PDR for Herbal Medicines

770/TRAVELLER'S JOY PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

Kern W, List PH, Horhammer L (Hrsg.), Hagers Handbuch der

Tree of Heaven

Ailanthus altissima

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the dried trunk and

root bark.

Flower and Fruit: The small, greenish-yellow flower is in

branched, axillary or terminal panicles. Some of the flowers

are male, some female and some androgynous. The calyx is

short and has 5 glandular, fused sepals. The sepals are much

longer than the corolla and have 5 hollow, splayed petals.

There are 10 stamens, often only 5 in the androgynous and

rudimentary remains in the female flowers. There are 5

obovate, compressed ovaries with 5 splayed stigmas. There

is a narrow, oblong-lanceolate schizocarp, 4 to 5 cm by 1

cm. It is winged above and below, first green then brown-red

and finally brown. The seed is orbicular and found in the

middle of the fruit section. It is thin-skinned, without any

recognizable endosperm and has an ovate, flat cotyledon.

Leaves, Stem and Root: Ailanthus altissima is a beautiful,

fast-growing tree, up to 30 m high. The bark is smooth, pale

and vertically striated. The branches are initially fine-haired,

yellow or red-brown. The leaves are up to 1 m long and odd-

pinnate. The upper surface of the leaves is dark green and the

under-surface is light gray-green. Both sides of the leaf are

glandular-haired. The leaflets are ovate to oblong-lanceolate.

The shallow, cordate base of the leaflets has 1 to 3 small

lobes at either side, each with 1 gland. The wood surface is

satin-like and white.

Characteristics: The flowers have a strong elder flower
scent. The fresh bark and leaves give off an unpleasant,
nauseating smell.

Habitat: The tree was originally indigenous to China. Today

it grows in the wild and is cultivated in tropical and

subtropical eastern Asia, northern Europe and North

America.

Production: Tree of Heaven bark is the trunk and branch

bark of Ailanthus altissima. The bark is gathered year-round.

The outer bark is removed and dried in the sun. After drying,

there is a process of sorting and removing foreign bodies,

washing, macerating and a second drying.

Other Names: Ailanto, Chinese Sumach, Vernis de Japon

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Quassinoids: including ailanthone, quassin

Indole alkaloids of the beta-carbolic type

Tannins

EFFECTS

An antimalarial action is being tested in an in-vitro trial. The

active agents also have astringent, antipyretic, and antispas-

modic properties.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: In Africa, Tree of Heaven is used for

cramps, asthma, fast heart rate, gonorrhea, epilepsy and

tapeworm infestation. It is increasingly used in the treatment

of malaria.

Chinese Medicine: The drug is used for pathological

leukorrhea, diarrhea, chronic diarrhea, chronic dysentery and

dysmenorrhea.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

Large doses of the drug are said to lead to queasiness,

dizziness, headache, tingling in the limbs and diarrhea.

OVERDOSAGE

Fatal poisonings have been observed in animal experiments.

Treatment of poisonings should be conducted symptomati-

cally, following stomach and intestinal emptying.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: Tree of Heaven is still being

researched as a drug; up until now it has only been used in

folk medicine.

Daily Dosage: 6 to 9 gm of drug

Storage: Keep in a dry, well-ventilated area away from

moths.

LITERATURE

Bray DH, et al., (1987) Phytother Res 1(1):22.

Casinovi CG, et al., (1964) Tetrahedron Lett: 3991.

Casinovi CG, et al., (1965) Tetrahedron Lett: 2273.

Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 4. Aufl., Bde 1-8, Springer Verlag

Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1969.

Lewin L, Gifte und Vergiftungen, 6. Aufl., Nachdruck, Haug

Verlag, Heidelberg 1992.

Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde 1-3,

Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.

Roth L, Daunderer M, Kormann K: Giftpflanzen, Pflanzengifte,

4. Aufl., Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993.
   Ruijgrok HWL, PM 11:338-347. 1963.
   Southwell IA et al., Protoanemonin in australian Clematis. In:
   PH 33:1099. 1993.
   Teuscher E, Lindequist U, Biogene Gifte - Biologie, Chemie,
   Pharmakologie, 2. Aufl., Fischer Verlag Stuttgart 1994.