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nandivriksha - Tabernaemontana divaricata

nandivriksha - Tabernaemontana divaricata - Apocynaceae

nandivriksha :

Tabernaemontana divaricata Tabernaemontana divaricata (Apocynaceae), commonly called pinwheel flower or anupams kindi, crape jasmine, East India rosebay and Neros crown[2] is an evergreen shrub native to India and now cultivated throughout South East Asia and the warmer regions of continental Asia. In zones where it is not hardy it is grown as a house/glasshouse plant for its attractive flowers and foliage. The stem exudes a milky latex when broken, whence the name milk flower (দুধফুল), টগর or কাঠমল্লিকা in the Bengali language

HISTORICAL AND MYTHOLOGICAL REVIEW:

Tabernaemontana divaricata is a plant is placed in front of the home is the sign of wealth. Five petals having Nandyavarta is having special medicinal features. It is also used for worshiping god.

Taxonomical Classification

Kingdom: Plantae - Plants
Subkingdom: Streptophyta
Superdivision: Spermatophyta - Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons
Family: Apocynaceae
Genus: Tabernaemontana
Species: Tabernaemontana divaricata


Allied species:

Taberna discolor (Sw.) Miers
Tabernaemontana citrifolia Lunan
Tabernaemontana coronaria (Jacq.) Willd.
Tabernaemontana discolor Sw.
Tabernaemontana flabelliformis (Tsiang) P.T.Li
Tabernaemontana gratissima Lindl.
Tabernaemontana indica Willd. ex Roem. & Schult. [Illegitimate]
Tabernaemontana lurida Van Heurck & Müll.Arg.
Tabernaemontana recurva Roxb. ex Lindl.
Tabernaemontana siamensis Warb. ex Pit.
Testudipes recurva (Roxb. ex Lindl.) Markgr.
Vinca alba Noronha[



VERNACULAR NAMES

Sanskrit: nandivrksah
English: Indian rosebay Crape jasmine, Moonbeam, Carnation of India
Hindi: Chandni चांदनी , Tagar तगर, Tagari तगरी
Urdu: Chaandni
Telugu: gandhitagarapu
Bengali: tagar
Marathi: Ananta, Tagar
Konkani: अनंत ananta
Gujarathi: Sagar
Tamil: நந்தியார்வட்டை Nandiar vattai
Malayalam: nantyarvattam
Kannada: ನಂದಿಬಟ್ಟಲು Nandi Battalu
Spanish: Rosa de hielo
Chinese: 狗牙花 gou ya hua
Sinhalese: wathusudda වතුසුද්ද


Varities:

The size of the flowers also varies. It can be from 2.5 to 5 cm across. The white petals are five in number with a slight twist towards the left (idampiri in Malayalam), making the flower appear like a pinwheel. There is also a variety with the twist towards the right (valampiri), but I think it is rare.

There is also a variety with fragrant double-flower. The normal variety is not fragrant.

Definition

Tabernaemontanus is the Latinized name of Bergzabern; the specific name is the perfect participle of the Latin verb “divarico” = to open wide, to diverge, with refrence to the branches.

Synonyms

Synonyms in Ayurveda: nandivriksha , Khsirika, Ksheeri, Vishnupriya

As per beliefs, its white flowers are special for Lord Vishnu. So in Sanskrit, it has a name – Vishnupriya.
Rasa: Kashaya Tikta
Guna: Laghu Ruksha Teeskhsna
Veerya: Ushna
Vipaka: Katu
Karma: Kaphahara Vatahara

Considered antioxidant, anti-infection, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, analgesic.



Cultivation:

A plant of tropical and subtropical areas, growing at low to medium elevations Succeeds in full sun to partial shade Prefers a fertile, moist but well-drained soil.
The plant can flower all year round



Propogation:

Seed and Cuttings


Harvesting:

It reproduces by seed, previously immersed in water for two days, in draining organic loam maintained humid at the temperature of 24-26 °C, with germination times of 1-2 months; it propagates also by cutting with bottom heat in spring. Thanks to the luxuriant foliage and the blooming almost continuous with pleasant smell in the evening hours.


Phytochemistry:

Roots contain resin, extractive matter and a bitter alkaloid.
- The milky juice contains caoutchouc and resin.
- Studies have yielded alkaloids and non-alkaloid constituents, flavonoids, phenyl propanoids, phenolic acids and enzymes.
- Phytochemical screening of an ethanol extract yielded steroids, tannins, saponins, gums and reducing sugar.
- Phytochemical screening of hydroalcoholic and aqueous extracts of leaves yielded the presence of alkaloids, tannins, resins, proteins, amino acids, flavonoids, saponins, phenols, glycosides, steroids, triterpenoids, fixed oils, and fats. 
 Study of ethanol, acetone, and water extracts for amino acids yielded 2-aminobutyric acid (E,W), proline (A,W), cysteine hydrochloride (W), leucine and iso-leucine (W). 
- Phytochemical screening of ethyl acetate and methanol extract of leaves yielded alkaloids, flavonoids, carbohydrates, phenolic compounds, glycosides and tannins. Petroleum ether and chloroform extracts yielded steroids and triterpenes. 
• Study of branches and leaves yielded three new monoterpene indole alkaloids: 3α-hydroxymethyl-ibogamine (1), 3α-acetatemethoxyl-ibogamine (2), 16α-hydroxyl-ibogamine (3) along with six known alkaloids


PHARMACOLOGY:

Important formulations:
MYAXYL OIL by kerala ayurveda limited



Parts used for medicinal purpose

Bark, Flower, Leaves, Root, ,

Dosage:

1. Root paste - 3 g once a day

Antidote:

The bark and roots are used as an antidote for snake bite.


Adultrants:

Is used as an adulterant of Rauvolfia serpentina

Commercial value:

The plant responds well to trimming and makes an attractive flowering hedge
- considered a sacred plant in India, flowers used in religious offerings; wood is aromatic
- this plant is often used to decorate patios and gardens



Morphology:

The Tabernaemontana divaricata (L.) R.Br. ex Roem. & Schult. (1819) is a shrub or small evergreen tree, up to about 4 m tall, with dichotomous ramifications and milky sap. The leaves, on a 0,4-1 cm long petiole, are opposite, simple, oblong-lanceolate with long pointed apex and entire margin slightly waved, 7-15 cm long and 2-4 cm broad, of intense green colour and glossy above, opaque below and prominent veins. The inflorescences, at the axil of the upper bifurcations of the branches, are cymes carrying 2-10 flowers of 3-5 cm of diameter that smell at night. Calyx with ovate sepals, hypocraterimorphous corolla (with lobes spread perpendicularly to a long and thin tube) with greenish tube 1,5-2,5 cm long, oblong-ovate lobes, 1,5-2,5 cm long and about 1 cm broad, of white colour with yellow centre, waxy. The fruits are oblong follicles in couple with a pointed curved extension, of 4-7 cm of length and of 0,8-1,5 cm of diameter, containing several seeds covered by red aril.

Histology:

The transverse section of the stem shows the presence of undifferentiated cells known as the cortex in the outer region. They are followed by an extended part of the cortex, which consists of 7-8 layers of Phellogen, followed by 6-7 layers of Phelloderm.

Geographical distribution:

Global Distribution
India: Assam, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh

Local Distribution
Throughout Assam


ECOLOGICAL ASPECT:

Montane brushwoods, sparse forests; at elevations of 100 - 1,600 metres in southern China]. Light forest, usually in the hills, from sea-level to 1,400 metres

Plant conservation:

Not Evaluated 


General Use:

The wood is refrigerant
The roots are astringent. A decoction is used in the treatment of diarrhoea and various abdominal complaints. An infusion is applied as a remedy for jungle fever. The roots are used in modern medicine to treat hypertension, headache, and scabies.
The pounded roots are applied to sore eyes. The root is employed as a local anodyne and chewed for the relief of toothache


Therapeutic Uses:

the roots are used to treat hypertension, headache, and scabies

Systemic Use:

The pounded leaves are an ingredient of a cough medicine taken as an infusion. An infusion of the leaves is used to treat grippe (influenza)

The flowers, mixed with oil, are applied to sore eyes
The latex of the leaves is used as a cooling application for wounds to prevent inflammation
In Thailand, the plant is used as an emetic

The roots, leaves, and flowers are all used in the treatment of snake and scorpion poisoning


Administration:

Root, bark, leaves, sap, flowers

Pharmacological:

Grape jasmine is widely used as a medicinal herb in the tropics. Indeed, in India the applications in traditional medicine are so numerous that the plant may well be classified as a panacea for gastro-intestinal, urogenital and skin affections Considered antioxidant, anti-infection, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, analgesic.

Clinical trials:

1. Gastroprotective Effect of Tabernaemontana divaricata (Linn.) R.Br. Flower Methanolic Extract in Wistar Rats / Mohammed Safwan Ali Khan / British Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 2011; 1(3): pp 88-98

2. Antidiabetic and Cytotoxic Activities of Methanolic Extract of Tabernaemontana divaricata (L.) Flowers / Md. Masudur Rahman, Md. Saiful Islam, Md. Sekendar Ali, Md. Rafikul Islam, Md. Zakir Hossain / , Int. J. Drug Dev. & Res., July-Sep 2011, 3(3): 270-276

3. Biological Activities of Active Extracts from Stem of Tabernaemontana Divaricata / Waranya NEIMKHUM, Wirat NIWATANANUN, Songwut YOTSAWIMONWAT, and Siriporn OKONOGI / Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals, Vol.20 No.3 pp.201-206, 2010

4. Phytochemical and antinociceptive study of leaves of Tabernaemontana divaricata (L) / Shazid Md. Sharker, Samabesh Chakma and Ahmed Ayedur Rahman / Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, 18 Jan 2011; 5(2): pp 245-247



Research:

1. ANXIOLYTIC ACTIVITY OF TABERNAEMONTANA DIVARICATA (LINN) R. Br. FLOWERS EXTRACT IN MICE / P. BASAVARAJ*, B. SHIVAKUMAR and H. SHIVAKUMAR / International Journal of Pharma and Bio Sciences, Vol 2, Issue 3, July-Sept 2010

2. ANTIDIABETIC AND CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITIES OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF
TABERNAEMONTANA DIVARICATA (L.) LEAVES IN ALLOXAN INDUCED MICE / MD. MASUDUR RAHMAN*, MOHAMMED AKTAR SAYEED, KAISHAR PARVEJ BIPLAB, SAIFUL ALAM SIDDIQUE / Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research Vol 5, Issue 1, 2012

3. Evaluation of antibacterial activity of Tabernaemontana divaricata (L.) leaves against the causative organisms of Bovine mastitis / S.M. Gopinath*, T.B. Suneetha, V.D. Mruganka, S. Ananda / Int. J. Res. Phytochem. Pharmacol., 1(4), 2011, 211-213

4. Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory Effect of Ethanolic Extract of Tabernaemontana divaricata L. Flowers in Rats / Qamruzzama*, Javed Akhtar Ansari, Mateen Sayyed / Der Pharmacia Lettre, 2012, 4 (5):1518-1522

5. Prostaglandin Analogous and Antioxidant Activity Mediated Gastroprotective Action of Tabernaemontana divaricata (L.) R. Br. Flower Methanolic Extract against Chemically Induced Gastric Ulcers in Rats
/ Mohammed Safwan Ali Khan, Abdul Manan Mat Jais, and Adiba Afreen / BioMed Research International,
Volume 2013 (2013) / http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/185476


Precautions:

Roots are thought to contain poison but its effect on humans and lifestock is still unknown


Toxicity studies:

All parts of the plant are poisonous
All parts of the plant are toxic due to the abundant presence of indolic alkaloids, in the past the latex was utilized for poisoning the arrows. 


Use in other system of medicine:

The pulp around the seeds is used as a red dye
The wood is used as an incense and in perfumery
The wood is used to make charcoal
Folkloric
- Root or root-bark chewed for relief of toothache.
- Root-bark used as anthelminthic.
- Root, rubbed with water into a thin paste, used as vermicide; also, mixed with lime juice, applied to remove opacities of the cornea and other eye diseases.
- Milky juice, mixed with oil, rubbed into the head to relieve eye pains.
- Juice of flowers mixed with oil used to relieve burning sensation of sore eyes; also used for skin diseases.
- Milky juice of leaves used as drops for ophthalmia; also used as cooling application to irritable surfaces and wounds to prevent inflammation.
- Decoction of leaves used for coughs.
- In India, root used as local anodyne.
- In Ayurveda, Chinese and Thai traditional medicine, used for fever, pain and dysentery.
- In Thailand, used as emetic. 



CONCLUSION:

Grape jasmine is an evergreen shrub or small tree growing from 0.5 - 5 metres tall
The plant is cultivated in China as a medicinal plant and as an ornamental almost throughout the tropics and subtropics for its attractive and fragrant flowers. The plant responds well to trimming and makes an attractive flowering hedge. Grape jasmine is widely used as a medicinal herb in the tropics. Indeed, in India the applications in traditional medicine are so numerous that the plant may well be classified as a panacea for gastro-intestinal, urogenital and skin affections

Photos of nandivriksha -

KEY WORDS: tabernaemontana divaricata,nandivriksha

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