[1] This poisonous plant bearing tomato-like fruit is native to many African countries Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa,[2] Zimbabwe and Mozambique,[3] and is considered to be an invasive species in Australia,[4] New Zealand,[5] Hawaii, Fiji, New Caledonia, other Pacific Islands, the Aseer region of Saudi Arabia, and northern areas of Pakistan.

In Ukambani eastern Kenya children in the villages in summer season use the poisonous yellow fruit as football, cautiously.

Solbec Pharmaceuticals attempted to develop Coramsine,[7] a 1:1 mixture of the alkaloids solamargine and solasonine extracted from Solanum linnaeanum, as a cancer drug.

A number of invalid taxa have thus become attached to the devil's apple:[9] It is not clear whether the plant described by Drège as Solanum sodomeum was of this species.

Solanum sodomeum by Russ based on Nees von Esenbeck is another nomen nudum.