Echitamine (Alstonia Indole Alkaloid · Cardiovascular Research)
Compiled from published pharmacological and botanical literature. Not independently verified by Herbuno. Spotted an error or have a correction? Flag it below →
| Compound | Echitamine |
| Chemical class | Alkaloid — Indole (quaternary monoterpenoid indole alkaloid) |
| CAS | 6871-44-9 |
| Primary source | Alstonia boonei / Alstonia scholaris (Saptaparna), stem bark |
| Key applications | Hypotensive; cardiac and smooth-muscle effects; antineoplastic research |
| Claim strength | Emerging |
| Typical form | Alstonia bark extract standardised to total indole alkaloids (availability on request) |
| Buy from Herbuno | Availability on request — request bulk pricing → |
Name origin: Echitamine derives from Echites, an older botanical name associated with the Apocynaceae to which Alstonia belongs. It is a quaternary monoterpenoid indole alkaloid — the permanent positive charge on its nitrogen distinguishing it from most of the neutral indole alkaloids in this index — and it is the principal alkaloid of Alstonia stem bark. Traditional use: Alstonia boonei is a major West African medicinal tree, known as God's tree or Onyame dua and held sacred in some forest communities, whose bark is used traditionally for malaria, fever, and as an antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, and antidiabetic Adotey 2012. Its Asian counterpart Alstonia scholaris (Saptaparna, the devil tree) occupies a parallel place in Ayurvedic practice, where the bitter bark is used for fever, skin disorders, and digestive complaints. In both traditions the stem bark is the principal medicinal part, and echitamine is the alkaloid most closely identified with it. Research trajectory: Pharmacological investigation of echitamine in laboratory animals documented a broad battery of autonomic and cardiovascular activities, including lowering of systemic arterial blood pressure, negative chronotropic and inotropic responses in isolated atrial muscle, relaxation of vascular and extra-vascular smooth muscle, and induction of diuresis Adotey 2012. The alkaloid has also attracted sustained interest for antineoplastic activity in animal tumour models, and modern reviews of Alstonia confirm the plant's anti-inflammatory, antimalarial, and ulcer-protective pharmacology, attributing much of it to the alkaloid fraction review 2026. Commercial source: Alstonia bark extract standardised to total indole alkaloids is available from Herbuno on request.
Evidence for Echitamine Applications
Cardiovascular activity: Pharmacological study in laboratory animals found that echitamine lowers systemic arterial blood pressure in normotensive anaesthetised animals and produces negative chronotropic and inotropic responses in isolated atrial muscle strips, together with relaxation of isolated vascular and extra-vascular smooth muscle Adotey 2012. This constitutes a coherent cardiodepressant and vasodilatory profile. Claim strength: Emerging.
Diuretic action: The same body of work documented induction of diuresis among echitamine's principal effects, adding a renal dimension to its autonomic profile Adotey 2012. Claim strength: Emerging.
Antineoplastic research: Echitamine has been examined for anticancer activity in animal tumour models, including studies of growth inhibition in fibrosarcoma and of effects on serum glycoproteins and lysosomal hydrolases in sarcoma-bearing mice; reviews of Alstonia identify these anticancer activities among the alkaloid's documented pharmacology Adotey 2012. These remain preclinical findings. Claim strength: Emerging.
Anti-inflammatory and antimalarial context: Modern review of Alstonia boonei confirms the plant as a source of anti-inflammatory, antimalarial, and ulcer-protective agents, with a phytochemistry dominated by alkaloids and triterpenoids that may act individually or synergistically review 2026. Echitamine is the principal alkaloid within that matrix. Claim strength: Emerging.
Whole-bark context: Alstonia bark contains echitamidine, N-formylechitamidine, boonein, loganin, lupeol, ursolic acid, and beta-amyrin alongside echitamine, so the traditional bark preparation is a complex mixture in which alkaloids and triterpenoids both contribute Adotey 2012. Claim strength: Emerging.
Request availability and bulk pricing →
Browse Standardised Extract Powders →
Dosage & Formulator Specification
Echitamine sits at an early, preclinical stage of evidence, and no established human dose exists. The pharmacological literature is drawn from animal and isolated-tissue work, and those experimental exposures do not translate into supplement dosing; they are cited here for scientific context only.
For formulators, the practical material is Alstonia stem-bark extract standardised to total indole alkaloids by HPLC, with echitamine as the principal marker. Both Alstonia boonei (West African) and Alstonia scholaris (Saptaparna, South Asian) are used medicinally and both carry echitamine, but they are distinct species with differing overall phytochemistry, so the source species should be specified rather than left to a generic "Alstonia" designation. Alstonia extract standardised to total alkaloids is available from Herbuno on request.
The cardiovascular pharmacology has direct labelling implications. Because echitamine lowers blood pressure and depresses cardiac rate and contractility in preclinical models, any Alstonia-derived ingredient carries a plausible cardiovascular interaction profile, and responsible formulation should reflect the early evidence base and avoid therapeutic claims. The bark is also a complex matrix in which triterpenoids (lupeol, ursolic acid, beta-amyrin) and iridoids (boonein, loganin) accompany the alkaloids, so total-alkaloid standardisation characterises only part of what the material delivers.
This monograph documents echitamine as a formulator reference within the HerbIQ index, connecting it to the other Alstonia alkaloids (alstonine, tetrahydroalstonine) covered alongside it, and positions the compound honestly as an early-evidence ingredient available on request rather than a clinically validated product.
Frequently Asked Questions — Echitamine
What is echitamine?
Echitamine is the principal indole alkaloid of the stem bark of Alstonia species, notably Alstonia boonei and Alstonia scholaris (Saptaparna, the devil tree). It is a quaternary monoterpenoid indole alkaloid studied for cardiovascular and antineoplastic activity.
What is echitamine studied for?
Preclinical work reports a broad set of autonomic and cardiovascular actions including lowering of arterial blood pressure, negative chronotropic and inotropic effects on isolated cardiac muscle, smooth-muscle relaxation, and diuresis. Separate studies have examined antineoplastic activity in animal tumour models. Human clinical evidence is limited.
Can I source echitamine from Herbuno?
Alstonia extract standardised to total indole alkaloids is available on request. Herbuno does not currently stock an echitamine-standardised product, so availability, specification, and bulk pricing would be arranged on enquiry.
What is Alstonia used for traditionally?
Alstonia boonei is a West African medicinal tree known as God's tree, used traditionally for malaria, fever, and as an antispasmodic and analgesic. Alstonia scholaris (Saptaparna) has a parallel role in Ayurvedic practice, used for fever, skin conditions, and digestive complaints. The bark is the principal medicinal part in both traditions.
Related compounds: Alstonine, Tetrahydroalstonine, Akuammicine, Reserpine
Claim-strength scale – High = multiple human RCTs; Moderate = limited trials or strong preclinical convergence; Emerging = early-stage lab or animal data.
← HerbIQ Compound Index · HerbIQ P02: Extraction · HerbIQ P03: Delivery