Polyalthia Longifolia

Botanical Name: Polyalthia longifolia Thw.

Family: Annonaceae

 Introduction:

This ornamental tree mainly used as adulterant for  asoka and devadaru. Actually there is no confusion which plant is asoka, but pharmacy industry considered as ulkalam as one of the synonyms of asoka, and  Polyalthia longifolia considered as ulkalam. Then they made use of this plant as asoka. Better to avoid usage of this plant because it causes the cardiac depression.

 

Names in different Indian languages

English	Mast tree, Fake Asoka tree, False Devadaru, Cemetry tree
Hindi	Debdari, asoka
Kannada	Assoti
Malayalam	Aranamaram
Sanskrit
Tamil	Asogu , nettilingam
Telugu	Asokamu
Unani
Folk

 

 

 

Synonyms

 

Classification according to Charaka, Susrutha & Vagbhata

 

Charaka
Susrutha
Vagbhata

 
 

 

Varieties & adulterants – (CV – controversy, AD – adulterants)  

 Ulkatah  -CV

Kastadaruh -CV

 used for adulterant as asoka

Morphology

Evergreen ornamental tree, grows 6-10 m height

Leaves –simple, alternate, undulate margins

Flower – yellowish

Fruit- berry

Distribution & Habitat

All over India

 

Chemical constituents:

 Clerodane diterpenes, polyalthialdoic acid and kolavenic acid, cytotoxic aporphine alkaloid, liriodenine,

 

Karma –

Febrifuge, cardiac depressing

Indication:

Fever, skin disease

Part used:

Bark  

Dosage:  

Powder 2-4 g

Decoction 50-100 ml

Descriptions on Ayurveda books / Nighandu:

About katadaru and Ulkata

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