Talk:Ankola
| Section/Chapter | Herb database/Ankola |
|---|---|
| Botanical name(s) | Alangium salviifolium (L.f.) Wangerin |
| Family | Alangiaceae (now placed in Cornaceae) |
| Availability | Available |
| Contributors | Team Dravyaguna |
| Year of publication | 2026 |
| Publisher | Charak Samhita Research, Training and Skill Development Centre |
| DOI | Awaited |
Alangium salviifolium (L.f.) Wangerin, known in Ayurveda as Ankola, is a small deciduous tree of the drier parts of India.[1] The root bark, leaves, seeds and fruit are all used in traditional medicine. In the Charak Samhita it appears among the Phala Varga drugs and as an ingredient of Amruta ghrita in Visha Chikitsa, and its special effect (prabhava) is described as vishaghna. Modern work has focused on its alkaloids and on reported anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, anthelmintic and antiulcer effects, which are summarised below.
English name
Sage-leaved alangium[2]
Therapeutic Uses
Graha Badha (microbial affliction or psychiatric disorders in children), Jantuvisha (Insect poisoning/venom), Jvara (Fever), Krimi (Worms/parasites), Kukkuravisha (Canine venom/dog bite toxicity), Lutavisha (Spider venom), Raktavikara (Blood disorders/impurities), Sopha or Sotha (Edema/swelling/inflammation), Vishrikara (Toxic conditions/poisoning effects), Visarpa (Erysipelas/spreading skin eruptions), Matsyavisha (Fish toxicity/poisoning), Amavata (Rheumatoid arthritis), Kantharoga (Throat diseases/disorders), Shoola (Colic/sharp pain), and Mushakavisha (Rodent poisoning/rat bite toxicity) [2]
Other Varieties / Other Botanical names
- Alangium lamarckii Thwaites
- Alangium decapetalum Lam.
- Alangium acuminatum Wight ex Steud.
- Alangium latifolium Miq. ex C.B.Clarke
- Alangium mohillae Tul.
- Alangium tomentosum Lam.
- Grewia salviifolia L.f.
- Karangolum mohillae (Tul.) Kuntze
- Karangolum salviifolium (L.f.) Kuntze[3]
Synonyms in Charak Samhita
Ankoda, Deerghakeela, Nikochaka, Tamraphala, Gupta Sneha.
Ayurvedic Pharmacological Properties
| Sr.no. | Pharmacological criteria | Properties |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taste (rasa) | Bitter (tikta), Pungent (katu), Astringent (kashaya)[2] |
| 2 | Potency (veerya) | Hot (ushna)[2] |
| 3 | Post digestion effect (vipaka) | Pungent (katu)[2] |
| 4 | Qualities (guna) | Light (laghu), Unctuous (snigdha), Sharp (tikshna), Mobile (sara)[2] |
| 5 | Actions (karma) | Pacify Kapha and Vata (kaphahara, vatahara); emetic (vamaka), purgative (recaka), wound-cleansing (vranashodhaka), diuretic (mutrala), antipyretic (jvaraghna)[2] |
| 6 | Special effect (prabhava) | Vishaghna |
Reference in Charak Samhita and its actions
| Sr.no. | Reference in Charak Samhita | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 27/159 | Phala Varga (group of fruits) |
| 2 | Cha.Sa. Sutra Sthana 13/10 | Sthavara Sneha Yoni (vegetable origin of lipids) |
| 3 | Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 23/244 | As an ingredient of Amruta ghrita |
Dose
2-10 gms[2]
Useful parts
Leaf[2]
Important Formulations
As an ingredient of Amruta ghrita in charak samhita Visha chikitsa adhyaya.
Current Availability
Available
- In India: dry regions of the plains and low hills, and especially the forests of South India.[1][4]
- Out of India: the species ranges widely through tropical Africa, Asia, Australia and the Pacific islands.[5]
Phytoconstituents
Alkaloids
Alkaloids are the characteristic constituents of Ankola. Reviews list alangine, ankorine, tubulosine, alangicine and salsoline among the bioactive compounds reported from the plant.[6] The root bark is reported to contain emetine, cephaeline, psychotrine, tubulosine, alangium A and B, marckine, marckidine and lamarckinine.[4] Marckine and marckidine were first isolated from the root bark of Alangium lamarckii Thwaites, together with a new sterol, alangiosterol.[7]
Therapeutic Efficacy: Pharmacological Evidence
The evidence below comes from reviews of animal and in vitro studies. No controlled human clinical trial of Ankola was verified during the preparation of this monograph. The individual primary studies behind each review statement are still to be abstracted and added to this section.
Anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activity (Shotha)
Alangium salviifolium was among the indigenous drugs screened for anti-inflammatory activity in albino rats in an early Indian study.[8] Later reviews list anti-inflammatory activity among the reported effects of the plant.[6]
Antidiabetic activity (Prameha)
Reviews report potential efficacy of the plant against diabetes.[6]
Antiulcer and anthelmintic activity
Reviews also report potential efficacy against peptic ulcer and anthelmintic activity, which fits the traditional use of the bark and seed in worm infestation (krimi).[6]
Antidote and anti-poison use (Vishaghna)
Ankola is described in the Charak Samhita as an ingredient of Amruta ghrita in Visha Chikitsa (Cha.Sa. Chikitsa Sthana 23/244), and its special effect is recorded as vishaghna. Experimental evidence for antivenom or antidote activity was not verified during the preparation of this monograph, so no efficacy claim is made.
Safety, Toxicity, and Precautions
- Emetic alkaloids: The root bark contains emetine-type alkaloids,[4] and a decoction of the bark has been used as an emetic in India.[4] The drug should therefore be used only under qualified supervision and in the doses prescribed in the classical and pharmacopoeial sources.
- Pregnancy: No controlled human safety data was verified for this monograph. As a precaution, avoid use in pregnancy.
Summary of Therapeutic Profile
| Indication | Reported finding | Type of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Inflammation / arthritis (Shotha) | Anti-inflammatory activity reported | Animal studies, summarised in reviews |
| Diabetes (Prameha) | Potential antidiabetic effect reported | Animal studies, summarised in reviews |
| Peptic ulcer | Potential antiulcer effect reported | Animal studies, summarised in reviews |
| Worm infestation (Krimi) | Anthelmintic activity reported | Experimental studies, summarised in reviews |
| Poisoning (Visha) | Traditional use only; no experimental claim made | Classical text |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Alangium salviifolium. In: Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia [Internet]. Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alangium_salviifolium [cited 2026 Oct 23].
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Department of AYUSH. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Part I, Volume V. New Delhi: Government of India; 2006. Monograph 3, Ankola (Leaf).
- ↑ Plants of the World Online. Alangium salviifolium (L.f.) Wangerin. Richmond: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Available from: https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:271431-1 [cited 2026 Oct 23].
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Jangir RK, Singh C, Purvia RP, Adlakha M. Pharmacological activity and medicinal value of Ankola (Alangium salvifolium Linn.) – a review. International Ayurvedic Medical Journal. 2023;11(1):21–27. Available from: https://wisdomlib.org/uploads/journals/iamj/2023-issue-01-january/21_27.pdf
- ↑ Alangium. In: Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia [Internet]. Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alangium [cited 2026 Oct 23].
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Shravya S, Vinod BN, Sunil C. Pharmacological and phytochemical studies of Alangium salvifolium Wang. – A review. Bulletin of Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University. 2017;55(2):217–222. doi:10.1016/j.bfopcu.2017.07.001
- ↑ Siddiqui S, Ali MA, Ahmad VU. Chemical examination of root bark of Alangium lamarckii Thwaites. Pakistan Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research. 1965;8(4):161–166.
- ↑ Prasad DN, Bhattacharya SK, Das PK. A study of anti-inflammatory activity of some indigenous drugs in albino rats. Indian Journal of Medical Research. 1966;54(6):582–590.