# Alstonia boonei (Alstonia boonei De Wild.)

**Canonical URL:** https://ingredients.hermeticasuperfoods.com/ingredients/alstonia-boonei-alstonia-boonei-de-wild
**Data Source:** Hermetica Superfoods Ingredient Encyclopedia
**Updated:** 2026-04-02
**Evidence Score:** 1 / 10
**Category:** Middle Eastern
**Also Known As:** Alstonia boonei De Wild., Sinuro, Pattern wood, Stool wood, Cheesewood, Erin (Yoruba), Emien

## Overview

Alstonia boonei contains alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, trans-fagaramide, and lupeol that collectively exert antiplasmodial, [anti-inflammatory](/ingredients/condition/inflammation), and [antimicrobial](/ingredients/condition/immune-support) actions through cytokine suppression (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β) and radical scavenging. In vitro antiplasmodial activity against both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum strains has been demonstrated, and in vivo suppression of Plasmodium berghei infection in mice corroborates the traditional use of stem bark decoctions in malaria management across sub-Saharan Africa.

## Health Benefits

- **Antiplasmodial/Antimalarial Activity**: Stem bark alkaloids and polar phytochemicals have demonstrated in vitro activity against both chloroquine-sensitive and chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum strains, with in vivo parasitemia suppression confirmed in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice, aligning with centuries of traditional antimalarial use across West Africa.
- **Anti-inflammatory Effects**: Methanol and ethyl acetate stem bark extracts significantly reduce the release of [pro-inflammatory cytokine](/ingredients/condition/inflammation)s IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β in cell-based assays, suggesting utility in managing inflammation-driven conditions at the molecular level.
- **[Antioxidant Protection](/ingredients/condition/antioxidant)**: Methanol leaf extracts exhibit radical scavenging activity with an IC₅₀ of 64.47 µg/mL and superior nitric oxide inhibition relative to gallic acid at concentrations of 800–1000 µg/mL, attributable to the high tannin content (175.01±1.00 mg TAE/g extract) and polyphenol profile.
- **Antimicrobial Action**: Phytochemical constituents including alkaloids, flavonoids, and tannins demonstrate broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) ranging from 3.0–10.0 mg/mL by agar dilution; the isolated compound trans-fagaramide yields an MIC of 125 µg/mL against tested pathogens.
- **Traditional Use in Filarial and Parasitic Infections**: Bark and root preparations are employed in West African ethnomedicine against filarial worm infections, with alkaloid-rich fractions thought to disrupt parasite neuromuscular function, though this remains mechanistically unvalidated in controlled studies.
- **Cytokine-Mediated Immunomodulation**: Extracts modulate the innate immune response by attenuating macrophage-derived inflammatory mediators, with THP-1 cell viability assays confirming safety at concentrations up to 25 µg/mL, suggesting a favorable therapeutic window for [immunomodulatory](/ingredients/condition/immune-support) applications.
- **Ethnopharmacological Use in Reproductive Health**: In West African folk medicine, leaf and bark preparations are applied for breast development and lactation support, a use attributed empirically to phytoestrogenic saponins and steroids present in the plant matrix, though no clinical or mechanistic validation exists for this application.

## Mechanism of Action

The antiplasmodial activity of Alstonia boonei is principally attributed to its high alkaloid content in stem bark, which is hypothesized to interfere with heme detoxification in Plasmodium parasites and disrupt [mitochondrial](/ingredients/condition/energy) electron transport, though precise molecular targets remain incompletely characterized. The anti-inflammatory mechanism involves suppression of NF-κB-mediated transcription of [pro-inflammatory cytokine](/ingredients/condition/inflammation)s, specifically reducing secretion of IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β from stimulated macrophages, an effect attributed to the combined action of flavonoids, tannins, and triterpenoids such as lupeol, which is known to inhibit NF-κB activation in other botanical contexts. [Antioxidant activity](/ingredients/condition/antioxidant) proceeds via direct hydrogen atom or electron transfer to free radicals, with high polyphenol and tannin concentrations providing the substrate for radical scavenging, while nitric oxide inhibition at higher concentrations (800–1000 µg/mL) may additionally attenuate oxidative stress-driven inflammation. Trans-fagaramide, an isolated alkamide from root and stem bark, contributes to [antimicrobial](/ingredients/condition/immune-support) activity likely by disrupting bacterial membrane integrity and inhibiting cell wall biosynthesis enzymes, consistent with its MIC of 125 µg/mL against tested organisms.

## Clinical Summary

No human clinical trials for Alstonia boonei have been identified in the published literature as of the most recent search. Available preclinical data indicate antiplasmodial, [anti-inflammatory](/ingredients/condition/inflammation), and [antimicrobial](/ingredients/condition/immune-support) bioactivities in cell culture and animal models, with measurable outcomes including parasitemia suppression in P. berghei-infected mice and quantified cytokine reductions in stimulated macrophage cultures. Effect sizes from animal studies cannot be reliably extrapolated to human therapeutic doses, and no standardized extract formulation has been evaluated in a clinical setting. Confidence in clinical benefit is therefore very low, and all reported uses remain in the domain of traditional ethnomedicine pending rigorous human investigation.

## Nutritional Profile

Alstonia boonei is not consumed as a food and thus lacks a conventional macronutrient or micronutrient profile; its nutritional relevance lies entirely in its secondary metabolite composition. Leaf methanol extracts contain total phenolics of 48.34–53.08 mg GAE/g dry extract and total flavonoids of 37.28–39.10 mg RE/g, while stem bark methanol extracts yield 37.08–45.72 mg GAE/g phenolics and 1.85–2.45 mg RE/g flavonoids. Tannin content in methanol leaf extracts is notably high at 175.01±1.00 mg TAE/g extract, and the plant additionally contains alkaloids, cyanogenetic glycosides, terpenoids, steroids, saponins, cardiac glycosides, and the isolated compounds trans-fagaramide and lupeol. Bioavailability of these constituents in humans has not been studied; however, the markedly superior phenolic extraction by methanol versus water infusion suggests that traditional aqueous preparations may deliver substantially lower concentrations of flavonoids and lipophilic alkaloids compared to solvent extracts used in research.

## Dosage & Preparation

- **Stem Bark Decoction (Traditional)**: Bark pieces are boiled in water and the decoction consumed orally; traditional doses are not standardized and vary widely by practitioner and region across West Africa.
- **Methanol Extract (Research Grade)**: Produces the highest phenolic yield (37.08–53.08 mg GAE/g) and is used in laboratory studies; not available as a standardized commercial supplement.
- **Ethyl Acetate Extract (Research Grade)**: Yields 30.64–40.19 mg GAE/g phenols from leaves; evaluated in [antimicrobial](/ingredients/condition/immune-support) and [anti-inflammatory](/ingredients/condition/inflammation) in vitro assays.
- **Water Infusion (Leaf Tea)**: Yields 51.08 mg GAE/g phenols but markedly lower flavonoid content (4.18 mg RE/g); used as a traditional preparation for fever and inflammatory complaints.
- **Root Bark Preparation**: Used in ethnomedicine for filarial infections and reproductive complaints; no standardized dose or commercial formulation exists.
- **Standardization Note**: No commercial supplement has been standardized to a specific alkaloid, flavonoid, or trans-fagaramide percentage; all dosing references are derived from in vitro cell-safe concentrations (≤25 µg/mL) and cannot be directly applied to human supplementation.

## Safety & Drug Interactions

Human safety data for Alstonia boonei are absent from the published literature; the only available safety reference is in vitro cytotoxicity testing showing that methanol and ethyl acetate extracts are non-toxic to THP-1 human monocytic cells at concentrations up to 25 µg/mL, which cannot be directly extrapolated to safe oral doses in humans. The presence of cyanogenetic glycosides and cardiac glycosides in root and stem bark extracts raises theoretical concerns about toxicity at high doses, including potential cardiotoxicity and cyanide liberation, warranting caution with concentrated or prolonged use. No drug interaction data exist, but the potent [cytokine](/ingredients/condition/inflammation)-suppressing and alkaloid-rich profile suggests the possibility of pharmacodynamic interactions with immunosuppressants, antimalarial drugs (additive or antagonistic effects), and cardioactive medications. Use during pregnancy and lactation is contraindicated by precaution given the presence of potentially bioactive alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, and the complete absence of gestational safety data; use should be avoided without medical supervision.

## Scientific Research

The evidence base for Alstonia boonei consists entirely of in vitro phytochemical characterization studies and in vivo animal model experiments; no human clinical trials have been published to date, placing this ingredient firmly in the preclinical research category. In vitro studies have quantified phenolic and flavonoid content across extraction solvents, demonstrated antiplasmodial activity against P. falciparum, and measured [cytokine](/ingredients/condition/inflammation) suppression in THP-1 macrophage models, providing mechanistic plausibility but not clinical proof of efficacy. In vivo antimalarial activity has been confirmed using the Plasmodium berghei rodent malaria model, and cytotoxicity screening confirmed safety of methanol and ethyl acetate extracts at concentrations up to 25 µg/mL in human peripheral blood monocytic cells. The overall volume of peer-reviewed study is modest, focused on West African research institutions, and has not yet progressed to dose-escalation toxicology studies, pharmacokinetic profiling, or any phase of human clinical investigation.

## Historical & Cultural Context

Alstonia boonei has been a cornerstone of traditional medicine in West and Central Africa for generations, most prominently employed by herbalists in Ghana, Nigeria, and Cameroon for the treatment of malaria, rheumatic pain, and infectious fevers, with stem bark decoctions administered as the primary preparation. The tree holds cultural significance beyond medicine: its lightweight wood, known regionally as 'pattern wood' or 'cheesewood,' is used for carving ritual objects, and the tree is regarded as spiritually significant in several ethnic traditions. In Ghanaian ethnomedicine, the plant is known as 'Sinuro' (Twi) and is used in complex polyherbal formulations alongside other antimalarial plants, reflecting the integrative approach of West African healing systems. Traditional healers also employ leaf and bark preparations for perceived breast-enhancing and lactation-promoting effects, a use that—while not validated scientifically—illustrates the breadth of its ethnopharmacological application and the perceived hormonal activity of its steroid and saponin constituents.

## Synergistic Combinations

In West African polyherbal traditions, Alstonia boonei bark is frequently combined with other antimalarial plants such as Azadirachta indica (neem) and Cryptolepis sanguinolenta, where complementary alkaloid profiles and distinct mechanisms of antiplasmodial action may produce additive or synergistic antiparasitic effects, though this has not been formally evaluated in combination studies. The high tannin and polyphenol content of leaf extracts suggests potential synergy with vitamin C (ascorbic acid) for [antioxidant](/ingredients/condition/antioxidant) amplification, as ascorbate can regenerate oxidized phenolic antioxidants, thereby extending their radical-scavenging capacity. Lupeol, a constituent of Alstonia boonei, has demonstrated synergistic [anti-inflammatory](/ingredients/condition/inflammation) activity with curcumin in other botanical contexts through parallel NF-κB inhibition, suggesting this combination as a theoretically rational anti-inflammatory stack pending experimental validation.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is Alstonia boonei used for in traditional medicine?

In West African ethnomedicine, Alstonia boonei stem bark decoctions are primarily used for the treatment of malaria, fevers, and rheumatic pain, reflecting the high alkaloid content of the bark that has demonstrated in vitro antiplasmodial activity against Plasmodium falciparum. The plant is also used traditionally for filarial worm infections, inflammation, and in some regions for perceived breast development and lactation support, though these latter applications lack scientific validation and are based on empirical folk observation.

### Does Alstonia boonei have any proven antimalarial effects?

Preclinical evidence supports antiplasmodial activity: in vitro studies show activity against both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum strains, and in vivo studies confirm parasitemia suppression in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. However, no human clinical trials have been conducted, so efficacy and safe dosing in humans remain unestablished; the plant should not be used as a substitute for evidence-based antimalarial therapy.

### What are the main bioactive compounds in Alstonia boonei?

The principal bioactive constituents include alkaloids (concentrated in stem and root bark), flavonoids, tannins (up to 175.01 mg TAE/g in methanol leaf extract), saponins, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides, cyanogenetic glycosides, and the specifically isolated compounds trans-fagaramide and lupeol. Methanol extraction yields the highest concentrations of phenolics (48.34–53.08 mg GAE/g in leaves) and flavonoids (37.28–39.10 mg RE/g), while aqueous infusions produce much lower flavonoid levels (4.18 mg RE/g).

### Is Alstonia boonei safe to take as a supplement?

Human safety data are currently unavailable; the only cytotoxicity reference shows extracts are safe in human monocytic cell cultures at concentrations up to 25 µg/mL, which cannot be converted to a safe oral dose. The presence of cardiac glycosides and cyanogenetic glycosides in bark and root extracts raises theoretical toxicity concerns at elevated doses, and no formal pharmacokinetic, dose-escalation, or human toxicology studies have been published.

### How is Alstonia boonei prepared for medicinal use?

Traditionally, the stem bark is boiled in water to produce a decoction that is consumed orally for fever and malaria; leaves are also prepared as water infusions, though these yield substantially lower flavonoid concentrations than solvent extracts. In research settings, methanol extraction produces the richest phytochemical profile, but no standardized commercial supplement form, dosage, or extraction standard has been established for human use.

### What is the difference between Alstonia boonei stem bark and leaf extracts for antimalarial activity?

Stem bark is the primary part studied for antimalarial potency, containing concentrated alkaloids and polar phytochemicals that demonstrate significant in vitro activity against both chloroquine-sensitive and chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum strains. While leaves are also used traditionally, the stem bark has shown superior parasitemia suppression in animal models and represents the most clinically validated form for antimalarial applications.

### Does Alstonia boonei interact with antimalarial medications like chloroquine or artemisinin?

Limited clinical data exists on potential interactions between Alstonia boonei and conventional antimalarial drugs; however, because both traditional Alstonia preparations and prescription antimalarials work against Plasmodium parasites, concurrent use should be discussed with a healthcare provider to avoid redundant dosing or unexpected synergistic effects. The herb's alkaloid content may influence drug metabolism, though specific interaction studies have not been extensively documented in the scientific literature.

### Is Alstonia boonei more effective as a preventive supplement or for treating active malaria infection?

Traditional and ethnobotanical evidence supports Alstonia boonei's use for both prevention and treatment in endemic West African regions, though most laboratory research has focused on its suppressive effects during active Plasmodium berghei infection in mice. Clinical trials specifically comparing preventive versus therapeutic dosing regimens in humans remain limited, making evidence-based recommendations for either application difficult without professional medical guidance.

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