Alstonia congensis

Alstonia congensis, is a tree within the Apocynaceae family and one of two African species within the Alstonia genus, the other being the Alstonia boonei De Wild. Both have similar morphological characteristics.

Alstonia congensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Apocynaceae
Genus: Alstonia
Species:
A. congensis
Binomial name
Alstonia congensis
Synonyms[2][3]

Alstonia congensis var. glabrata Hutch. & Dalziel
Alstonia gilletii De Wild.
Alstonia pedicellata Pierre ex A.Chev.

The root and stem bark contains the alkaloids echitamine and echitamidine.[4]

Description

The species can grow as high as 30 meters tall, trunk is cylindrical; bark, smooth or scaly, brown - yellow. Leaves, between 4 and 8 together in verticillate arrangement, petiole, 0-0.5 cm long; leaf-blade, obovate to narrowly obovate in outline, glaucous or coriaceous upper surface, duller beneath, acuminate at apex and decurrent into the base.[5] Flower: sepals, glabrous or sparsely pubescent, pale green.[6]

Distribution

Occurs in West Tropical Africa and parts of Central Africa, particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo,[6] grows in high forest and freshwater swamp forest.[7]

Uses

Leaf and root bark extracts used in the topical treatment of rheumatic pains,[6] root extracts used in decoction to treat mild malaria fever.[8]

References
  1. Hills, R. (2019). "Alstonia congensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T60760828A60760831. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T60760828A60760831.en. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  2. "Alstonia congensis Engl". Plants of the World Online. The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. n.d. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  3. "Alstonia congensis Engl". Catalogue of Life. Species 2000. n.d. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  4. Caron, Catherine; Graftieaux, Alain; Massiot, Georges; Le Men-Olivier, Louisette; Delaude, Clement (1989). "Alkaloids from Alstonia congensis". Phytochemistry. 28 (4): 1241–1244. Bibcode:1989PChem..28.1241C. doi:10.1016/0031-9422(89)80218-3.
  5. "de Jong, B.H.J. 1979: A revision of the African species of Alstonia R.Br. (Apocynaceae). – Mededelingen Landbouwhogeschool Wageningen 79-13: 1-16 | Flora of Central Africa". floreafriquecentrale.org. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  6. Monachino, Joseph (1949). "A Revision of the Genus Alstonia (Apocynaceae)". Pacific Science; A Quarterly Devoted to the Biological and Physical Sciences of the Pacific Region. hdl:10125/8927. ISSN 0030-8870.
  7. Jayeola, A. A. (2008-04-18). "Surface sculpturing of Alstonia booneii DE WILD. and A. congensis ENGL. (Apocynaceae) and its importance on their taxonomy". Feddes Repertorium. 109 (5–6): 429–433. doi:10.1002/fedr.19981090514.
  8. Cimanga, R. Kanyanga; Nsaka, S. Lumpu; Tshodi, M. Ehata; Mbamu, B. Maya; Kikweta, C. Munduku; Makila, F. Bool-Miting; Cos, Paul; Maes, Louis; Vlietinck, Arnold J.; Exarchou, Vassiliki; Tuenter, Emmy (2019). "In vitro and in vivo antiplasmodial activity of extracts and isolated constituents of Alstonia congensis root bark". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 242: 111736. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2019.02.019. hdl:10067/1617780151162165141. PMID 30763695. S2CID 73436555.
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