Alstonia Congensis

alstonia_congoensis_lokoli_benin_aug_2017_108_7510_a24970.jpg

NAME:  Alstonia congensis

FAMILY: Apocynaceae

COMMON NAMES: Stool wood, Alstonia, Cheese wood, Emien, Songati

LOCAL NAMES: Ahun, Egbu, Egbu-ora

USEFUL PART(s):  Bark

GENERAL USES:

  • The wood is used for little construction, light carpentry work e.g. crates, boxes etc.

  • It is also used in the production of household tools

  • The timber is also traded internationally

 

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION

  • Nigeria

  • DR Congo

  • Angola

  • Central African Republic

WHY IS IT GREEN?

Alstonia congensis medicinal values include:

  • Malaria

  • Astringent

  • Toothache

  • Malaria

  • Gonorrhea

  • Diarrhoea

  • Rheumatism

  • Anthelmintic

  • Leucorrhoea

  • Ulcers

  • Scabies

  • Headache

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

  • Ornamental purpose

  • Shade tree

FUNFUL FACT

  • Alstonia congensis is a tall forest tree about 25-30 m high, the stem is cylindrical and it has a rough bark.

 

FURTHER READINGS

Akinnawo, O. O., Anyasor, G. N., & Osilesi, O. (2017). Aqueous fraction of Alstonia boonei de Wild leaves suppressed inflammatory responses in carrageenan and formaldehyde induced arthritic rats. Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy, 86, 95–101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2016.11.145

Al-Henhena, N., Ying, R. P. Y., Ismail, S., Najm, W., Khalifa, S. A. M., El-Seedi, H., & Abdulla, M. A. (2014). Chemopreventive efficacy of Andrographis paniculata on azoxymethane-induced aberrant colon crypt foci in vivo. PLoS ONE, 9(11). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0111118

Bagheri, G., Mirzaei, M., Mehrabi, R., & Sharifi-Rad, J. (2016). Cytotoxic and antioxidant activities of alstonia scholaris, alstonia venenata and moringa oleifera plants from India. Jundishapur Journal of Natural Pharmaceutical Products, 11(3). https://doi.org/10.17795/jjnpp-31129

Chime S.A, Ugwuoke E.C, Onyishi I.V, Brown S.A, O. G. . (2013). and Evaluation of Alstonia boonei Stem Bark Powder Tablets. Indian Journal Pharmaceutics Science, 2(April), 226–230.

Khyade, M. S., Kasote, D. M., & Vaikos, N. P. (2014). Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br. and Alstonia macrophylla Wall. ex G. Don: A comparative review on traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2014.01.025

Li, C. J., Chen, S., Sun, C., Zhang, L., Shi, X., & Wu, S. J. (2017). Cytotoxic monoterpenoid indole alkaloids from Alstonia yunnanensis Diels. Fitoterapia, 117, 79–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fitote.2016.12.011

Omoregie, E., Oriakhi, K., Oikeh, E., Okugbo, O., & Akpobire, D. (2014). Comparative study of phenolic content and antioxidant activity of leaf extracts of Alstonia boonei and Eupatorium odoratum. Nigerian Journal of Basic and Applied Science, 22(3&4), 91–97. https://doi.org/10.4314/njbas.v22i3.7

Pan, L., Terrazas, C., Acuña, U. M., Ninh, T. N., Chai, H., Carcache de Blanco, E. J., … Kinghorn, A. D. (2014). Bioactive indole alkaloids isolated from Alstonia angustifolia. Phytochemistry Letters, 10, liv–lix. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytol.2014.06.010

Ragasa, C. Y., Lim, K. F., Shen, C. C., & Raga, D. D. (2015). Hypoglycemic Potential of Triterpenes from Alstonia scholaris. Pharmaceutical Chemistry Journal, 49(1), 30–33. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11094-015-1217-9

Thomas, S. K., Kunjumon, M., George, R. E., & Iyer, T. V. (2015). A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF ALSTONIA VENENATA R. BR. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research IJPSR, 6(4), 1741–1745. https://doi.org/10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.6(4).1741-45