Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br. [Apocynaceae]

Botanical Name:	Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br.
Family:	Apocynaceae
Common Name:	Scholar Tree, Indian Pulai, White Cheesewood, Devil Tree, Blackboard Tree, Milkwood Pine, Dita Bark
Distribution:	The native range of this species is Tropical & Subtropical Asia to N. Australia.
Habit:	Tree
Uses:	· Alstonia scholaris has many medicinal properties like antimicrobial, antiamoebic, antidiarrheal, antihypertensive, antimalarial, febrifuge, stimulant, hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory, anti-cancer, antiasthmatic, antioxidant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-fertility, and anti-diabetic.
	·      The leaves and the latex are applied externally to treat tumors. The dried leaves are used as an expectorant. The leaves can be used to treat skin diseases.
	·       Latex is used for chewing gum.
	·   The roots and bark are used in traditional medicine as an astringent tonic, alterative, antidiuretic, and antiperiodic. The bark is used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat fever, malaria, troubles in digestion, tumors, ulcers, asthma, and so forth. The bark and roots are boiled with rice and eaten by girls daily for several weeks to treat excessive vaginal discharge.
	·       The ripe fruits of the plant are used in syphilis and epilepsy.
	·     The wood is too soft so it is usually used for manufacturing packing cases and boxes for packing tea, writing boards,   and lamina boards.  Also, a tree has been used to make paper.
	Wood charcoal is used for gunpowder.