14.1 Introduction
Alstonia is a widespread genus of trees and shrubs in the family of Apocynaceae.
This genus is mainly distributed in Central America, Himalayas, China, tropical
Africa, Malesia, Philippine, and Australia. In 1810, Robert Brown (1685–1760)
described the genus in honor of Charles Alston, a renowned botanist at the
University of Edinburgh (1740–1760). A. scholaris, A. spectabilis, A. venenata, and
A. costata were the four species referred by Robert Brown in the Alstonia genus
(Sidiyasa 1998). According to the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
(WCSP), approximately 155 species (49 accepted species name) were identified in
the Alstonia genus (Govaerts and Leeuwenberg 2016). As per The Plant List, 114
scientific plant species rank for the genus Alstonia, wherein 43 were accepted as a
species name (The Plant List 2013). Alstonia genus is documented to possess
various health benefits for traditional uses. An ancient Ayurvedic textbook
‘Bhavaprakasha’ has been well documented the therapeutic significance of A.
scholaris. According to that saptaparna (vernacular name of A. scholaris) can cure
ulcer, mitigate vaata and kapha, heal various skin diseases including leprosy,
anti-parasitic activity, anti-asthmatic activities, etc. Generally, the Alstonia genus is
traditionally used for liver and intestinal troubles, heart diseases, respiratory-related
symptoms, various skin diseases, fever, and vulnerary conditions (Khyade et al.
2014). In African Pharmacopoeia, A.booeni is listed as an antimalarial drug (Olajide
et al. 2000). Along with the development of the modern scientific era, investigation
of various secondary metabolites from this genus has gained more attention for a
diversified pharmacological activity. Among these endeavors, numerous classes of
phytochemicals such as alkaloids, iridoids, coumarins, flavonoids, simple phenolics, steroids, and fatty acids have been identified. In addition to that various
pharmacological activities of these phytochemicals were also explored. In some of
the cases, identified pharmacological activities were further provided a full proof
basis for their traditional uses. In China, the monoterpenoid indole alkaloidal
component from the A. scholaris leaves was formulated as a capsule and currently,
it has completed the phase I clinical trial for the respiratory-related ailments (Li
et al. 2019). The obtained promising results provided additional value to the traditional uses of these plants for respiratory problems.
The present chapter is mainly focused on the critical analysis of various species of
Alstonia (approximately 32 species). A comprehensive literature analysis of Alstonia
genus showed the presence of approximately 800 compounds embracing alkaloids,
iridoids, flavonoids, fatty acids, etc., and it exhibited a multifarious range of pharmacological activity such as anti-cancer, anti-spasmodic, antitussive, antiarthritic,
and antioxidant. In the present chapter, pharmacological activities of the isolated
secondary metabolites are discussed. Further, a higher number of patents have been
filed for variety of applications for Alstonia that includes pharmaceutical applications
also. In many patents, Alstonia is a single component in the polyherbal formulation.
The Alstonia containing polyherbal formulation is beyond the scope of the book
chapter. Hence, in this chapter, we have selected the patents, wherein the Alstonia
464
A. T. Paul et al.
Alstonia is a widespread genus of trees and shrubs in the family of Apocynaceae.
This genus is mainly distributed in Central America, Himalayas, China, tropical
Africa, Malesia, Philippine, and Australia. In 1810, Robert Brown (1685–1760)
described the genus in honor of Charles Alston, a renowned botanist at the
University of Edinburgh (1740–1760). A. scholaris, A. spectabilis, A. venenata, and
A. costata were the four species referred by Robert Brown in the Alstonia genus
(Sidiyasa 1998). According to the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
(WCSP), approximately 155 species (49 accepted species name) were identified in
the Alstonia genus (Govaerts and Leeuwenberg 2016). As per The Plant List, 114
scientific plant species rank for the genus Alstonia, wherein 43 were accepted as a
species name (The Plant List 2013). Alstonia genus is documented to possess
various health benefits for traditional uses. An ancient Ayurvedic textbook
‘Bhavaprakasha’ has been well documented the therapeutic significance of A.
scholaris. According to that saptaparna (vernacular name of A. scholaris) can cure
ulcer, mitigate vaata and kapha, heal various skin diseases including leprosy,
anti-parasitic activity, anti-asthmatic activities, etc. Generally, the Alstonia genus is
traditionally used for liver and intestinal troubles, heart diseases, respiratory-related
symptoms, various skin diseases, fever, and vulnerary conditions (Khyade et al.
2014). In African Pharmacopoeia, A.booeni is listed as an antimalarial drug (Olajide
et al. 2000). Along with the development of the modern scientific era, investigation
of various secondary metabolites from this genus has gained more attention for a
diversified pharmacological activity. Among these endeavors, numerous classes of
phytochemicals such as alkaloids, iridoids, coumarins, flavonoids, simple phenolics, steroids, and fatty acids have been identified. In addition to that various
pharmacological activities of these phytochemicals were also explored. In some of
the cases, identified pharmacological activities were further provided a full proof
basis for their traditional uses. In China, the monoterpenoid indole alkaloidal
component from the A. scholaris leaves was formulated as a capsule and currently,
it has completed the phase I clinical trial for the respiratory-related ailments (Li
et al. 2019). The obtained promising results provided additional value to the traditional uses of these plants for respiratory problems.
The present chapter is mainly focused on the critical analysis of various species of
Alstonia (approximately 32 species). A comprehensive literature analysis of Alstonia
genus showed the presence of approximately 800 compounds embracing alkaloids,
iridoids, flavonoids, fatty acids, etc., and it exhibited a multifarious range of pharmacological activity such as anti-cancer, anti-spasmodic, antitussive, antiarthritic,
and antioxidant. In the present chapter, pharmacological activities of the isolated
secondary metabolites are discussed. Further, a higher number of patents have been
filed for variety of applications for Alstonia that includes pharmaceutical applications
also. In many patents, Alstonia is a single component in the polyherbal formulation.
The Alstonia containing polyherbal formulation is beyond the scope of the book
chapter. Hence, in this chapter, we have selected the patents, wherein the Alstonia
464
A. T. Paul et al.