Mitragyna diversifolia

Mitragyna diversifolia^[2] is a tree species in the family Rubiaceae and found in Asia.^[3][4] The Catalogue of Life lists no subspecies.^[3]

Mitragyna diversifolia
Illustrated as "Stephegyne diversifolia"
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Gentianales
Family:	Rubiaceae
Genus:	Mitragyna
Species:	M. diversifolia
Binomial name
Mitragyna diversifolia (Wall. ex G.Don) Havil.[1]
Synonyms
Stephegyne tubulosa Fern.-Vill. Stephegyne parvifolia Vidal Stephegyne diversifolia (Wall. ex G.Don) Hook.f. Stephegyne diversifolia (Wall. ex G.Don) Brandis Nauclea diversifolia Wall. ex G.Don Nauclea adina Blanco Mitragyna javanica Koord. & Valeton Mamboga capitata Blanco

Description

Mitragyna diversifolia is a deciduous under-story tree, that reaches up to 15 m in height. The branches are angled and cylindrical. The leaves are ovate-oblong to elliptic-ovate, averaging 146 × 93 mm in size, obtuse apex to shortly acuminate. The yellow corolla has white lobes. The fruit in the form of a capsule of 3–4 mm.^[5]

Distribution

It is distributed through the forests of China (Yunnan), Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Burma, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

Uses

The genus mitragyna has been used traditionally to alleviate symptoms of fever, coughing, diarrhea, muscular pain and deworming,^[6] although antioxidant and antimicrobial properties have also been found.^[7] Typically these are consumed as a whole leaf or powder form, although gel-capsules, containing powder, are also used. Mitragyna diversifolia has been shown to possess pharmacological antidiarrheal properties, as well as analgesic properties.^[8]

Phytochemicals

Mitragyna diversifolia leaf contains the alkaloids 7-hydroxy-isopaynantheine, 3-dehydro-paynantheine, 3-isopaynantheine-N(4)- oxide, mitrafoline, mitradiversifoline, specionoxeine-N(4)-oxide, specionoxeine-N(4)-oxide.^[9]

Gallery

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