''Tabernaemontana elegans'', the toad tree, is a shrub or small tree in the family

Apocynaceae Apocynaceae (, from '' Apocynum'', Greek for "dog-away") is a family of flowering plants that includes trees, shrubs, herbs, stem succulents, and vines, commonly known as the dogbane family, because some taxa were used as dog poison. Notable mem ...

. It is native to eastern Africa.

Description

''Tabernaemontana elegans'' grows up to tall, with a trunk diameter of up to . Its fragrant flowers feature white, creamy or pale yellow corolla lobes. Fruit consists of 2 separate ovoid or ellipsoid pods, up to each.

Distribution and habitat

''Tabernaemontana elegans'' grows in forests or bushland from sea level to altitude. The species is native to Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zimbabwe,

Eswatini Eswatini, formally the Kingdom of Eswatini, also known by its former official names Swaziland and the Kingdom of Swaziland, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by South Africa on all sides except the northeast, where i ...

and South Africa.

Uses

''Tabernaemontana elegans'' has some local medicinal uses including the treatment of heart disease, cancer,

tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB), also known colloquially as the "white death", or historically as consumption, is a contagious disease usually caused by ''Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can al ...

and venereal diseases. The species is also used as an

aphrodisiac An aphrodisiac is a substance that increases libido, sexual desire, sexual attraction, sexual pleasure, or sexual behavior. These substances range from a variety of plants, spices, and foods to synthetic chemicals. Natural aphrodisiacs, such as ...

. The Zulu name for this genus, ''iNomfi'', refers to the use of their sticky, milky latex as bird-lime.

Chemistry

Fourteen indole alkaloids have been isolated in the callus culture of ''Tabernaemontana elegans'' (

isovoacangine Isovoacangine is a naturally occurring substance that has action on heart muscles in pigs. Chemistry Derivatives 3-Hydroxyisovoacangine and 3-(2'-oxopropyl)isovoacangine are derivates of isovoacangine. Natural occurrence It occurs naturall ...

, 3-R/S-hydroxy-isovoacangine, 3-R/S-hydroxy-

coronaridine Coronaridine, also known as 18-carbomethoxyibogamine, is an alkaloid found in '' Tabernanthe iboga'' and related species, including '' Tabernaemontana divaricata'' for which (under the now obsolete synonym ''Ervatamia coronaria'') it was named. ...

, isositsirikine, geissoschizol, tabernaemontanine,

vobasine Vobasine is a naturally occurring monoterpene indole alkaloid found in several species in the genus ''Tabernaemontana'' including ''Tabernaemontana divaricata''. History Vobasine was first reported by Renner in 1959 after its isolation from ''Voa ...

, vobasinol, apparicine, 16-hydroxy-16,22-dihydro-apparicine, tubotaiwine, 3-R/S-hydroxy-conodurine and monogagaine) of which

apparicine Apparicine is a monoterpenoid tricyclic indole alkaloid. It is named after Apparicio Duarte, a Brazilian botanist who studied the ''Aspidosperma'' species from which apparicine was first isolated. It was the first member of the vallesamine group of ...

is the principal.Indole alkaloids from a callus culture of Tabernaemontana elegans. R. van der Heijden, R.L. Brouwer, R. Verpoorte, R. Wijnsma, T.A. van Beek, A.A. Harkes and A. Baerheim Svendsen, Phytochemistry, Volume 25, Issue 4, Tabernaemontana elegans 1DS-II 2654.jpg, Toad-tree (Tabernaemontana elegans) flowers (11821772955).jpg, Tabernaemontana elegans S-3287.jpg, Tabernaemontana elegans 1DS-II 0968.jpg, Tabernaemontana elegans 1DS-II 0971.jpg,

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q199132 elegans Plants described in 1894 Plants used in traditional African medicine Flora of Africa