Tree of Heaven - Ailanthus excelsa

Taxonomy 
Current name: Ailanthus excelsa 
Authority: Roxb. 
Family: Simaroubaceae

Description 

Tree grows to 27 m, smelly leaves, alternate, petiolate, 30 cm or more, many leaflets, stalk long, glandular hairy, coarsely toothed, axillary or terminal panicles, very large flowers branched, lax, on long stems small, large Samara, red, twisted, blunt or pointed at both ends.

Chemical Constituents

Root bark contains Quassinoids - excelsin, ailanthione, gaucarubinone, glaucaubol-15-isovalerate, 13.18-dehydro-glaucarubol-15-isovalerate and alkaloids. The bark contains glaucarubin Voice, excelsin, ailantic acid, hydroquinone, beta-sitosterol, Malan thin triacontane, hexatriacontane, benzoquinolizidine alancine alkaloid. Leaves yield ailantic acid beta-sitosterol and vitexin. Quassinoids seeds. Plant also contains sitosterol and vitexin.

Natural reproduction is through seed and coppice. Seedling regeneration is generally sparse and can be used to regenerate naturally. Natural regeneration in the bushes and root suckers is sufficient as long as the trees harvested are healthy. Artificial regeneration by direct seeding or planting of seeds germinated.

Use

Bark anthelmintic, antipyretic, expectorant and antispasmodic, used for asthma and bronchitis, also in dysentery. Tribes of West Bengal and Bihar: The powder of the resin of this plant mixed with cottage cheese as an astringent for diarrhea and dysentery, bark: abortion, useful in cold and cough with fever, Complaints postnatal bark decoction: applied to the wound, bark and leaf paste applied to the rash, infusion and decoction Sheet: the baptism of PR, in many parts of India, decoction bark and leaves are used as a tonic after childbirth and weakness, homeopathy: treatment of diphtheria, follicular tonsillitis, stomach problems, fever, agitation, diseases skin, hysteria and hiccups. Using modern root bark: antitumor activity against the P-388 lymphocytic leukemia, Leaf and bark applied on rashes, vermifuge, antispasmodic, antipyretic, blood purifier, carminative and expectorant.