Alstonia, Saptaparna Devil’s Tree, Shaitan or Chatiyan Wood, Dita Bark Saptaparna, Vishaal-tvak, Sharad (Ayurveda) Chattun, Chhativan, Satauna, Chatni (Unani) Pala, Ezhilaippali, Mukkam palai (Siddha)

Alstonia scholaris
M. Blanco, Flora de Filipinas. (1875)

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Botanical name:

Alstonia scholaris
A. macrophylla is also used in Unani.

Parts used:

Primarily the Bark; also the flower, leaf

Temperature & Taste:

Cool, dry. Bitter

Uses:

1. Clears Heat and Damp:
-Edema, Urinary diseases. (leaf, bark)
-Polyurea
-Diarrhea, Dysentery

2. Clears Heat and Toxin, Resolves Masses:
-Fever, Periodic and Malarial Fever; Influenza
-Poisons
-Chronic Skin disease, Leprosy
-Malignant Ulcers, Fistula-in-ano
-Tumors; has shown promise against various Cancers

3. Clears Heat, Stops Cough:
-Chronic Cough, Asthma
-has been used for childhood cough

4. Strengthens Stomach, Increases Qi:
-indigestion, improves appetite
-used in convalescence, debility

5. Kills Worms:
-used for Worms in children

6. Calms Wind, Settles the Nerves:
-Hypertension
-Psychosis, Schizophrenia, Melancholy

7. Expels Afterbirth:
-effective to expels Lochia (Unani, leaf juice)

8. Externally:
-paste of the bark is applied to chronic and inflammatory skin diseases
-milky juice is applied toto foul Wounds and Ulcers
-Ulcers, Sores, Tumors (bark, leaf, milky juice)
-putrid wounds, fresh leaves can be applied
-Malignant Ulcers, Fistula-in-ano

Dose:

1–1½ grams in Infusion
Of the Decoction: 50–100mls.

Corrective:

Chicory (Unani)

Substitute:

Chebula (Unani)

Main Combinations:

1. Chronic Cough, Asthma, Alstonia with Long Pepper and Honey (Charaka, Sushruta)
2. Convalescence, Alstonia infusion, to which a little Aconite powder is added (Indusyunic)
3. Expel the Lochia, Alstonia with Ginger (Unani)
4. Tumors, Alstonia bark with Barberry bark
5. Psychosis, Melancholy, Alstonia, Bacopa, Withania
6. Fistula-in-Ano, Alstonia, Plumbago, Turpeth, Calamus, Cissampelos, made into a medicated oil with Sesame oil (as in Citrakadi Taila)

Major Formulas:

Citrakadi Taila

Cautions:

1. Avoid overdose. Overdose is toxic and can cause arrhythmia.
2. Large dose or long term use is regarded as harmful to the Stomach and Lungs.
3. Alstonia is subject to legal restriction in some countries.

Toxicity:

–Acute and Sub-Acute Toxicity Evaluation of the Methanolic Extract of Alstonia scholaris Stem Bark.
–The evaluation of the acute toxicity and long term safety of hydroalcoholic extract of Sapthaparna (Alstonia scholaris) in mice and rats.

Main Preparations used:

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• Extra Info
• Research

1. REVIEW: –Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br. and Alstonia macrophylla Wall. ex G. Don: A comparative review on traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology. –Review of the phytochemical, pharmacological and toxicological properties of Alstonia Scholaris Linn. R. Br (Saptaparna). 2. ANTI-BACTERIAL: –Antibacterial and Synergistic Activity of Pentacyclic Triterpenoids Isolated from Alstonia scholaris –Antibacterial monoterpenoid indole alkaloids from Alstonia scholaris cultivated in temperate zone. –Antibacterial activity of Alstonia scholaris and Leea tetramera. –Study on Phytochemical Composition, Antibacterial and Antioxidant Properties of Different Parts of Alstonia scholaris Linn. –Ethanolic extracts of Tinospora cordifolia and Alstonia scholaris show antimicrobial activity towards clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant and carbapenemase-producing bacteria. 3. ANTI-VIRAL: –Antiviral Cystine Knot α-Amylase Inhibitors from Alstonia scholaris. 4. ANTIOXIDANT: –Effect of Alstonia scholaris (Linn.) R. Br. on stress and cognition in mice. –Study on Phytochemical Composition, Antibacterial and Antioxidant Properties of Different Parts of Alstonia scholaris Linn. 5. ANTI-DIARRHEAL: –Antidiarrhoeal and spasmolytic activities of the methanolic crude extract of Alstonia scholaris L. are mediated through calcium channel blockade. 6. ANTI-VENOM: –Ameliorating effect of Alstonia scholaris L. bark extract on histopathological changes following viper envenomation in animal models. 7. ANALGESIC: –Pharmacological evaluation of Alstonia scholaris: anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. 8. ANTI-INFLAMMATORY: –Pharmacological evaluation of Alstonia scholaris: anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. 9. AIRWAY INFLAMMATION / ALLERGY: –Effect of total alkaloids from Alstonia scholaris on airway inflammation in rats. –Airways antiallergic effect and pharmacokinetics of alkaloids from Alstonia scholaris. –Specific allergen immunotherapy attenuates allergic airway inflammation in a rat model of Alstonia scholaris pollen induced airway allergy. 10. ANTI-TUSSIVE, ANTI-ASTHMATIC, EXPECORANT: –Pharmacological evaluation of Alstonia scholaris: anti-tussive, anti-asthmatic and expectorant activities. 11. BRONCHO-VASODILATORY: –Evaluation of Alstonia scholaris leaves for broncho-vasodilatory activity.

12. SPASMOLYTIC: –Antidiarrhoeal and spasmolytic activities of the methanolic crude extract of Alstonia scholaris L. are mediated through calcium channel blockade. 13. ANTI-HYPERTENSIVE: –Mechanisms underlying the antihypertensive effect of Alstonia scholaris. 14. ANTI-STRESS: –Effect of Alstonia scholaris (Linn.) R. Br. on stress and cognition in mice. 15. PSYCHOSIS: –Ethanolic extracts of Alstonia Scholaris and Bacopa Monniera possess neuroleptic activity due to anti-dopaminergic effect. 16. IMMUNOMODULATORY: –A combination of alkaloids and triterpenes of Alstonia scholaris (Linn.) R. Br. leaves enhances immunomodulatory activity in C57BL/6 mice and induces apoptosis in the A549 cell line. –Immunostimulating effect of pule (Alstonia scholaris L. R.Br., Apocynaceae) bark extracts. 17. ANTI-CANCER: –Alstonia scholaris Linn R Br in the treatment and prevention of cancer: past, present, and future –Anticarcinogenic and antimutagenic activity of Alstonia scholaris on the albino mice bone marrow cells and peripheral human lymphocyte culture against methyl methane sulfonate induced genotoxicity. –Effect of Alstonia scholaris in enhancing the anticancer activity of berberine in the Ehrlich ascites carcinoma-bearing mice. –The effect of seasonal variation on the antineoplastic activity of Alstonia scholaris R. Br. in HeLa cells. –Evaluation of anticancer activity of the alkaloid fraction of Alstonia scholaris (Sapthaparna) in vitro and in vivo. LUNG CANCER –Anti-Proliferative Activity of Triterpenoids and Sterols Isolated from Alstonia scholaris against Non-Small-Cell Lung Carcinoma Cells. –A combination of alkaloids and triterpenes of Alstonia scholaris (Linn.) R. Br. leaves enhances immunomodulatory activity in C57BL/6 mice and induces apoptosis in the A549 cell line. SKIN CANCER –Anticancer activity of an Indian medicinal plant, Alstonia scholaris, on skin carcinogenesis in mice. 18. ANTI-FERTILITY EFFECT IN MALES: –Effect of Alstonia scholaris bark extract on testicular function of Wistar rats. 19. HEPATOPROTECTIVE: –The protective effect of Alstonia scholaris R. Br. on hepatotoxin-induced acute liver damage. 20. RADIOPROTECTIVE: –Amelioration of radiation-induced hematological and biochemical alterations by Alstonia scholaris (a medicinal plant) extract. –Protective effect of Alstonia scholaris against radiation-induced clastogenic and biochemical alterations in mice.