Abstract

Lakha Ram, Sukhraj Punar, Ashok K. Kakodia, Bina Rani, Upma Singh and Raaz K. Maheshwari*

ABSTRACT

The decoction, mostly prepared from the bark, is used to treat a variety of diseases, of which the most important is malaria. In Ayurveda, it is used as a bitter and as an astringent herb for treating skin disorders, malarial fever, urticaria, chronic dysentery, diarrhea, and in snake bite. Alkaloids such as chlorogenic acid and several other hallucinogenic indole alkaloids which have been reported in the seeds of A. scolaris are chlorogenine, alstovenine, reserpine, echitamine, ditamine, and venenatine. 7-megastigmene-3, 6, 9-triol and megastigmane-3?, 4?, 9-triol are the two important structures which have been identified and were extracted from the leaves of A. scholaris and are known to be C13-norisoprenoids. Alstonic acids such as 2, 3-secofernane triterpenoids were also found to be isolated from leaves of A. scholaris. The plant Alstonia scholaris has been used in different system of traditional medication for the treatment of diseases and ailments of human beings. It is reported to contain various types of alkaloids, steroids, triterpenoids, flavonoids and phenolic acids. A. scholaris is also observed to possess antioxidant, immunomodulatory effects, and free radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, anticancer, analgesic, hepatoprotective, wound healing, antidiarrheal, and antiplasmodial activities. The current review summarizes the phytochemical and pharmacological delineation on A. scholaris.