This species was previously known as Phaeanthus ebracteolatus (C.Presl) Merr. See I. M. Turner and J. F. Veldkamp; 'William Roxburgh's eye plant and its relevance in the nomenclature of Phaeanthus (Annonaceae)' Kew Bulletin Vol. 66, No. 4 (2011), pp. 571-579 for the reasons for the name change[].

Common Name:

General Information

Phaeanthus ophthalmicus is an evergreen shrub or tree that can grow up to 20 metres tall. The bole can be up to 35cm in diameter[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southeast Asia - Malaysia (Sabah), Brunei, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea.

Habitat

An understorey tree, common in primary and secondary lowland forest, on steep hills, especially ridges, on river banks and in open locations, on various soils; at elevations up to 800 mtres[, ].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	12.00 m
Pollinators	Flies, Beetles
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Plants can flower and produce fruit all year round[].
The extreme forms within Phaeanthus ebracteolatus differ morphologically quite a lot; this might be an indication of some ongoing speciation[].
The flowers have a sweet, apple-like smell[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Both the inner bark and the leaves are a traditional medicine for sore eyes[].
A soluble extract from the bark is well-known as a treatment for sore eyes[]. After the outer portion of the bark has been removed, very thin pieces of plant scrapings are placed in a small amount of water. The mixture is macerated and filtered through a piece of cloth, and dropped into sore eyes with inflammed conjunctiva, daily until the conjunctivitis is cured[]. The scrapings or shavings left over, packed in a banana leaf, heated, cooled and then squeezed, can be used again in the same manner[].

The extract of the bark is also used as an antispasmodic as well as to cure ulcers and small wounds[].

Three alkaloids have been isolated from the bark and leaves - Phaeanthine, Kalimatine and Phaeantharine[].
Phaeanthine has been credited with anti-tuberculotic effects[].
Phaeantharine has practically the same effect on the body as a solution of the bark, i.e. Direct depression of the smooth muscles in vascular, intestinal, tracheal and uterine preparations[].
Moderate or large doses of the alkaloid solution cause hypotension - lowering blood pressure and relaxing smooth muscles. With sufficient large doses it also depresses the intestine, tracheal muscles and uterus, and is able to counteract the stimulant effects produced by pilocarpine and histamine in the excised uterus. The fall in blood pressure was of longer duration than that produced by nitroglycerine and acetylcholine, two well-known drugs that lower the blood pressure. With fatal doses, respiration was first increased then decreased and stopped. Blood pressure fell to zero through cessation of the heart beat a few minutes after the failure of respiration. When artificial respiration was applied the heart kept beating and after some time blood pressure increased again. On the basis of these effects, both phaeanthine and phaeantharine are said to be similar to the curare alkaloids[].
Phaeantharine also has a potent larvicidal effect in mosquitoes, due to ganglionic blocking action, cholinesterase inhibition and a neuromuscular blockade. It has no effect on the pupae and adult stages. Being water-soluble it can be dissolved easily in water where mosquitos breed[].

Other Uses

The bark is used for tying purposes[, ].

The wood is yellow to white[]. It is used for light construction for houses etc[, ].

Propagation

Seed -

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