In this article we will discuss about Dita Bark:- 1. Botanical Name of Dita Bark 2. Family of Dita Bark 3. Description 4. Distribution 5. Parts Used 6. Constituents 7. Uses 8. Average Dose.

Contents:

  1. Botanical Name of Dita Bark
  2. Family of Dita Bark
  3. Description of Dita Bark
  4. Distribution of Dita Bark
  5. Parts Used in Dita Bark
  6. Constituents of Dita Bark
  7. Uses of Dita Bark
  8. Average Dose of Dita Bark

1. Botanical Name of Dita Bark:

ALSTONIA SCHOLARIS (L.) R. Br.

2. Family of Dita Bark:

APOCYNACEAE

3. Description of Dita Bark:

A medium sized tree with milky latex, up to 45mtr. high, evergreen. Leaves whorled, oblanceolate, obtuse at apex, gradually tapering to base, margin entire; coriaceous; petiole 7-10 mm. Inflorescence an umbellately branched cymose panicle, bracteate, terminal or sub terminal.

Flowers hermaphrodite, actinomorphic, small and inconspicuous, with rather an unpleasant smell. Calyx 3 mm.long, with 5 obtuse lobes, pubescent and ciliate on the margin of lobes. Corolla salver-shaped, 5-lobed; tube 8 mm. long, villous inside; lobes oblong, rounded at apex, 5 mm. long. Stamens 5, inserted near the top of and included within the tube; anthers sub acute.

Alstonia scholaris

Carpels 2, distinct at base, superior; style filiform, oblong at top with 2-fid stigma; ovules numerous in each cell, many seriate. Fruit a pair of linear follicles, 30-50 cm. long, cylindric and pendulous. Seeds 5-7 mm. long, linear oblong, flattened, with rounded ends and hairy at each end, peltately attached.

4. Distribution of Dita Bark:

A. scholaris is indigenous to a wide area in the Eastern Asia including India, Sri Lanka, etc. In India it grows in the plains and at lower altitudes in the hills and is planted as an avenue tree in the cities.

5. Parts Used in Dita Bark:

The bark, known as DITA BARK is astringent and bitter.

6. Constituents of Dita Bark:

The alkaloid contents of the bark are mainly ditamine, echitamine and echitamidin.

7. Uses of Dita Bark:

Echitamine is beneficial in malarial fever.

8. Average Dose of Dita Bark:

The tincture contains 12% of the drug and the dose recommended is 2 – 4 ml.

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