SHAHEED KARTAR SINGH SARABHA AYURVEDIC MEDICAL COLLEGE & HOSPITAL

Kashtadaru

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.

annonaceae-polyalthia longifolia 22

Names in different Indian languages :

English : Mast tree, Fake Asoka tree, False Devadaru, Cemetry tree

Hindi : Debdari, asoka

Kannada : Assoti

Malayalam : Aranamaram

Tamil : Asogu, nettilingam

Telugu : Asokamu

Sanskrit : Kashtadaru

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