Abstract

PHYTOCHEMISTRY AND CHROMATOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF ALSTONIA SCHOLARIS (L.) R.Br. USED AS A TRADITIONAL MEDICINE: A REVIEW

Anupam Maurya, Subash C. Verma*, Rampratap Meena, Jayanthy A., Anupam Srivastava, Madhira B. Shankar and Rajeev Kr. Sharma

Abstract

Alstonia scholaris (L.) R.Br. is known as Saptaparni or Devil Tree in India. It is used in the traditional system of medicine like Ayurveda, Unani, Sidhha and Homoeopathy therapies against different diseases such as malaria, fever, dysentery, asthma, diarrhoea, epilepsy, skin diseases, snake bite etc. The plant of A. scholaris having grayish rough bark and milky sap rich in poisonous alkaloids. Plantis phytochemically investigated and reported to contain various iridoids, alkaloids, coumarins, flavonoids, leucoanthocyanins, phenolic, steroids, tannins, saponins and volatile oils. Monoterpenoid indole alkaloids (Echitamine), picralima group, picrinine-type alkaloids are the major constituents of the A. scholaris. Various chromatographic analyses have been reported by HPTLC, HPLC and GCMS for the quality assessment of the plant and quantitative estimation of the phytochemical markers. This review compiles reports on phytochemical and chromatographic analysis and uses aspects of A. scholaris.

Keywords: Alstonia scholaris, Phytochemistry, chromatographic analysis, Traditional uses.