Pharmaceutical perspective on bioactives from Alstonia scholaris: ethnomedicinal knowledge, phytochemistry, clinical status, patent space, and future directions

Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br (Apocynaceae), a tropical tree native to Indian subcontinent, Australasia, and Malay Peninsula is well documented in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda to cure fever, pain, inflammation, cancer, respiratory, and skin disorders. Nearly 169 alkaloids have been reported along with iridoids, coumarins, flavonoids and steroids from this plant. The highlights of current review are demonstrated in six tables encompassing ethnomedicinal values, pharmacological activities, phytochemistry, clinical significances, and patents associated with A. scholaris. The data analysis of these tables revealed the requirements to convert existed knowledge into finished products. For example, strictamine isolated from this plant has shown an equipotent antiviral activity to that of acyclovir. However, the discovery of such new potent antiviral indole alkaloids will require structure activity relationship studies with natural analogues of this scaffold. In conclusion, despite of over 100 patents and numerous pharmacological activities of A. scholaris, only one product has reached the market. The report stipulates the gap between the existing knowledge and the requisites for commercialization of A. scholaris derived products.