, and the Philippines (2). The world production of eggplant increased from 3.48 MT in 1969-71 to 8.68 MT in 1992 (Table 1). The major producers of eggplant are China, India, Japan, and Turkey. Eggplant is known to have some ayurvedic medicinal properties and is said to be good for diabetic patients. It has also been recommended as an excellent remedy for those suffering from liver complaints (1).
