Bencao Gangmu Reference Library
糖胶树 / 象皮树 / 白板树 / 盆架树 — Alstonia scholaris (L.) R.Br. (syn. Echites scholaris)
Pinyin: Tángjiāoshù / Xiàngpíshù · Malay: Pokok Pulai / Pulai / Pulai Basong · Family: Apocynaceae (夹竹桃科)
Energetics
Cold (寒), Mildly Toxic in excessive unboiled latex (微毒)
Flavor
Bitter, astringent (苦、涩)
Meridians
Lung (肺), Liver (肝), Large Intestine (大肠)
Traditional Edict
Scholar Tree (Blackboard Tree). Elephant skin corky bark exuding white milky latex. Powerfully drains toxic fire, diffuses Lung to stop cough, terminates malarial pestilence (Demam Kura), and halts dysentery.
Cautions & Contraindications
- Overdose causes nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and bradycardia. Never exceed 15 g daily internally. STRICTLY CONTRAINDICATED in severe Spleen deficiency cold diarrhea, pregnancy, and bradyarrhythmias.
Clinical Applications
- Bronchial asthma, chronic spasmodic bronchitis, chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum/vivax malaria, acute bacillary dysentery (Shigella), and purulent skin ulcers.
Quality Markers
Mechanism & Phytochemistry
1. Echitamine and ditamine inhibit plasmodial hemozoin crystallization in food vacuoles, lysing malaria parasites. 2. Picrinine non-competitively blocks muscarinic M3 receptors in tracheal smooth muscle, relieving asthma without respiratory depression. 3. Lupeol acetate downregulates TNF-a.
Preparation & Dosage
Dried sliced inner trunk bark (Kulit Pulai) decocted 25-30 minutes: 6-12 g daily (up to 15 g in acute malaria). Swallowed as fine powder: 1-3 g. Fresh milky sap applied topically to boils and tooth cavities.
Appended Prescriptions
- 1. The Sovereign Nanyang Anti-Malarial Synergy with Tinospora crispa (Patawali) and Andrographis paniculata. 2. Lung-Clearing Antitussive Decoction with Platycodon (Jie Geng) and Scutellaria.
Yemama Apothecary · Petaling Jaya, Malaysia · For educational and clinical reference only
