Alstonia congensis

Alstonia congensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Gentianales
Family:	Apocynaceae
Genus:	Alstonia
Species:	A. congensis
Binomial name
	Alstonia congensis; Engl.

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.

The root and stem bark contains the alkaloids echitamine and echitamidine.^[1]

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, glaucuous or coriaceous upper surface, duller beneath, acuminate at apex and decurrent into the base.^[2] Flower: sepals, glabrous or sparsely pubescent, pale green.^[3]

Distribution[]

Occurs in West Tropical Africa and parts of Central Africa, particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo,^[3] grows in high forest and freshwater swamp forest.^[4]

Uses[]

Leaf and root bark extracts used in the topical treatment of rheumatic pains,^[3] root extracts used in decoction to treat mild malaria fever.^[5]

References[]

^ Caron, Catherine; Graftieaux, Alain; Massiot, Georges; Le Men-Olivier, Louisette; Delaude, Clement (1989). "Alkaloids from Alstonia congensis". Phytochemistry. 28 (4): 1241–1244. doi:10.1016/0031-9422(89)80218-3.
^ "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.
^ ^a ^b ^c Monachino, Joseph (1949). "A Revision of the Genus Alstonia (Apocynaceae)". ISSN 0030-8870. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
^ 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.
^ 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.

[1] Caron, Catherine; Graftieaux, Alain; Massiot, Georges; Le Men-Olivier, Louisette; Delaude, Clement (1989). "Alkaloids from Alstonia congensis". Phytochemistry. 28 (4): 1241–1244. doi:10.1016/0031-9422(89)80218-3.

[2] "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.

[:0-3] Monachino, Joseph (1949). "A Revision of the Genus Alstonia (Apocynaceae)". ISSN 0030-8870. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

[4] 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.

[5] 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.

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