Tomatillo, also known as tomate, is a small spherical shaped berry in the tomato family of fruits. Tomate, chiefly employed as a vegetable, was originated in Mexico and was cultivated by the Aztecs centuries before the Spanish explorers introduced it elsewhere.

Unlike tomato, tomatillo does not carry lycopene. On the other hand, it is rich in different kinds of antioxidant phytochemicals known as withanolide. Ixocarpalactone-A is one such withanolide present in tomatillo which has been found to have antibacterial and anti-cancer properties.