- Botanical Name : Alstonia venenata
- English Name : Poison Devil Treaa
- Sanskrit Name : Vishagni
- Malayalam Name : Analivegam (അണലി വേഗം)
- Part Used : Leaves, Roots
Overview
- Alstonia venenata belongs to the Apocynaceae family and thrives as a shrub or small tree in low to mid-elevation deciduous forests of India. Its bark and occasionally the fruit are used for medicinal purposes.
- This large shrub or small tree reaches up to 6 m in height, featuring greyish-brown bark and vibrant yellow hard woody roots. The lance-shaped leaves are membranous, arranged in whorls of 3-6, with wavy margins. Clusters of white flowers appear at branch ends, and the fusiform fruits have stalks, beaked follicles, and flat seeds with tufts of hair at each end.
- Alstonia venenata can be employed to treat conditions like pitta, cobra bites, skin diseases, venomous bites, epilepsy, fever, and otalgia. The fruits are beneficial in managing mental health and epilepsy. The latex is used for treating coughs, throat sores, and fever, serving as a remedy for impure blood. Tribals use this plant as snake antivenom.
- However, despite references to its anti-venom properties due to the alkaloid indole, Alstonia venenata lacks significant mentions in Ayurveda or ancient literature.
Habitat
- It thrives in low to mid-elevation deciduous forests of India.
Phytochemistry
- The plant is a rich source of indole alkaloids, including major ones such as alstovenine, venenatine, 3-dehydroalstovenine, reserpine (0.003–0.3%), venoxidine and kopsinine. The fruit contains vincadifformine-type alkaloids.
Nutritional Prowess
- Widely used in traditional therapeutic systems, Alstonia venenata is employed in China, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Africa, Australia, and other countries for treating malaria, dysentery, asthma, fever, epilepsy, skin diseases, and snake bites.
- Tribals use Alstonia venenata roots are employed against venomous bites and for managing skin diseases. The fruit is used in treating psychiatric diseases and syphilis.
Dermatological Perks
- Extracts from the Alstonaia tree help alleviate acne, ringworm, and eczema. Applying a paste made from the bark on wounds can be beneficial.
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