Alstonia scholaris

At a glance

Origin / distribution: India(Santal), Malaya, Turkey, Java, Thailand, India, Sumatra, Philippines

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Ache(Head), Ache(Leg), Antidote(Antiaris), Asthma

Science studied: BETULINIC-ACID, BETULIN

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Apocynaceae

Scientific name: Alstonia scholaris

Common names: Alistonia, Baltoji alstonija, Blackboard Tree, Cay Sua, Chatim, Common Alstonia, Dita, Dogbane, Hoa sữa, Indian devil tree, Milkwood Pine, Milky Pine, Mo Cua, Pulai Hitam, Pulai Itam, Pulai Tree, Puulaa Puu Teh, Quinquina d'Inde, Sataban

POWO: 60445977-2 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in India(Santal), Malaya, Turkey, Java, Thailand, India, Sumatra, Philippines and 2 additional places.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Ache(Head)
• Ache(Leg)
• Antidote(Antiaris)
• Asthma
• Astringent
• Beriberi
• Boil
• Cancer

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• India(Santal)
• Malaya
• Turkey
• Java
• Thailand
• India
• Sumatra
• Philippines
• New Guinea
• East Indies

Documented cultural uses

• Ache(Head)
• Ache(Leg)
• Antidote(Antiaris)
• Asthma
• Astringent
• Beriberi
• Boil
• Cancer
• Cholera
• Cough
• Diabetes
• Diarrhea

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Ache(Head) · India(Santal) · "
• Ache(Leg) · India(Santal) · "
• Antidote(Antiaris) · Malaya · "
• Asthma · India(Santal) · "
• Astringent · Turkey · "
• Beriberi · Malaya · "
• Boil · Java · "
• Cancer · Thailand · "
• Cholera · India(Santal) · "
• Cough · Java · "
• Diabetes · Java · "
• Diarrhea · India · "
• Dyschezia · Sumatra · "
• Dysentery · India · "
• Enterosis · Malaya · "
• Expectorant · Turkey · "
• Fever · Sumatra · "
• Fever · Turkey · "
• Fever · Philippines · "
• Hemiplegia · India(Santal) · "
• Internal · New Guinea · "
• Malaria · India · "
• Nausea · Sumatra · "
• Neuralgia · India(Santal) · "

25 additional documented entries remain in the source record.

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• Therapeutic Potential of Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br. in Diabetic Wound Management: An Ethnomedicinal Perspective. · 2026 source ↗
• In silico evaluation of <i>Alstonia scholaris</i> phytochemicals against periodontal pathogens. · 2025 source ↗
• Managing circadian rhythm involved in alleviating membranous nephropathy by alkaloids of Alstonia scholaris. · 2025 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• BETULINIC-ACID
• BETULIN

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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