Plant Description
SAPTAPARNI (Alstonia scholaris) is a glabrous tree and grows up to 40 m (130 ft)
tall. Its mature bark is grayish and its young branches are copiously marked with
lenticles . A unique feature of this tree is that in some places, such as New
Guinea, the trunk is three-sided (i.e. it is triangular in cross-section).[4]
The upper side of the leaves are glossy, while the underside is greyish.[5] Leaves
occur in whorls of three to ten; petioles are 1–3 cm (0.39–1.18 in); the leathery
leaves are narrowly obovate to very narrowly spathulate, base cuneate, apex usually
rounded and up to 23 cm (9.1 in) long by up to 8 cm (3.1 in) in width.[6] lateral
veins occur in 25 to 50 pairs, at 80–90° to midvein. Cymes are dense and pubescent;
peduncle is 4–7 cm (1.6–2.8 in) long. Pedicels are usually as long as or shorter
than calyx. The corolla is white and tube-like, 6–10 mm (0.24–0.39 in); lobes are
broadly ovate or broadly obovate, 2–4.5 mm (0.079–0.177 in), overlapping to the
left. The ovaries are distinct and pubescent. The follicles are distinct and linear.
Flowers bloom in the month October. The flowers are very fragrant similar to the
flower of Cestrum nocturnum.
Seeds of A. scholaris are oblong, with ciliated margins, and ends with tufts of
hairs 1.5–2 cm (0.59–0.79 in).[7] The bark is almost odorless and very bitter, with
abundant bitter and milky sap.
Active constituent of Saptaparni
| Parts Used |
Chemical Constituents |
Uses |
|
Leaves
|
Leucocyanidin, leucodelphinidin, rutin, ellagic acid, quercetin and its
3-arabinoside, β-sitosterol
|
Treatment of skin conditions, diarrhoea and snake bites in Ayurvedic
medicine.
|
|
Flowers
|
Iridoids, alkaloids, coumarins, flavonoids, leucoanthocyanins, phenolic,
steroids, tannins, saponins and volatile oils.
|
Given in postnatal conditions to mothers for increasing lactation. |
|
Bark
|
Mature bark contains 0.16%–0.27% total alkaloids containing mainly
echitamine, ditamine, and ditaine.
|
The bark paste is applied locally in chronic skin ulcers as recommended
by Ayurveda.
|
Uses
- It helps to treat asthma
- It improves skin condition
- The milky juice of the tree is applied to ulcers
- It helps to treat chronic dysentery
- Its bark is mostly used solely for medicinal purposes
- It helps to treat epilepsy
- It cures malaria fever
- It prevents diarrhea
Prepared by : Abhay Yadav
Checked by : Mr. Sunil Patidar
Verified by : Dr. Mahavir Chhajed
