Allamanda cathartica (Apocynaceae) Golden Trumpet

Allamanda cathartica (Golden Trumpet)

1. Taxonomic insights

Species: Allamanda cathartica

Family: Apocynaceae

Genus: Allamanda

Related Herbs from the same family:

· Nerium oleander (Kaner): A highly toxic plant used in small, processed doses in Ayurveda for skin diseases and heart conditions.

· Catharanthus roseus (Sadabahar/Periwinkle): The source of the anticancer drugs vincristine and vinblastine.

· Holarrhena pubescens (Kutaja): A key Ayurvedic herb for digestive disorders, particularly amoebic dysentery.

The Apocynaceae family is known for plants containing potent cardiac glycosides and indole alkaloids, making many of them both medicinally valuable and highly toxic.

2. Common Names:

Scientific Name: Allamanda cathartica | English: Golden Trumpet, Yellow Allamanda, Buttercup Flower | Sanskrit: Not classically described. | Hindi: Pilaghanti | Tamil: Allamanda Poo | Telugu: Allamanda | Kannada: Allamanda Hoovu | Malayalam: Allamanda | Marathi: Suvarna Phool | Bengali: Allamanda | Spanish: Copa de Oro | French: Allamanda Jaune |

3. Medicinal Uses:

Purgative(strong), Antibacterial, Anticancer (studied), Laxative. Also highly TOXIC.

Medicinal Parts:

The leaves,latex, and roots are used in traditional medicine, but all parts are poisonous.

· Latex: The milky sap is the most potent part.

· Leaves and Roots: Used in poultices and very dilute preparations.

4. Phytochemicals specific to the plant and their action.

Plumericin and Allamandin: Iridoid lactones that are responsible for the plant's Antibacterial and potential Anticancer activities. They are also strong Irritants.

Cardiac Glycosides: Compounds that affect the heart muscle, similar to those found in Digitalis. In overdose, they can cause cardiac arrest.

Cathartic Compounds: These are the primary agents causing its powerful Purgative (cathartic) effect, leading to severe vomiting and diarrhea.

5. Traditional and Ethnobotanical uses covering the Medicinal uses.

Virechana (Purgation Therapy)

Formulation: Very dilute leaf extract or latex.

Preparation & Use: In some traditional systems, a minuscule amount of the leaf extract or a single drop of diluted latex is used as a drastic purgative to cleanse the system. This is an extremely risky practice.

Reasoning: The cathartic compounds intensely irritate the gastrointestinal lining, causing a powerful evacuation of the bowels.

Kushtha (Skin Diseases) & Vrana (Wounds)

Formulation: Leaf poultice or diluted latex application.

Preparation & Use: The latex, highly diluted in a carrier oil, or a poultice of the leaves is applied externally to treat ringworm, scabies, and other skin parasites.

Reasoning: The antibacterial and irritant properties of the iridoids can help eliminate skin infections and parasites, but they also carry a high risk of causing contact dermatitis.

6. Healing recipes, Teas, Decoctions and Culinary use (if any):

There is NO SAFE CULINARY USE for this plant. It is poisonous and should not be ingested. Any internal use is dangerous and not recommended.

Antifungal Latex Application (with extreme caution)

Purpose: To treat ringworm or stubborn skin fungi.

Preparation & Use:

· Take a single drop of the milky latex and mix it with 10 drops of a carrier oil like coconut oil.

· Apply a tiny amount to the affected area once a day with a cotton swab.

· Discontinue immediately if irritation occurs.

7. Disclaimer:

Allamanda cathartica is a HIGHLY TOXIC PLANT. INGESTION OF ANY PART CAN CAUSE SEVERE VOMITING, DIARRHEA, ABDOMINAL CRAMPS, AND CAN BE FATAL.The milky sap is a strong skin irritant and can cause dermatitis and blistering. Internal use is strictly prohibited without the sophisticated processing and supervision of an experienced traditional healer, and even then, it is extremely risky. This information is for identification and awareness of its dangers.

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8. Reference Books, Books for In-depth Study:

· Journal of Ethnopharmacology

· Wealth of India by CSIR

· Toxicology resources and databases.

9. Further study: Plants that might interest you due to similar medicinal properties

1. Nerium oleander (Kaner)

· Species: Nerium oleander | Family: Apocynaceae | Genus: Nerium

· Similarities: Both are beautiful, widely cultivated ornamental plants from the Apocynaceae family that are intensely toxic due to the presence of cardiac glycosides. Both have a history of controlled traditional use but are extremely dangerous.

2. Jatropha curcas (Danti)

· Species: Jatropha curcas | Family: Euphorbiaceae | Genus: Jatropha

· Similarities: Both are toxic plants used in classical Ayurvedic texts as drastic purgatives (Virechana Dravyas). They exemplify the principle of using potent toxins for cleansing after rigorous purification (Shodhana).