Herbs & Botanicals · Ayurvedic bitter bark tonic
Saptaparna
Alstonia scholaris · also called Devil's tree, blackboard tree, saptaparna
Saptaparna is a tropical tree whose bark is an Ayurvedic bitter tonic for fever, diarrhoea and skin problems. Evidence in people is thin: the one human trial used a Chinese leaf-alkaloid capsule for bronchitis, and bark results come from lab and animal studies. Avoid it in pregnancy, and never use it in place of malaria treatment.
General information, not medical advice. Last substantive update · Not medically reviewed. A named clinician has not signed off on this page. How this page is made
About Saptaparna
Saptaparna is the Ayurvedic name for Alstonia scholaris, the devil's tree. The bark is a bitter tonic, and a Chinese leaf-alkaloid capsule has had one small bronchitis trial. For the bark, the evidence is tradition and lab or animal work. Avoid it in pregnancy, take liver and allergy cautions seriously, and do not use it for malaria.
What it is
Saptaparna is a large evergreen tree of the dogbane family (Apocynaceae) that grows in tropical Asia. It bleeds a milky latex. The bark is the main Ayurvedic part, while Chinese medicine uses the leaves.
Its signature chemistry is a group of indole alkaloids, including echitamine, picrinine and scholaricine. A look-alike relative, Alstonia macrophylla, is sometimes used as a substitute even though it differs in chemistry.
What the evidence shows
The only human efficacy trial is a small, early study of a leaf-alkaloid capsule in 55 adults with acute bronchitis. It reported symptom relief without serious adverse events, but the abstract gives no symptom scores, and the team developing the product ran it.
For the bark, reviews list traditional use for fever, malaria, diarrhoea and skin disease. A bark extract slowed malaria parasites in dishes. Lab and animal findings are not proof it works in people.
Main safety points
In pregnant mice, an extract caused malformations and deaths at higher doses, and a bark extract suppressed fertility in male rats. In rats, 28 days of a bark extract at higher doses damaged the liver and altered blood counts. Echitamine was toxic to mice at the top dose.
The tree's pollen caused skin reactions in 28.57% of 140 allergy patients in one Indian region, and the latex is a likely skin and eye irritant. Lab work hints that some alkaloids may relax blood vessels, so people on blood pressure medicine should ask a doctor.
At a glance
Traditional uses history, not proof
- Fever and malaria (bitter bark tonic)
- Diarrhoea, poor digestion and worms
- Skin diseases and old ulcers
- Asthma and bronchitis
Studied for research
- Cough and bronchitis (leaf capsule): low
- Allergic airways (mice): insufficient
- Malaria parasites (lab only): insufficient
- Cancer cells (lab and mice): insufficient
Main compounds
- Echitamine
- Picrinine
- Scholaricine
- Vallesamine
Common forms
- Bark decoction (traditional)
- Laboratory bark extracts (studies only)
- Leaf alkaloid capsule (Chinese investigational product)
Research links: PubMed: leaf alkaloid capsule in bronchitis (2022) · PubMed: bark toxicity in rats (2016) · PubMed: developmental toxicity in mice (2003) · Research Library · Genes & Biomarkers Library
The plant and its history
- Accepted scientific name
- Alstonia scholaris (L.) R.Br.
- Naming authority
- GBIF species match read 2026-10-25: ACCEPTED, key 5414410, family Apocynaceae. Not independently checked against NCBI Taxonomy.
- Common names
- Saptaparna (Sanskrit/Hindi); Devil's tree (English); Blackboard tree (English)
- Botanical family
- Apocynaceae
- Classification
- Plantae > Apocynaceae > Alstonia > Alstonia scholaris
- Native range
- Tropical Asia and Australasia (the reviews call it widespread in tropical regions; exact range NOT verified).
- Habitat
- Evergreen tropical tree.
- What the plant looks like
- Roots: Not covered.; Stems: Bark and milky latex are the used parts.; Leaves: Leaves are used in Chinese practice.; Flowers: Pollen is airborne from September to November in eastern India.; Fruit: Not covered.
- Cultivation
- Not covered.
- Harvest and processing
- Bark decoction is boiled water extract; study extracts use methanol or ethanol.
- Look-alikes and adulterants
- Name: Alstonia macrophylla; Note: Used as a substitute in India but differs in chemistry and pharmacology (GBIF accepted, key 5414411).; Name: Alstonia boonei; Note: African relative that appears in mixed products; a different species.
- Sustainability and conservation
- Not covered.
Traditional use and history history, not clinical proof
| Tradition or era | Documented use | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Ayurveda / Indian systems | Bark as a bitter tonic for malaria, fever, jaundice, gastrointestinal troubles, skin diseases, ulcers, asthma, worms and debility. | p22457172 |
| Dai (Chinese) medicine | Leaves for respiratory disease; the leaf alkaloid capsule was developed from this use. | p32356224 |
| Mizo (India) and Papua traditions | Bark for infections and parasites, per the recent lab study and our summary. | p42344326 |
Traditional use shows how a plant was used. It does not show that a supplement works or is safe today.
What is inside, and how it may work
What the plant contains and how those compounds act in cells and animals. Laboratory and animal mechanisms are not proven effects in people.
Main compounds
| Compound | Family | Where it is concentrated | Activity studied | Level of evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Echitamine PubChem 124841315 | indole alkaloid | Not stated in the abstract | Killed cancer cells in the lab; toxic to mice at the top dose. 9 13 | Animal research |
| Picrinine PubChem 46229104 | indole alkaloid | Not stated in the abstracts | One of four main alkaloids measured in blood in the leaf capsule trial. 12 13 | Human pharmacokinetic |
| Scholaricine PubChem 50900051 | indole alkaloid | Not stated in the abstracts | Measured in blood in the trial; suggested in mice as an anti-allergic component. 16 12 13 | Animal research |
| Vallesamine PubChem 13783712 | indole alkaloid | Not stated in the abstracts | Measured in blood in the trial; suggested in mice as an anti-allergic component. 16 13 | Animal research |
| Alpha-amyrin and kolavenol (triterpenoids) | triterpenoids | Bark | Main compounds found in a Mizoram bark extract. 11 | Laboratory research |
Mechanisms, receptors and pathways
| Target or pathway | Gene or receptor | What was found | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allergic airway inflammation (eosinophils, IL-4, IgE, IL-10) | Cytokines | Alkaloids reduced allergy markers in mice. 16 | Animal research |
| Plasmodium falciparum growth | Docking to SAHH suggested (computer model) | Bark extract slowed parasite growth in culture. 11 | Lab |
| Blood vessel relaxation | Not identified | Isolated alkaloids relaxed rat artery rings. 15 | Lab |
Absorption, metabolism and elimination
- Absorption
- Four leaf alkaloids appear in blood after oral capsule dosing in people and rats.
- Distribution
- Not covered.
- Metabolism
- Not covered.
- Elimination
- Short half-life in rats, suggesting short-lasting effect.
- Bioavailability
- Not reported in the abstracts.
Isolated compounds versus whole extracts
The best human data are for a leaf alkaloid capsule, while traditional use is of the bark decoction. Echitamine and the leaf alkaloids behave differently from whole bark extracts, so findings do not transfer.
Nutritional composition
Saptaparna is not a nutrient or food.
1 low certainty6 not enough evidence
What is Saptaparna good for?
These are the uses people ask about. For each one the honest rating says how strong the evidence is. Most are traditional or lab-only.
Benefits, one by one
Each card is a research question, not a promise. Tap a goal to filter. Open a card to see the studies, doses and limits.
Cough and acute bronchitis (leaf alkaloid capsule, not bark)
Low certaintyA small trial of a Chinese leaf-alkaloid capsule in 55 adults with acute bronchitis reported that symptoms eased, with no serious side effects. It was an early, exploratory study, and it tested a leaf product rather than the bark.
3 studiesNo amount or form is recommended here. Ask a doctor or pharmacist abo…
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
One randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 55 adults with acute bronchitis. 15 people took each of three capsule strengths and 10 took placebo, for seven days.
Results
The authors report that bronchitis symptoms were alleviated without serious adverse events or clinically significant changes in vital signs, heart tracing (ECG) or upper-abdominal ultrasound. The abstract gives no symptom scores. Blood levels of the alkaloids varied with liver enzyme (AST), body mass index and age.
Effect sizes as reported
None given in the abstract.
Why this rating
One small exploratory trial with only 10 placebo patients and no effect size in the abstract; the research group developing the product ran it. A separate healthy-volunteer safety trial found no serious problems over seven days. Reviewed honestly, this is promising but early.
Form and dose studied
No amount or form is recommended here. Ask a doctor or pharmacist about amounts.
Who was studied
Adults with acute bronchitis in China (leaf alkaloid capsule only)
Limits
Abstract read. Small; short; exploratory; leaf extract only, so it cannot be applied to bark, tea or home decoctions. No independent replication found.
Why researchers looked
Chinese and Dai traditional medicine use the leaves for coughs and lung problems, so a leaf alkaloid capsule was developed as an investigational botanical drug.
Traditional use
Leaves are used for respiratory illness in Dai (Chinese) medicine; in India the bark is the main part used.
Proposed mechanism Animal research
Not established in people. Animal work points to calmer allergic inflammation in the airways (see the next entry).
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
The leaf capsule is an investigational product, not a supplement you can assume is on sale. Seven-day healthy-volunteer safety data exist, but nothing long-term. Check the Safety tab first: pregnancy, liver, allergy to the pollen and the sticky latex matter.
Allergic airway inflammation and asthma (animal study)
Not enough evidenceIn mice with induced allergic airway inflammation, leaf alkaloids lowered inflammation signals in the lungs. This is an animal result and does not show a benefit in people with asthma.
2 studiesNo amount or form is recommended here. Ask a doctor or pharmacist abo…
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
None for asthma in people. The related bronchitis trial is a separate entry.
Results
In mice, total alkaloids reduced eosinophils, IL-4, IgE and eotaxin, raised IL-10 and eased lung damage. Dexamethasone was the comparison drug.
Effect sizes as reported
No pooled effect size; mouse data.
Why this rating
A single mouse study (plant part not stated in the abstract). Results in mice often do not carry over to people.
Form and dose studied
No amount or form is recommended here. Ask a doctor or pharmacist about amounts.
Who was studied
Mice with ovalbumin-induced allergic airway inflammation
Limits
Abstract read. Animal only; plant part not stated.
Why researchers looked
The plant is used traditionally for asthma and cough, so researchers tested its alkaloids in mice.
Traditional use
Traditional use for asthma and bronchitis is described in the reviews.
Proposed mechanism Animal research
Fewer eosinophils (an allergy cell) in lung fluid, lower IL-4 and IgE, higher IL-10 (mice). The authors suggest scholaricine and vallesamine may be responsible.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Animal results say nothing about safety in people. Pollen of the same tree is a known allergen for some people (see Safety).
Fever and malaria (traditional bark use; lab results)
Not enough evidenceIn Ayurveda and other traditions the bark is a bitter tonic for fever and malaria. In dishes, a bark extract slowed malaria parasites. No animal or human malaria test of the bark was found, and it is not a proven malaria treatment.
3 studiesNo amount or form is recommended here. Ask a doctor or pharmacist abo…
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
None found. No trial of the bark for malaria or fever.
Results
A methanolic bark extract from Mizoram acted against malaria parasites grown in dishes with similar activity against a chloroquine-sensitive and a multidrug-resistant strain; the paper calls the selectivity moderate.
Effect sizes as reported
Not applicable (lab IC50 only).
Why this rating
Tradition plus dish studies only. Malaria is dangerous, and a lab result does not show the bark treats it.
Form and dose studied
No amount or form is recommended here. Ask a doctor or pharmacist about amounts.
Who was studied
Parasites in culture; traditional users in adults
Limits
Abstract read. Lab only; one chemotype; methanol extract is not a home decoction.
Why researchers looked
The bark has been used for fever and malaria in India, Mizoram and Papua, so labs test it against the parasite.
Traditional use
Indian reviews list malaria and fever among classic uses of the bark (a bitter tonic).
Proposed mechanism Laboratory research
Lab only: a bark extract inhibited Plasmodium falciparum grown in culture, including a drug-resistant strain.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Never use it instead of proven malaria treatment. Fever that lasts, or any fever after travel to a malaria area, needs a doctor.
Diarrhoea, poor digestion and worms (traditional use; animal work)
Not enough evidenceThe bark is traditionally taken for diarrhoea, dyspepsia and worms. Reviews list anti-diarrhoeal and anti-worm effects in lab and animal studies. No human trial was found.
3 studiesNo amount or form is recommended here. Ask a doctor or pharmacist abo…
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
None found.
Results
Review abstracts list the activities without numbers. A bark extract also damaged tapeworms in a lab study.
Effect sizes as reported
None.
Why this rating
Review statements and lab or animal work only, with no numbers in the abstracts we read.
Form and dose studied
No amount or form is recommended here. Ask a doctor or pharmacist about amounts.
Who was studied
Traditional adult use; lab and animal models
Limits
Abstracts only; no human data.
Why researchers looked
Bitter barks are used in Ayurveda for gut complaints, so the extracts are tested in animals.
Traditional use
Abdominal disorders, dyspepsia and worms are listed in the reviews of Indian use.
Proposed mechanism Animal research
Not established. Reviews mention antidiarrhoeal and anti-parasite activity in preclinical work.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Serious or bloody diarrhoea, or any diarrhoea in a young child, needs a doctor. Oral rehydration comes first.
Skin conditions, ulcers and wound healing (traditional use; animal work)
Not enough evidenceThe bark and latex are traditionally used on skin diseases and old ulcers. Reviews list wound-healing activity in animals. No human trial was found. The sticky latex can irritate skin.
2 studiesNo amount or form is recommended here. Ask a doctor or pharmacist abo…
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
None found.
Results
Reviews list wound-healing and antimicrobial activity in lab and animal studies; the abstracts give no numbers.
Effect sizes as reported
None.
Why this rating
Traditional use and review statements only.
Form and dose studied
No amount or form is recommended here. Ask a doctor or pharmacist about amounts.
Who was studied
Traditional adult use; lab and animal models
Limits
Abstracts only.
Why researchers looked
Skin diseases, foul ulcers and leprosy are among the traditional uses.
Traditional use
Skin disease and chronic ulcers are named in the Indian reviews.
Proposed mechanism Animal research
Not established; preclinical wound-healing and antimicrobial activity are reported in reviews.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Do not put the milky latex on broken skin or near the eyes without medical advice. A wound that spreads, swells or smells needs a doctor.
Cancer cells in the lab and in tumour-bearing mice (not a treatment)
Not enough evidenceEchitamine, an alkaloid from the bark, killed cancer cells in dishes and lengthened survival in mice with tumours. The highest dose was also toxic to the mice. This does not show that the bark or tea treats cancer in people.
3 studiesNo amount or form is recommended here. Ask a doctor or pharmacist abo…
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
None. No human trial for any cancer.
Results
In human cancer cell lines (KB the most sensitive) echitamine chloride killed cells in a concentration-dependent way; in mice survival rose dose-dependently up to a dose beyond which toxicity appeared.
Effect sizes as reported
Median survival in mice rose from 19 to 30.5 days at the best dose (a mouse model).
Why this rating
Isolated compound in cells and mice. Cancer-cell killing in a dish is common to many toxic substances.
Form and dose studied
No amount or form is recommended here. Ask a doctor or pharmacist about amounts.
Who was studied
Cancer cell lines and mice with Ehrlich ascites tumours
Limits
Abstract read. Isolated alkaloid, not bark; animal model.
Why researchers looked
Reviews call the anticancer activity one of the most promising lab findings.
Traditional use
Tumours appear in the traditional-use lists of the Indian reviews.
Proposed mechanism Animal research
Echitamine chloride killed cultured cancer cells and lengthened survival in tumour-bearing mice; a toxic dose raised lipid peroxidation and lowered glutathione in the mice.
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
Do not delay or replace cancer care. The same alkaloid was toxic in mice at the top dose.
Blood vessel relaxing (lab only; not shown to lower blood pressure)
Not enough evidenceSeven alkaloids from the branches relaxed rat arteries in the lab. That hints at a possible blood-pressure-lowering action, but no test in animals or people is reported. This is a possible safety point for people on blood pressure medicine.
2 studiesNo amount or form is recommended here. Ask a doctor or pharmacist abo…
Studies, doses and limits
What the trials found
None.
Results
Seven of 26 isolated alkaloids showed strong relaxing activity; akuammicine-type alkaloids worked best.
Effect sizes as reported
EC50 below 10 micromolar for seven alkaloids (isolated tissue).
Why this rating
Isolated artery tissue from rats. No whole-animal blood pressure result. A dog test of a leaf extract showed no blood pressure change.
Form and dose studied
No amount or form is recommended here. Ask a doctor or pharmacist about amounts.
Who was studied
Isolated rat arteries
Limits
Abstract read. Branch alkaloids, not bark or leaf extract.
Why researchers looked
Researchers screened the plant's alkaloids for effects on blood vessels.
Traditional use
Not a classic traditional use.
Proposed mechanism Laboratory research
Relaxed phenylephrine-contracted rat mesenteric arteries (isolated tissue).
A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.
A possible additive effect with blood-pressure medicines is untested; ask a doctor if you take them.
Connections to the rest of health
How Saptaparna connects to the rest of our health knowledge graph. Every link says what kind of connection it is. A safety link (for example to the liver) is a warning, not a benefit. A study that merely mentions a topic never creates a benefit link.
Explore every connection: goals, body systems, organs, symptoms, genes
A. Wellness goals
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Respiratory Health | Low certainty | Cough and acute bronchitis (leaf alkaloid capsule, not bark): A small trial of a Chinese leaf-alkaloid capsule in 55 adults with acute bronchitis reported that symptoms eased, with no serious side effects. It was an early, exploratory study, and it tested a leaf product rather than the bark. | 12 5 1 | |
| Cough Relief | Low certainty | Cough and acute bronchitis (leaf alkaloid capsule, not bark): A small trial of a Chinese leaf-alkaloid capsule in 55 adults with acute bronchitis reported that symptoms eased, with no serious side effects. It was an early, exploratory study, and it tested a leaf product rather than the bark. | 12 5 1 | |
| Respiratory Health | Not enough evidence | Allergic airway inflammation and asthma (animal study): In mice with induced allergic airway inflammation, leaf alkaloids lowered inflammation signals in the lungs. This is an animal result and does not show a benefit in people with asthma. | 16 12 | |
| Allergy Support | Not enough evidence | Allergic airway inflammation and asthma (animal study): In mice with induced allergic airway inflammation, leaf alkaloids lowered inflammation signals in the lungs. This is an animal result and does not show a benefit in people with asthma. | 16 12 | |
| Fever Support | Traditional use | Not enough evidence | Fever and malaria (traditional bark use; lab results): In Ayurveda and other traditions the bark is a bitter tonic for fever and malaria. In dishes, a bark extract slowed malaria parasites. No animal or human malaria test of the bark was found, and it is not a proven malaria treatment. | 11 2 10 |
| Immune Support | Traditional use | Not enough evidence | Fever and malaria (traditional bark use; lab results): In Ayurveda and other traditions the bark is a bitter tonic for fever and malaria. In dishes, a bark extract slowed malaria parasites. No animal or human malaria test of the bark was found, and it is not a proven malaria treatment. | 11 2 10 |
| Digestive Health | Traditional use | Not enough evidence | Diarrhoea, poor digestion and worms (traditional use; animal work): The bark is traditionally taken for diarrhoea, dyspepsia and worms. Reviews list anti-diarrhoeal and anti-worm effects in lab and animal studies. No human trial was found. | 2 10 11 |
| Skin Health | Traditional use | Not enough evidence | Skin conditions, ulcers and wound healing (traditional use; animal work): The bark and latex are traditionally used on skin diseases and old ulcers. Reviews list wound-healing activity in animals. No human trial was found. The sticky latex can irritate skin. | 2 10 |
| Wound Healing | Traditional use | Not enough evidence | Skin conditions, ulcers and wound healing (traditional use; animal work): The bark and latex are traditionally used on skin diseases and old ulcers. Reviews list wound-healing activity in animals. No human trial was found. The sticky latex can irritate skin. | 2 10 |
| Cancer Research | Not enough evidence | Cancer cells in the lab and in tumour-bearing mice (not a treatment): Echitamine, an alkaloid from the bark, killed cancer cells in dishes and lengthened survival in mice with tumours. The highest dose was also toxic to the mice. This does not show that the bark or tea treats cancer in people. | 9 10 2 | |
| Blood Pressure Support | Not enough evidence | Blood vessel relaxing (lab only; not shown to lower blood pressure): Seven alkaloids from the branches relaxed rat arteries in the lab. That hints at a possible blood-pressure-lowering action, but no test in animals or people is reported. This is a possible safety point for people on blood pressure medicine. | 15 17 |
B. Body systems
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Respiratory System | Biological association | Low certainty | Studied for: Cough and acute bronchitis (leaf alkaloid capsule, not bark) Studied for: Allergic airway inflammation and asthma (animal study) | 12 5 1 16 |
| Immune System | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Studied for: Allergic airway inflammation and asthma (animal study) Studied for: Fever and malaria (traditional bark use; lab results) | 16 12 11 2 10 9 |
| Digestive System | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Studied for: Diarrhoea, poor digestion and worms (traditional use; animal work) | 2 10 11 |
| Integumentary System | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Studied for: Skin conditions, ulcers and wound healing (traditional use; animal work) | 2 10 |
| Cardiovascular System | Biological association | Not enough evidence | Studied for: Blood vessel relaxing (lab only; not shown to lower blood pressure) | 15 17 |
L. Active compounds
| Connected to | Kind of connection | Evidence status | Context | Studies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Echitamine | Biological association | Animal | Killed cancer cells in the lab; toxic to mice at the top dose. Preparation or compound: Not stated in the abstract |
9 13 |
| Picrinine | Biological association | Human pharmacokinetic | One of four main alkaloids measured in blood in the leaf capsule trial. Preparation or compound: Not stated in the abstracts |
12 13 |
| Scholaricine | Biological association | Animal | Measured in blood in the trial; suggested in mice as an anti-allergic component. Preparation or compound: Not stated in the abstracts |
16 12 13 |
| Vallesamine | Biological association | Animal | Measured in blood in the trial; suggested in mice as an anti-allergic component. Preparation or compound: Not stated in the abstracts |
16 13 |
| Alpha-amyrin and kolavenol (triterpenoids) | Biological association | In vitro | Main compounds found in a Mizoram bark extract. Preparation or compound: Bark |
11 |
Each connection is stored with the ingredient, the connected record, the kind of connection, the evidence status, the supporting studies, the preparation or compound involved, and a review date (last reviewed October 25, 2026).
The evidence
The research centre for Saptaparna. Every record here was checked against PubMed or the publisher's page; we never list a study we have not verified.
Evidence by outcome
Bars show how many studies we found for each outcome, not how well it works. People are added up across trials only (reviews are not added, to avoid double counting).
How we rate evidence
High certainty
Several well-run trials or reviews agree; further research is unlikely to change the picture much.
Moderate certainty
Good trials point the same way, but some doubt remains.
Low certainty
Small, short or inconsistent trials. The finding could change with better research.
Very low certainty
Very little or very weak human data. Treat as a possibility only.
Mixed findings
Trials or reviews disagree with each other.
Not enough evidence
Not enough human research to say either way.
Evidence against
Good research found no benefit, or found harm.
We take the reviewers' own risk-of-bias and GRADE statements where they exist, and otherwise judge from study size, design, consistency, directness and whether a product matches what is sold. Many publications do not make evidence high. Method note: We read our existing herb summary, then searched PubMed, read the abstract of each PubMed record cited, and checked names in GBIF and PubChem. Items marked summary-only were not read further.
Study library: every study we checked 17
| Study | Design | People | Product, dose, length | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AlternativeMed editorial team 2026 AlternativeMed herb summary: Saptaparna (devil's tree) internal summary file · Source |
Internal summary Alstonia scholaris |
Existing site summary | Alstonia scholaris bark, leaf alkaloid capsule bark, leaf Not given here Not given here |
Our earlier summary lists bark decoction, laboratory bark extract and leaf alkaloid capsule as forms. Items taken from it were re-checked against the records above where possible. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Names, forms, uses Limitations: Internal summary; not independent. Read: full-text |
| Baliga 2012 Review of the phytochemical, pharmacological and toxicological properties of Alstonia scholaris Linn. R. Br (Saptaparna) Chin J Integr Med · PMID 22457172 · DOI |
Narrative review Alstonia scholaris |
Literature review | Alstonia scholaris bark and leaf extracts bark, leaf Not given here Not given here |
Lists traditional use for malaria, abdominal disorders, dyspepsia, leprosy, skin diseases, tumours, ulcers, asthma, bronchitis and worms. Preclinical activities include antimicrobial, antidiarrhoeal, antiplasmodial, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anti-fertility, wound healing and anticancer. Bark and leaf extracts given by mouth caused no deaths or adverse effects at the highest tested dose in animals, but injected high doses caused systemic and developmental toxicity. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Traditional uses, preclinical activities, toxicity Limitations: Narrative review; no human trial data; the abstract does not grade evidence. Read: abstract |
| Bello 2016 Acute and Sub-Acute Toxicity Evaluation of the Methanolic Extract of Alstonia scholaris Stem Bark Med Sci (Basel) · PMID 29083368 · DOI |
Animal toxicology Alstonia scholaris |
Sprague Dawley rats | Methanolic extract of Alstonia scholaris stem bark bark Not given here Not given here |
A single large oral dose caused no toxicity. In the 28-day study, the two higher dose groups showed changes in body weight, blood counts and blood chemistry; two female rats died at the highest dose. Liver tissue showed slight degeneration and centrilobular necrosis, worst at the highest dose. The authors advise against prolonged high-dose oral use. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Behaviour, deaths, blood counts, blood chemistry, organ tissue Limitations: Rats, methanol extract (not a home decoction); human relevance unknown. Read: abstract |
| GBIF Secretariat 2026 GBIF species match: Alstonia scholaris and Alstonia macrophylla api.gbif.org · Source |
Database record database |
Taxonomic names | Alstonia species not applicable Not given here Not given here |
Read 2026-10-25: Alstonia scholaris (L.) R.Br. ACCEPTED, key 5414410, family Apocynaceae. Alstonia macrophylla Wall. ex G.Don ACCEPTED, key 5414411. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Accepted names Limitations: Name check only. Read: full-text |
| Gou 2021 The safety and tolerability of alkaloids from Alstonia scholaris leaves in healthy Chinese volunteers: a single-centre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase I study Pharm Biol · PMID 33899689 · DOI |
Rct phase I Alstonia scholaris |
62 Healthy Chinese volunteers |
Capsule of alkaloids from Alstonia scholaris leaves (CALAS) versus placebo, single and 7-day repeated doses leaf (alkaloid extract) Not given here Not given here |
62 volunteers completed the study. No serious adverse events. Treatment-emergent adverse events: 11 of 46 (23.91%) on the extract and 3 of 16 (18.75%) on placebo (p > 0.05); all mild and short-lived. Possibly related: hiccups 4/46, dry mouth and nausea 3/46, increased sleep 2/46, abdominal distension 1/46, raised bilirubin 1/46. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Adverse events, vital signs, ECG, upper-abdominal ultrasound Limitations: Seven days at most, healthy adults, one centre; leaf alkaloid extract only. The title in the journal record is cut off; the full title is reconstructed from the DOI record and may differ slightly. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract; same research group develops the product. Read: abstract |
| Gupta 2002 Effect of Alstonia scholaris bark extract on testicular function of Wistar rats Asian J Androl · PMID 12364971 |
Animal toxicology Alstonia scholaris |
Male Wistar rats | Alstonia scholaris bark extract by mouth for 60 days bark Not given here Not given here |
Reduced weights of testes and sex glands; step-19 spermatids fell by 79.6%; sperm count and movement fell, with total suppression of fertility in the rats during treatment. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Fertility, sperm, testis tissue Limitations: Rats; one extract; recovery after stopping is not described in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Hussain 2014 Aerobiological, clinical, and immunobiochemical studies on Alstonia scholaris pollen from Eastern India Environ Monit Assess · PMID 23963866 · DOI |
Observational clinical Alstonia scholaris |
140 Local people in West Bengal, India with respiratory allergy |
Alstonia scholaris pollen extract (skin-prick test) pollen Not given here Not given here |
Pollen was in the air from September to November. Of 140 patients with respiratory allergy, 28.57% reacted to the pollen extract on skin-prick testing, and seven IgE-binding proteins were found. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Pollen counts, skin-prick reactions, IgE binding Limitations: Selected allergy patients in one region, not the general public; no control group described. Read: abstract |
| Jagetia 2003 Induction of developmental toxicity in mice treated with Alstonia scholaris (Sapthaparna) in utero Birth Defects Res B Dev Reprod Toxicol · PMID 14745981 · DOI |
Animal toxicology Alstonia scholaris |
Pregnant Swiss albino mice | Hydroalcoholic extract of Alstonia scholaris (plant part not stated in the abstract) not stated Not given here Not given here |
Single dose on day 11 of pregnancy. Lower doses caused no deaths, malformations or growth change. At the two highest doses there were more deaths, growth delay and malformations (mainly bent tails and fused digits), and delayed development markers. The authors conclude it was teratogenic only above a level they put at more than 20% of the lethal dose. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Deaths, growth, malformations in offspring Limitations: One mouse study; single exposure on day 11 of pregnancy; the plant part and the route of dosing are not stated in the abstract. Not a human study. Read: abstract |
| Jagetia 2005 Evaluation of the cytotoxic effect of the monoterpene indole alkaloid echitamine in-vitro and in tumour-bearing mice J Pharm Pharmacol · PMID 16105243 · DOI |
Lab and animal Alstonia scholaris (isolated alkaloid) |
Human cancer cell lines and mice with Ehrlich ascites tumours | Echitamine chloride (isolated alkaloid) not stated Not given here Not given here |
Echitamine chloride killed cancer cells in a concentration-dependent way and lengthened survival in tumour-bearing mice. The highest dose tested caused toxicity in the mice, and in those mice lipid peroxidation rose and glutathione fell. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Cell killing, survival, toxicity Limitations: Isolated compound in cells and mice; shows the alkaloid is toxic at high dose, not that bark or tea is anti-cancer. Read: abstract |
| Khyade 2014 Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br. and Alstonia macrophylla Wall. ex G. Don: A comparative review on traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology J Ethnopharmacol · PMID 24486598 · DOI |
Narrative review review-of-mixed |
Literature review | Alstonia scholaris and Alstonia macrophylla bark, leaf Not given here Not given here |
In India A. scholaris is used for malaria, jaundice, gastrointestinal troubles and cancer. A. macrophylla is used as a substitute in Indian herbal preparations, but the two species differ in chemistry and pharmacology, so the substitution is not justified. Antimicrobial and anticancer activities were called the most promising (lab/animal). The authors call for chemical fingerprinting to prevent mutual adulteration. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Traditional uses, chemistry, pharmacology, substitution Limitations: Narrative review; no human trial data. Read: abstract |
| Lalngaihmanawmi 2026 Multifaceted anti-infective efficacy of Alstonia scholaris (Mizoram chemotype) against fungal, malarial, and intestinal helminth infections Vet World · PMID 42344326 · DOI |
Lab Alstonia scholaris |
Fungi, malaria parasites in culture, tapeworms, monkey kidney cells | Methanolic bark extract bark Not given here Not given here |
The extract killed malaria parasites grown in dishes (IC50 about 43 to 46 micrograms/mL against a chloroquine-sensitive and a multidrug-resistant strain), with moderate selectivity, plus antifungal and anti-worm effects. Triterpenoids such as alpha-amyrin were the main compounds found. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Antifungal, antimalarial and anthelmintic activity; cell toxicity Limitations: Lab study only; no animal or human malaria data in the paper. Read: abstract |
| Li 2022 The clinical population pharmacokinetics, metabolomics and therapeutic analysis of alkaloids from Alstonia scholaris leaves in acute bronchitis patients Phytomedicine · PMID 35176533 · DOI |
Rct exploratory Alstonia scholaris |
55 Adults with acute bronchitis |
Capsule of alkaloids from Alstonia scholaris leaves (CALAS), an investigational botanical drug, versus placebo leaf (alkaloid extract, not bark) Not given here Not given here |
Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled; three capsule strengths for seven days (15 people each) versus placebo (10 people). The authors report that bronchitis symptoms were alleviated without serious adverse events or clinically significant changes in vital signs, ECG or upper-abdominal ultrasound. The abstract gives no symptom scores or effect sizes. Blood levels of the alkaloids varied with liver enzyme (AST), body mass index and age. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Symptoms, safety, blood levels of four alkaloids, blood chemistry markers Limitations: Exploratory study with 10 placebo patients; no effect size in the abstract; leaf alkaloid product, so it does not describe bark or home decoctions. Authors are from the group developing the product (possible commercial interest, not stated in the abstract). Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract; same research group develops the product. Read: abstract |
| PubChem (NCBI) 2026 PubChem compound records: echitamine, picrinine, scholaricine, vallesamine pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov · Source |
Database record database |
Chemical records | Indole alkaloids not applicable Not given here Not given here |
Read 2026-10-25 by name: echitamine CID 124841315 (C22H29N2O4+); picrinine CID 46229104 (C20H22N2O3); scholaricine CID 50900051 (C20H24N2O4); vallesamine CID 13783712 (C20H24N2O3). Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Compound identity Limitations: Identity check only. Read: full-text |
| Zacharia 2025 Complementary and Alternative Medicine-Induced Combined Hepatorenal Toxicity: A Case Report Cureus · PMID 41602262 · DOI |
Case report Alstonia boonei (different species) |
1 One 42-year-old man with fatty liver |
A mixed self-treatment product containing Carica papaya, Alstonia boonei and Tetrapleura tetraptera extracts mixed (different Alstonia species) Not given here Not given here |
Probable liver injury (RUCAM) and kidney dysfunction that improved after the products were stopped. The product contained Alstonia boonei, a different species, mixed with other herbs, so it cannot be attributed to A. scholaris. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Liver and kidney injury, causality score Limitations: Single case, multi-herb product, different species. Read: abstract |
| Zhang 2023 Structurally diverse monoterpene indole alkaloids with vasorelaxant activities from the branches of Alstonia scholaris Phytochemistry · PMID 36791874 · DOI |
Lab Alstonia scholaris (isolated alkaloids) |
Isolated rat mesenteric arteries | Alkaloids isolated from Alstonia scholaris branches branch Not given here Not given here |
Seven of 26 isolated alkaloids relaxed the arteries strongly (EC50 below 10 micromolar); akuammicine-type alkaloids worked best. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Relaxation of arteries contracted with phenylephrine Limitations: Isolated artery tissue only; it suggests a possible blood-pressure-lowering action but no animal or human blood-pressure test is reported. Read: abstract |
| Zhao 2017 Airways antiallergic effect and pharmacokinetics of alkaloids from Alstonia scholaris Phytomedicine · PMID 28314480 · DOI |
Animal research Alstonia scholaris |
Rats (blood levels) and mice with induced allergic airway inflammation | Total alkaloids from Alstonia scholaris not stated in the abstract Not given here Not given here |
In allergic mice the alkaloids reduced eosinophils in lung fluid, lowered IL-4 and IgE and raised IL-10, and lung damage was lessened; dexamethasone was the comparison drug. The short half-life of four indole alkaloids in rat blood suggested a short-lasting effect. The authors suggest scholaricine and vallesamine may be responsible. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Airway inflammation markers, blood levels of four alkaloids Limitations: Mice and rats only; plant part not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract |
| Zhao 2020 Genotoxicity and Safety Pharmacology Studies of Indole Alkaloids Extract from Leaves of Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br. Nat Prod Bioprospect · PMID 32356224 · DOI |
Animal and lab toxicology Alstonia scholaris |
Bacteria, cultured cells, mice and beagle dogs | Indole alkaloids extract from Alstonia scholaris leaves leaf (alkaloid extract) Not given here Not given here |
The extract was not mutagenic or chromosome-damaging in the tests run. In mice no abnormal behaviour was seen at the highest tested amount. In anaesthetised dogs given the extract into the gut, blood pressure, heart rate, ECG and breathing did not differ from the vehicle group. Methods, limits and fundingOutcomes: Genotoxicity; nervous, heart and breathing effects Limitations: Leaf extract only, short single-dose tests, animals; says nothing about bark or long-term human use. Read: abstract |
What we do not know yet
- No independent or longer human trial of any Alstonia scholaris product.
- No human data on the bark for any use.
- No human pregnancy, breastfeeding or liver data.
- No regulator documents read; EMA, NCCIH, LiverTox and LactMed not found or not checked.
How new research is added
New studies are found by a saved PubMed search and placed in a review queue. A person reads each one before it is added.
Lab markers
What changed in blood or saliva tests during trials. A changed number is not the same as feeling or being healthier, and we give no "normal ranges".
Safety
What studies and official sources say about side effects, medicines and who should check first. Each point shows what kind of evidence it comes from.
Main points to know 7
- Pregnancy: avoid. In pregnant mice an Alstonia scholaris extract (plant part not stated) caused deaths, growth delay and malformations at higher doses. Reviews also mention developmental toxicity at high injected doses. In male rats a bark extract stopped fertility during treatment. We found no human pregnancy study and no regulator document. Treat it as avoid in pregnancy and when trying to conceive. Animal research 8 2 6 10
- Liver and blood effects at higher doses in rats. In a 28-day rat study, higher doses of a methanolic bark extract changed body weight, blood counts and blood chemistry, caused liver tissue damage, and killed two female rats at the top dose. The authors say prolonged high-dose oral use should be discouraged. No human liver case of Alstonia scholaris was found. Animal research 3 2
- Echitamine is toxic at high dose in mice. Echitamine, the main bark alkaloid, killed cancer cells but also caused toxicity in mice at the highest dose tested, with oxidative stress markers rising. No human poisoning report was found. This is why bark preparations are not treated as harmless. Animal research 9
- Pollen allergy. In 140 allergy patients in eastern India, 28.57% reacted to the tree's pollen on a skin-prick test, and seven IgE-binding proteins were found. People with hay fever or asthma living near the tree may react in the flowering season (September to November in that study). Observational 7
- Latex can irritate skin and eyes. The tree bleeds a milky latex when cut, as other plants in its family do. We found no study that measured skin or eye reactions to it, so this is a general precaution, not a measured finding. Avoid contact with broken skin and eyes. Traditional reference 1
- Possible low blood pressure. Lab work found alkaloids from the branches relax isolated rat arteries. A dog test of a leaf extract showed no blood pressure change. No bark test in people or animals was found, so low blood pressure is a possibility, not a finding. Laboratory 15 17
- Look-alike tree and mixed products. Alstonia macrophylla is used as a substitute for Alstonia scholaris in India, but the two differ in chemistry and action. A third species, Alstonia boonei, has appeared in a mixed product linked to liver and kidney injury in a single case. Check the Latin name on the label. Laboratory 10 14
Side effects 4
| Effect | How often | Severity and recovery | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hiccups, dry mouth, nausea, sleepiness, abdominal bloating (leaf alkaloid capsule) In healthy volunteers: hiccups 4/46, dry mouth and nausea 3/46, increased sleep 2/46, bloating 1/46. Rates were not clearly different from placebo (23.91% vs 18.75%). Leaf product, seven days. | about 24% of those on the extract vs 19% on placebo (any event) | mild Disappeared without treatment | Clinical 5 |
| Raised bilirubin (one volunteer, leaf alkaloid capsule) One of 46 volunteers had raised bilirubin that was possibly related; causality is unclear. | Not established | unknown Not described | Clinical 5 |
| Liver tissue damage and abnormal blood counts (rats, bark extract) Seen at higher doses over 28 days; two rats died at the top dose. | Not established | moderate to severe in animals Not described | Animal research 3 |
| Allergic reaction to pollen Skin-prick positive in 28.57% of 140 allergy patients in one region. | Not established | variable Ends with exposure | Observational 7 |
Liver
No human case of liver injury from Alstonia scholaris was found, and LiverTox was not found to have an entry (NOT verified: not read). In rats, a bark extract given for 28 days caused liver damage signs at higher doses. A multi-herb product containing a different species (Alstonia boonei) was linked to liver and kidney injury in one man, so liver risk cannot be ruled out. 3 14
How often. Unknown; no human data for A. scholaris.
Monitoring. No monitoring advice is established. Seek care for yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, pale stools, severe tiredness or belly pain.
- . 42-year-old man with probable herbal liver injury and kidney dysfunction after a mixed product with Alstonia boonei, Carica papaya and Tetrapleura tetraptera; improved after stopping.
This is a safety connection. It is not evidence that Saptaparna supports liver health.
Medicines and supplements 4
| With | Why it matters | Importance | Evidence | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blood pressure medicines drug | Lab work shows relaxation of isolated arteries by some alkaloids; no test with medicines. | Unknown; theoretical additive effect. | Laboratory Not enough evidence 15 | Tell a doctor or pharmacist if you take blood pressure medicine. |
| Medicines handled by the liver, and liver-affecting herbs drug | Rat bark-extract study showed liver tissue damage at higher doses; no enzyme interaction study found. | Unknown. | Animal research Not enough evidence 3 | Tell a doctor or pharmacist you take it, especially with other herbs or medicines known to affect the liver. |
| Fertility treatments, contraception or hormone medicines drug | Male rat fertility was suppressed during bark-extract treatment; effects in women or on hormones in people were not studied. | Unknown. | Animal research Not enough evidence 6 8 | Avoid if trying to conceive; ask a doctor if you take hormone medicines. |
| Malaria medicines drug | No interaction study. The bark showed antimalarial activity only in dishes. | Not studied. Using the bark in place of malaria treatment is dangerous. | Laboratory Not enough evidence 11 | Never replace proven malaria treatment with the bark. |
Who should check first 7
| Situation | Advice | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Pregnancy | Avoid. Mouse studies showed malformations at higher doses; no human data. | Animal research 8 2 |
| Trying to conceive (especially men) | Avoid. A bark extract suppressed fertility in male rats during treatment. | Animal research 6 |
| Breastfeeding | Avoid: no data (LactMed NOT checked). | No data |
| Children | Avoid: no safety data. | No data |
| Liver disease or heavy alcohol use | Avoid unless a doctor agrees; rat liver damage at higher doses. | Animal research 3 |
| Allergic rhinitis or asthma triggered by tree pollen | Be careful near the flowering tree; pollen sensitisation is documented. | Observational 7 |
| Low blood pressure or taking blood pressure medicine | Ask a doctor first; lab hint only. | Laboratory 15 |
Overdose, product quality and regulators
Summary. Single large oral doses of a bark extract were not toxic to rats, but 28 days at higher doses damaged the liver and blood counts, and an injected extract was developmentally toxic in mice. Echitamine was toxic to mice at the top dose.
Animal. Rat 28-day bark study: liver damage, abnormal blood counts, two deaths at the top dose. Mouse pregnancy study: malformations and deaths at higher doses. Male rat study: fertility suppressed during treatment. Echitamine: toxic to tumour mice at the highest dose.
Human doses studied. Only a leaf alkaloid capsule has been tested in people: seven days in healthy volunteers and in 55 bronchitis patients, without serious adverse events.
High dose or long term signals. Liver, blood and reproductive effects in animals; no long-term human data.
Overdose response. Unknown. Seek care if you feel unwell after taking it or after contact with the latex.
Genotoxicity. A leaf alkaloid extract was not mutagenic or chromosome-damaging in standard tests. Bark was not covered in the abstract we read.
Toxic plant parts. Bark, leaf and latex are used. The milky latex is a likely skin and eye irritant (general precaution, not measured). Pollen is allergenic. The leaf alkaloid extract looks safer in short tests than the bark extract looks in long rat tests, but they are different products.
The main concern is substitution with a look-alike tree and unstandardised bark preparations.
Substitution with Alstonia macrophylla. In India A. macrophylla is used as a substitute although it differs in chemistry and pharmacology; fingerprinting is recommended to prevent adulteration. 10
Variable strength. Our herb summary notes that decoctions are not standardised; the bark extracts used in studies differ from home preparations. 1
| Body | Action | Date |
|---|---|---|
| China NMPA (leaf alkaloid capsule) (China) | Our sources describe the leaf alkaloid capsule as an investigational botanical drug (registration number given in the papers), not an approved medicine. source |
When to get medical help
- Yellow skin or eyes, dark urine or pale stools.
- Wheezing, swelling of the face or throat, or hives after contact with the tree, pollen or latex.
- Fever after travel to a malaria area, or fever that does not settle.
Stop the supplement and contact a clinician or emergency service. In the US, Poison Control is 1-800-222-1222.
General information only, not medical advice. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before use, especially with medicines, in pregnancy or with a health condition. See the Natural Remedy Safety guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is saptaparna?
Does saptaparna work for malaria?
Not shown. A bark extract slowed malaria parasites grown in dishes, but no animal or human test of the bark was found. Use proven malaria treatment and see a doctor for fever after travel.
Does it help cough and bronchitis?
Is saptaparna safe in pregnancy?
Can it harm the liver?
In rats, 28 days of a bark extract at higher doses damaged liver tissue and blood counts. No human liver case of this species was found, but you should avoid it with liver disease.
What is echitamine?
Can the pollen cause allergy?
Yes, for some people. In an Indian survey, 28.57% of 140 allergy patients reacted to the pollen on a skin-prick test.
Is the latex dangerous?
The tree bleeds a milky latex. We found no study measuring reactions, so treat it as a likely irritant and keep it off broken skin and eyes.
Does it lower blood pressure?
Is the leaf capsule the same as the bark?
Can I use a substitute tree?
Check the label. Alstonia macrophylla is used as a substitute in India but differs in chemistry and pharmacology.
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Editorial transparency
- Written by
- AlternativeMed editorial team. Research compiled with AI assistance, then checked against PubMed records.
- Medical review
- None. This page has not been reviewed by a physician or pharmacist.
- First published
- 2026-10-25
- Last substantive update
- 2026-10-25
- How we research
- We read our existing herb summary, then searched PubMed, read the abstract of each PubMed record cited, and checked names in GBIF and PubChem. Items marked summary-only were not read further.
- How we rate evidence
- See "How we rate evidence" in the Evidence tab.
- Independence
- No product is promoted on this page. No affiliate links are shown.
Sources 17
Each source was opened and checked. Where we read only the abstract, it says so. The small numbers in the text point here.
- AlternativeMed editorial team. AlternativeMed herb summary: Saptaparna (devil's tree). internal summary file. 2026. (full-text)
- Baliga MS. Review of the phytochemical, pharmacological and toxicological properties of Alstonia scholaris Linn. R. Br (Saptaparna). Chin J Integr Med. 2012. PMID 22457172. DOI 10.1007/s11655-011-0947-0. (abstract)
- Bello I, Bakkouri AS, Tabana YM, Al-Hindi B, Al-Mansoub MA, Mahmud R, Asmawi MZ. Acute and Sub-Acute Toxicity Evaluation of the Methanolic Extract of Alstonia scholaris Stem Bark. Med Sci (Basel). 2016. PMID 29083368. DOI 10.3390/medsci4010004. (abstract)
- GBIF Secretariat. GBIF species match: Alstonia scholaris and Alstonia macrophylla. api.gbif.org. 2026. (full-text)
- Gou ZP, Zhao YL, Zou LL, Wang Y, Shu SQ, Zhu XH, Zheng L, Shen Q, Luo Z, Miao J, Wang YS, Luo XD, Feng P. The safety and tolerability of alkaloids from Alstonia scholaris leaves in healthy Chinese volunteers: a single-centre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase I study. Pharm Biol. 2021. PMID 33899689. DOI 10.1080/13880209.2021.1893349. (abstract)
- Gupta RS, Sharma R, Sharma A, Bhatnager AK, Dobhal MP, Joshi YC, Sharma MC. Effect of Alstonia scholaris bark extract on testicular function of Wistar rats. Asian J Androl. 2002. PMID 12364971. (abstract)
- Hussain MM, Mandal J, Bhattacharya K. Aerobiological, clinical, and immunobiochemical studies on Alstonia scholaris pollen from Eastern India. Environ Monit Assess. 2014. PMID 23963866. DOI 10.1007/s10661-013-3390-1. (abstract)
- Jagetia GC, Baliga MS. Induction of developmental toxicity in mice treated with Alstonia scholaris (Sapthaparna) in utero. Birth Defects Res B Dev Reprod Toxicol. 2003. PMID 14745981. DOI 10.1002/bdrb.10047. (abstract)
- Jagetia GC, Baliga MS, Venkatesh P, Ulloor JN, Mantena SK, Genebriera J, Mathuram V. Evaluation of the cytotoxic effect of the monoterpene indole alkaloid echitamine in-vitro and in tumour-bearing mice. J Pharm Pharmacol. 2005. PMID 16105243. DOI 10.1211/jpp.57.9.0017. (abstract)
- Khyade MS, Kasote DM, Vaikos NP. Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br. and Alstonia macrophylla Wall. ex G. Don: A comparative review on traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology. J Ethnopharmacol. 2014. PMID 24486598. DOI 10.1016/j.jep.2014.01.025. (abstract)
- Lalngaihmanawmi L, Lalthanpuii PB, Lalruatfela B, Nundanga L, Lalchhandama K. Multifaceted anti-infective efficacy of Alstonia scholaris (Mizoram chemotype) against fungal, malarial, and intestinal helminth infections. Vet World. 2026. PMID 42344326. DOI 10.14202/vetworld.2026.2023-2037. (abstract)
- Li R, Zhao YL, Qin F, Zhao Y, Xiao XR, Cao WY, Fan MR, Wang SG, Wu Y, Wang B, Fan CZ, Guo ZN, Yang QN, Zhang WT, Li XG, Li F, Luo XD, Gao R. The clinical population pharmacokinetics, metabolomics and therapeutic analysis of alkaloids from Alstonia scholaris leaves in acute bronchitis patients. Phytomedicine. 2022. PMID 35176533. DOI 10.1016/j.phymed.2022.153979. (abstract)
- PubChem (NCBI). PubChem compound records: echitamine, picrinine, scholaricine, vallesamine. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2026. (full-text)
- Zacharia GS, Ravte V, Jyala A, Shehi E. Complementary and Alternative Medicine-Induced Combined Hepatorenal Toxicity: A Case Report. Cureus. 2025. PMID 41602262. DOI 10.7759/cureus.100197. (abstract)
- Zhang F, Yang K, Liu H, Yang T, Zhou R, Zhang X, Zhan G, Guo Z. Structurally diverse monoterpene indole alkaloids with vasorelaxant activities from the branches of Alstonia scholaris. Phytochemistry. 2023. PMID 36791874. DOI 10.1016/j.phytochem.2023.113610. (abstract)
- Zhao YL, Cao J, Shang JH, Liu YP, Khan A, Wang HS, Qian Y, Liu L, Ye M, Luo XD. Airways antiallergic effect and pharmacokinetics of alkaloids from Alstonia scholaris. Phytomedicine. 2017. PMID 28314480. DOI 10.1016/j.phymed.2017.02.002. (abstract)
- Zhao YL, Su M, Shang JH, Wang X, Bao GL, Ma J, Sun QD, Yuan F, Wang JK, Luo XD. Genotoxicity and Safety Pharmacology Studies of Indole Alkaloids Extract from Leaves of Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br.. Nat Prod Bioprospect. 2020. PMID 32356224. DOI 10.1007/s13659-020-00242-4. (abstract)