Demystifying the Anatomy and Functions of Alamanda Plant Roots and Stems

In this work, we explore the current knowledge about the phytochemistry and in vitro and in vivo evaluations of the extracts and, where appropriate, the main active components characterized and isolated from the Allamanda cathartica. Of the 15 Allamanda species, most phytochemical, pharmacological, and toxicological studies have focused on A. cathartica. These plants are used for the treatment of various health disorders. Numerous phytochemical investigations of plants from the A. cathartica have shown the presence of hydrocarbons, alcohols, esters, ethers, aldehydes, ketones, fatty acids, phospholipids, volatile compounds, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, terpenes, lactones, and carbohydrates. Various studies have confirmed that extracts and active substances isolated from the A. cathartica have multiple pharmacological activities. The species A. cathartica has emerged as a source of traditional medicine used for human health. Further studies on the phytochemical, pharmacological, and toxicological properties and their mechanisms of action, safety, and efficacy in the species of A. cathartica is recommended.

The plant Allamanda is a very widespread group throughout the world. It belongs to the family Apocynaceae and, according to the “The Plant List,” contains approximately 15 species (A. augustifolia, A. blanchetti, A. caccicola, A. cathartica, A. doniana, A. laevis, A. martii, A nobilis, A. oenotherifolia, A. polyantha, A. puberula, A. schottii, A. setulosa, A. thevetifolia, and A. weberbaueri) [1]. The objective of this work is to present complete information about the current research on the distribution, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicity, and biotechnology of Allamanda cathartica; to identify its therapeutic potential; and to direct future research opportunities. The most relevant data were searched using the keyword “Allamanda cathartica” in “Google Scholar”, “PubMed”, “ScienceDirect”, “Scopus”, “Taylor & Francis”, “Web of Science”, and “Wiley”. The taxonomy was validated using the “The Plant List”.

The genus Allamanda is endemic to South America [2]. The genus is named after the Swiss botanist Jean Frédéric-François Louis Allamand, who collected seeds in Suriname and sent them to Carlos Linnaeus to be named in 1771 [3]. A. cathartica plants are robust shrubs growing up to 6 m tall. The leaves are elliptical to obovate, opposite, or in whorls. The flowers are yellow and trumpet-shaped, with corolla tubes. The flowers are similar in size to the leaves. The fruits are capsules with spins, and the seeds are compressed and winged. The shrubs, with their beautiful yellow flowers, are popular ornamentals [4]. The species flowers grow all year round, and fruits grow from April to July and in October. In botanical texts, A. cathartica is reported to have a wide global distribution in warm climates ( ) [2]. Based on these data, a more exhaustive analysis of the scientific literature was performed.

A. cathartica plants are distributed in tropical and subtropical areas of many countries, including the United States, México, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guyana, French Guyana, Paraguay, Peru [2], Guatemala [5], El Salvador [6], Puerto Rico [7], Trinidad and Tobago [8], Surinam [9], Cuba [10], Martinique [11], Colombia [12], Brazil [3], Hawaii [13], India [14], the Andaman islands [15], Bangladesh [16], Pakistan [17], Malaysia [18], Indonesia [19], The Philippines [20], Thailand [21], Singapore [22], Hong Kong [14], Myanmar [11], Nepal, Sri Lanka [23], China [24], Australia [25], Kuwait [26], Ghana [18], the Republic of Mauritius [27], Cameroon, Madagascar [2], Nigeria [28] Zimbabwe [29], and France [20].

Synonyms of Allamanda cathartica include Echites verticillata Sessé and Moç, Orelia grandiflora Aublet, Allamanda grandiflora (Aublet) Poiret in Lam, and Allamanda hendersonii W. Bull ex Dombrain [30], as well as Allamanda schotti (Pohl) [31]. In the various countries where Allamanda is found, other popular names have been attributed to it.

The following are synonyms: (in Australia) Allamanda [25]; (in Bangladesh) Allamanda [32], Allokananda [23], and Fok Kaia [33]; (in Brazil) Buiussu, Carolina [34], Alamanda, Cipó-de-leite, Dedal-de-dama, Alamanda-amarela, Alamanda-de-flor-grande, Guissú, Quatro-patacas-amarelas [35], Golden trumpet, Yellow Bell, and Buttercup flower [30]; (in Cuba) Flor de barbero, Barbero loco, Flor de mantequilla, Jazmín de la tierra [10], and Jazmín de Cuba [36]; (in El Salvador) San José [6,37]; (in France) Jasmin dÁmarilla [20]; (in French Guiana) Orélie de la Guyana [20]; (in Guatemala) Amanda, Butter cup, and Campana [5]; (in Hawaii) Lani-ali’I and Allamanda [13]; (in India) Jaharisontakka, Pilikaner, Pivikanher [20], Almanda, golden trump vine, [38], Haldhia phool [39], Ghonta phool [40], and Golden trumpet [41]; (in Indonesia) Bunga Terompet [16]; (in Malaysia) Jamaican sunset [42]; (in Mexico) Berta, Cuernos de chivo, Chicliyo [2], and San José [6,37]; (in Nigeria) Allamonda, Yellow allamanda, Golden trumpet [43], Nkutu [44], and Ako-dodo [45]; and (in Thailand) Golden trumpet [21].

4. Traditional Medical Use

In traditional medicine, A. cathartica is indicated for various treatments in many parts of the world: as an antifungal (United States, Caribe [3], and Bangladesh [23]), antiviral (United States and Caribbean [3]), anticancer (Malaysia [46]), and cathartic (India [20] and Bangladesh [23]) or to treat colic (India [47]) or diabetes (India [48]). It is also used as a diuretic and an emetic (India [38]); for the treatment of fever (India [39] and Brazil [34]), hydragogue ascites (India [20] and Bangladesh [23]), hypertension (the Philippines [49] and Bangladesh [23]); to improve blood circulation (Indonesia [16]); and to reduce inflammation (Nigeria [43]). It is also used to treat jaundice (Suriname [8], Brazil [34], and Malaysia [46]), laxative (India [38], Suriname [8], and Nigeria [44]), and Malaria (Nigeria [45], Suriname, [8], Philipphines [20], Malaysia [46], and Brazil [34]). The milky sap is used for lead colic (Mexico and El Salvador [36]), parasitosis (Brazil [34]), rheumatism (Bangladesh [33]), scabies and lice elimination (Brazil [34]), snake bites (Bangladesh [23], Colombia [12], and India [20]), and splenomegaly (Suriname [8] and Brazil [34]). The plant parts used most frequently, in decreasing order, are the leaves, stem bark, flowers, roots, stem, sap, seeds, and branches.

The chemical constituents of A. cathartica have been extensively studied since 1954 [14]. Preliminary chemical studies showed the presence of alkaloids [13], anthraquinones [50], anthocyanins [51], carbohydrates [52], carotenoids [21], coumarin [53], flavonoids [54], glycosides [28], hydrocarbon [52], lignin [51], lipids [50,52], phenolic compounds [54], quinones [53], saponins [28,54], steroids [54], tannins [28,54], and terpenes [53,54] from various extracts, mainly leaves, flowers, stems, stem bark, roots, and shoots.

Only these groups of chemical compounds have been isolated and identified, and no anthraquinones, anthocyanins, coumarin, quinones, or lignins have been found. The Marvin program was used to draw the structures of organic chemical compounds [55].

In an analysis of the inorganic composition by atomic absorption spectrophotometry from flowers, the following elements were detected at the following concentrations: Fe (12.21 ± 0.038 µg/g), Mn (1.338 ± 0.049 µg/g), Ni (0.593 ± 0.014 µg/g), Cu (0.348 ± 0.006 µg/g), Cr (0.181 ± 0.032 µg/g), Pb (0.104 ± 0.024 µg/g), and Co (0.089 ± 0.010 µg/g) [56].

The presence of 3 hydrocarbons has been confirmed in A. cathartica flowers ( and ).

3. Alcohol, Ester, Ether, Aldehyde, and Ketone

Seven alcohol compounds were identified, as well as 9 esters, 1 ether, 6 aldehydes, and 1 ketone in various extracts of flowers, leaves, and stems ( and ).

Plant Anatomy and Structure

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