''Tabernaemontana elegans'', the toad tree, is a shrub or small tree in the family Apocynaceae. It is native to eastern Africa.

Description

''Tabernaemontana elegans'' grows up to tall, with a trunk diameter of up to . Its fragrant flowers feature white, creamy or pale yellow

corolla Corolla may refer to: *Corolla (botany), the petals of a flower, considered as a unit *Toyota Corolla, an automobile model name * Corolla (headgear), an ancient headdress in the form of a circlet or crown * ''Corolla'' (gastropod), a genus of moll ...

lobes. Fruit consists of 2 separate ovoid or ellipsoid pods, up to each.

Distribution and habitat

''Tabernaemontana elegans'' grows in forests or bushland from sea level to altitude. The species is native to Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zimbabwe,

Eswatini Eswatini ( ; ss, eSwatini ), officially the Kingdom of Eswatini and formerly named Swaziland ( ; officially renamed in 2018), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by Mozambique to its northeast and South Africa to its no ...

and South Africa.

Uses

''Tabernaemontana elegans'' has some local medicinal uses including the treatment of heart disease, cancer, tuberculosis and venereal diseases. The species is also used as an aphrodisiac. The Zulu name for this genus, ''iNomfi'', refers to the use of their sticky, milky latex as bird-lime.

Chemistry

Fourteen indole alkaloids have been isolated in the callus culture of ''Tabernaemontana elegans'' ( isovoacangine, 3-R/S-hydroxy-isovoacangine, 3-R/S-hydroxy- coronaridine, isositsirikine, geissoschizol,

tabernaemontanine Tabernaemontanine is a naturally occurring monoterpene indole alkaloid found in several species in the genus ''Tabernaemontana'' including ''Tabernaemontana divaricata''. History Tabernaemontanine was first reported in 1939 but its structure was on ...

, vobasine, vobasinol, apparicine, 16-hydroxy-16,22-dihydro-apparicine, tubotaiwine, 3-R/S-hydroxy-conodurine and monogagaine) of which apparicine is the principal.Indole alkaloids from a callus culture of Tabernaemontana elegans. R. van der Heijden, R.L. Brouwer, R. Verpoorte, R. Wijnsma, T.A. van Beek, A.A. Harkes and A. Baerheim Svendsen, Phytochemistry, Volume 25, Issue 4, Tabernaemontana elegans 1DS-II 2654.jpg, Toad-tree (Tabernaemontana elegans) flowers (11821772955).jpg, Tabernaemontana elegans S-3287.jpg, Tabernaemontana elegans 1DS-II 0968.jpg, Tabernaemontana elegans 1DS-II 0971.jpg,

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q199132 elegans Plants described in 1894 Plants used in traditional African medicine Flora of Africa