Common Name:

General Information

Alangium salviifolium is a scrambling, deciduous shrub or small tree that can grow up to 20 metres tall, but is usually smaller[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild, especially in India, for its use in traditional medicine[]. It is also a valued local source of wood and is often grown as an ornamental[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

East Africa - Kenya, Tanzania; E. Asia - southern China, Indian subcontinent, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines.

Habitat

Forests, at elevations below 1,200 metres in southern China[]. Lowland rainforest and riverine forest, at elevations up to 750 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	12.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Birds
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in any moderately fertile, well-drained soil and requires a position in full sun[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The bark is commonly used medicinally in India[]. Very bitter, it is emetic and is used as a substitute for ipecacuanha (Carapichea ipecacuanha)[].

The roots are anthelmintic and purgative[]. The juice is used to expel worms, and to treat conditions such as piles, dropsy, hypertension, diarrhoea, fever, back pain, blood disorders, snake and rat bites, leprosy and other skin diseases[, ].

A decoction of the whole plant, combined with the fruit of coconut palm (Cocos nucifera), is used externally for the treatment of boils[].

The stem is used to cure diarrhoea and vomiting[].

The leaves are used to cure asthma and as cataplasm to reduce rheumatic pains[].

The fruit is used as purgative, expectorant, carminative and as an antidote for poisoning[].
The fruit juice is applied to the eyes to cure eye diseases[].

The alkaloid alangine has been isolated from the plant; this compound acts on the parasympathetic nervous system[]. Other alkaloids, including cephaline, emetine and psychotrine, have also been isolated[].
Leaf and wood extracts showed antifungal activity.[].
The compounds 1-methyl-1H-pyrimidine-2,4-dione and 3–0-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(24β)-ethylcholesta-5,22,25-triene have been extracted from the flowers; they showed significant activity against a number of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria[].

Other Uses

The twigs are used for brushing the teeth[].

A mixture of the mature fruits, combined with honey and the roots of sweet flag (Acorus calamus), is used as a pesticide to manage pests on agricultural crops[].

A non-edible oil from the seeds is used as an illuminant[].

The brown wood is close grained and heavy[]. Its density varies widely from 440 - 1,100 kg/m³ at 15% moisture. It air dries well without checking, works well, bends easily and takes a good finish. It is not durable and should not be used for exterior purposes, especially when in contact with the ground[]. The wood is valued for musical instruments and furniture in India; it is used in construction for beams and flooring; cabinet work, inlaying, carving, bobbins, spindles, pestles, oil mills, shuttles, rice pestles, tool handles, walking sticks, gunstocks and handicraft articles[, ]. The stems are traditionally used for making spears in Kenya[].

Propagation

Seed -
Cuttings of half ripe wood[].

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