Apocynaceae alkaloids
Apocynaceae alkaloids are natural products found in the plant family of the dogbane family (Apocynaceae).{{RömppOnline|ID=RD-01-03003|Name=Apocynaceen-Alkaloide|Abruf=2020-05-08}}
Occurrence
The alkaloid tabernanthin is found in Tabernaemontana laurifolia.{{citation|author=M.Hesse|date=1968|isbn=978-3-540-04194-8|location=Berlin Heidelberg|pages=30|publisher=Springer-Verlag|title=Indolalkaloide}} The alkaloids voacangin and voacristin were isolated from Voacanga africana.{{citation|author=U. Renner|date=1957|doi=10.1007/BF02159399|pages=468–469|periodical=Experientia|title=Voacamidin und Voacristin, zwei neue Alkaloide aus Voacanga africana Stapf|volume=13}}
Representatives
Representatives include tabernanthine, voacangine and voacristine.{{citation|author1=Zetler, G. |author2=Lenschow, E. |author3=Prenger-Berninghoff, W.|date=1968|doi=10.1007/BF00545005|pages=26–49|periodical=Naunyn-Schmiedebergs Archiv für Pharmakologie und experimentelle Pathologie|title=Die Wirkung von 11 Indol-Alkaloiden auf das Meerschweinchen-Herz in vivo und in vitro, verglichen mit 2 synthetischen Azepinoindolen, Chinidin und Quindonium.|volume=260}}{{citation|author=Robert F. Raffauf & M. B. Flagler|date=1960|doi=10.1007/BF02859365|pages=37–55|periodical=Economic Botany pages|title=Alkaloids of the Apocynaceae|volume=14}}
(-)-Voacangine Structural Formula V1.svg|(-)-Voacangine
(-)-Voacristine Structural Formula V1.svg|(-)-Voacristine
Tabernanthine Structural Formula V1.svg|Tabernanthine
Uses
Plant parts of Voacanga africana are utilized by African natives for various purposes, including as hallucinogens, in cultic ceremonies, and as aphrodisiacs.[https://www.spektrum.de/lexikon/arzneipflanzen-drogen/voacanga-arten/15416 Lexicon of Medicinal Plants and Drugs, Spektrum Akademischer Verlag 1999.]
= Ethnomedicinal use =
A decoction made from the stem or root bark is employed for the treatment of mental disorders and as an analgesic. The sap is applied to cavities in teeth. In southeastern Nigeria, Voacanga africana is an integral part of numerous healing rituals.{{citation |author=M. Iwu |first=Maurice |title=Handbook of African Medicinal Plants |date=2014 |url={{GBurl|LMfMBQAAQBAJ|p=330}} |edition=2. |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=978-1-46657-198-3}}