Ankol or Alangium Salvifolium is an medicinal plant traditionally used for treatment of hemorrhoids, rheumatic arthritis, loose stools, herpes, blood disorders etc. Each part of ankol tree including roots, leaves, stem and bark has several medicinal values in the Ayurveda. In modern scientific literatures, the plant has been reported to have potential efficacy against diabetes, peptic ulcer, arthritis, inflammation and anthelminthic activities etc. A. salvifolium is reported to contain various biologically active phytochemicals such as alangine, ankorine, tubulosine, alangicine, salsoline etc. The present review highlights the traditional uses of different parts of A. salvifolium, its phytochemical constituents with therapeutic activity and the evidence based studies on various pharmacological effects of the plant.
They are small, thorny deciduous tree which grows up to a height of 5-10 meters.Bark yellowish, leaves alternate, elliptical and usually unequal at the base; flowers-yellowish white, fragrant, in axillary fascicles,fruits 1-2 seeded,1cm in length,1-2 seeded berries crowned by the calyx lobes.
The Alangium salvifolium consist different phytoconstituents in different part of the plant. Leaves, roots and seeds of Alangium salvifolium contain the alkaloids, steroids, triterpenoids flavonoids, steroids, glycosides, tannins, oil and saponins. Plant also consist monoterpenoid lactam, alangiside, loganic acid, venoterpine, dl-salsoline and isocephaeline.
Leaves of Alangium salvifolium contain alkaloids, deoxytubulosine, alangimarckine, dehydroprotoemetine etc. Three new phenolic glycosides, salviifosides A-C, and three known compounds salicin, kaempferol, and kaempferol 3-O-b-D-glucopyranoside were isolated from the leaves of Alangium salviifolium.
Root bark contains the alkaloids, emetine, cephaeline, psychotrine, tubulosine, isotubulosine alangium A, alangium B, marckidine, marckine, and alangine, and also myricyl alcohol, de-Me-psychotrine, alangicin, stigmasterol and ß-sitosterol. Stem bark contains the alkaloids, alangine, akharkantine, akoline and lamarkine.
Seed alkaloids include emetine, cephaeline, N-methylcephaeline, psychotrine, betuline, betulinaldehyde, lipeol, betulinic acid and ß-sitosterol. Stigmasta- 5, 22, 25- trien-3ß-ol, myristic acid, E-cis- fused neohopane derivetives, alangidiol and its isomer; N- benzoyl-L-Ph-alaninol, and 3 unidentified triterpenoids also isolated from the plant.
Forests, at elevations below 1,200 metres in southern China. Lowland rainforest and riverine forest, at elevations up to 750 metres.
Ankol (Alangium Salvifolium) is helpful in following health conditions.
Roots pacify Kapha and Vata. Fruits pacify Vata and Pitta.
Hindi | Sanskrit | English | |
---|---|---|---|
Rasa | Kashaya | Taste | Astringent, Bitter and Pungent |
Veerya | Sheet | Potency | Hot |
Vipaka | Katu | Post-digestive effect | Katu |
Guna | Laghu | Characteristics | Light to digest, unctuous, oily, strong, piercing |
Side effects of the Ankol Roots
The most common side effect of Ankol seeds and fruit is loss of appetite. However, no other adverse effect is observed.