Ankola
Alangium salviifolium (L.f.) Wangerin
Ankola (Alangium salviifolium (L.f.) Wangerin) is a plant drug, also called Amkola and Dhera, from the Cornaceae (Alangiaceae) family. Not listed in WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants; documented in Indian Pharmacopoeia and recognized in Ayurveda and Siddha traditional medicine systems.
| Botanical name | Alangium salviifolium (L.f.) Wangerin |
|---|---|
| Family | Cornaceae (Alangiaceae) |
| Order | Cornales |
| Pharmacopoeia status | Not listed in WHO monographs on selected medicinal plants; documented in Indian Pharmacopoeia and recognized in Ayurveda and Siddha traditional medicine systems |
| Taxon identifiers | GBIF 3701897 · Wikidata Q10927686 · NCBI Taxonomy 616984 |
| Hindi | अंकोल (aṃkola), ढेरा (ḍherā) |
|---|
Sources: Kerala State Medicinal Plants Board (smpbkerala.in), Alangium salviifolium: Hindi "Dhera, Ankol"; ayushvedah.com drug entry for ankola: Hindi "Dhera, Ankol"; SDACH Dravyaguna 'Ankola' monograph: Hindi "Ankol".; Kerala State Medicinal Plants Board, Alangium salviifolium: Hindi "Dhera, Ankol"; ayushvedah.com: Hindi "Dhera, Ankol".. How we source.
The evidence at a glance
12papers on this site for this drug, published 2002 to 2026, 11 with a DOI.
- 12Laboratory and animal studies
A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Everything listed here is laboratory or animal work, which does not show an effect in people.true See the research index for how papers are tiered.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Ankola |
| Latin/Botanical | Alangium salviifolium (L.f.) Wangerin |
Key Phytochemical Constituents
- Alangine
- Ankorine
- Tubulosine
- Alangicine
- Salsoline
- Salviifosides A
- Beta-sitosterol
- Emodin
- Lamarckianin
- Alangimarine
How does it work?
- Salviifosides A exerts COX-2 inhibitory effects, providing anti-inflammatory activity through selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition and reduction of prostaglandin E2 synthesis
- Tubulosine alkaloid demonstrates cytotoxic activity against cancer cells by inhibiting protein synthesis and inducing apoptosis through activation of intrinsic mitochondrial pathways
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.
- Antidiabetic activity: traditionally used for Prameha (diabetes) in Ayurveda. Animal studies have reported reductions in blood glucose.
- Traditionally used in Ayurveda for joint pain and rheumatism (Amavata). Preclinical studies have reported antiarthritic and anti-inflammatory activity.
- Traditionally used as a snakebite remedy. In vitro studies have reported antivenom activity, including neutralization of venom phospholipase activity.
What do recent studies show?
No study for this section could be traced to a published paper. An absence here means we could not identify the source, not that no work exists.
Recent safety updates
- Plant is purgative and emetic in nature; fruits and seeds should only be used under medical supervision due to potent alkaloid content
- Sub-chronic safety evaluation of aqueous leaf extract in rats showed no lethal effects at tested doses, but dose-dependent gastrointestinal effects were noted
- Contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding due to emetic alkaloid content; avoid in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding or ulcers
What is it made of?
Key Active Markers
- Sitosterol
- Emodin
- Alangine
- Ankorine
- Tubulosine
- Alangicine
- Salsoline
- Salviifosides A
- Lamarckianin
- Alangimarine
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Churna (seed/bark powder), Taila (seed oil, external use primarily), Lepa (paste for external application), Kashayam (bark decoction), Capsule
Standard Dosage: 1-3g powder twice daily (internal, with caution); external oil/paste as needed. Internal use only under practitioner supervision.
Optimal Timing: As directed by Ayurvedic physician. External applications typically twice daily to affected area.
Storage: Clearly labeled RESTRICTED, not for unsupervised use. Cool, dry place, airtight containers. Below 25°C.
Marker Compounds: Alangine, Alanginine, Emetine, Cephaeline, Alangimarckine, Beta-sitosterol
Synergistic Combinations
Published research
Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.
Laboratory and animal studies12
- 2026. Multi-technique comparative analysis of bioactive metabolites in Alangium salviifolium (L.f.) Wangerin leaf, fruit and seed extracts using UV-Vis, FTIR, HPLC, LCMS and cytotoxicity evaluation on A431 cell lineNatural product research. PMID 41609250 · doi:10.1080/14786419.2026.2619417
- 2026. Structural diversity of bioactive triterpenoids from Alangium salviifolium and their attenuation of acute lung injury through AKT/MAPK signalingPhytochemistry. PMID 42843494 · doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2026.115098
- 2024. Structurally diverse isoquinoline alkaloids from the barks of Alangium salviifolium (L. f.) Wangerin and their cytotoxicityPhytochemistry. PMID 38750707 · doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2024.114139
- 2022. A novel hepatoprotective activity of Alangium salviifolium in mouse modelDrug and chemical toxicology. PMID 32141350 · doi:10.1080/01480545.2020.1733593
- 2020. Metabolite Profiling of Alangium salviifolium Bark Using Advanced LC/MS and GC/Q-TOFTechnologyCells. PMID 33374892 · doi:10.3390/cells10010001
- 2019. Octahydro-Protoberberine and Protoemetine-Type Alkaloids from the Stems of Alangium salviifolium and Their CytotoxicityJournal of natural products. PMID 31513408 · doi:10.1021/acs.jnatprod.9b00670
- 2015. Bioactive cardinane sesquiterpenes from the stems of Alangium salviifoliumChemistry, an Asian journal. PMID 25645740 · doi:10.1002/asia.201403253
- 2014. Isolation and biological activity of a novel cadinane-type sesquiterpenoid from the essential oil of Alangium salviifoliumJournal of oleo science. PMID 25452263 · doi:10.5650/jos.ess14059
- 2012. Phytochemical screening and anti-inflammatory actions of Alangium salviifolium root extractNatural product research. PMID 22008064 · doi:10.1080/14786419.2011.589054
- 2009. Phenolic glycosides from Alangium salviifolium leaves with inhibitory activity on LPS-induced NO, PGE(2), and TNF-alpha productionBioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters. PMID 19500975 · doi:10.1016/j.bmcl.2009.05.070
- 2002. Antifungal activity and local toxicity study of Alangium salviifolium subsp hexapetalumThe Southeast Asian journal of tropical medicine and public health. PMID 12971498
- 2002. Antibacterial compounds from the flowers of Alangium salviifoliumFitoterapia. PMID 12385881 · doi:10.1016/s0367-326x(02)00178-8
Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.
Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.
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