Allamanda cathartica

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES
Plants of the genus are evergreen trees, shrubs, or vines. They contain a white latex. The leaves are opposite or arranged in whorls of up to 5. The blades are generally oval and smooth-edged, and some are leathery or lightly hairy. The inflorescence is a compound cyma. The flower has five lobed sepals and a bell- or funnel-shaped corolla of five petals, yellow in most species. The fruit is a schizocarp containing two to four seeds.

In moderate doses, leaves are used as cathartic. Their infusion or extract is given in colic. The bark and its decoction are reported to be administered as a hydrogogue in ascites. The aqueous and alcoholic extract of the roots and leaves exhibit hytension in male cats, the alcoholic extract of the roots being more powerful.