Antiaris toxicaria Lesch.

DeFilipps, Robert A. & Krupnick, Gary A., 2018, The medicinal plants of Myanmar, PhytoKeys 102, pp. 1-341 : 120-121

Antiaris toxicaria Lesch.

Names.

Myanmar: hmya-seik, hkang-awng, aseik. English: upas tree.

Range.

Tropical Africa, Madagascar, tropical Asia to Philippine Islands and Fiji. In Myanmar, found in Bago, Chin, Mandalay, Mon, Sagaing, and Yangon.

Uses.

Latex: Used as a heart tonic and febrifuge; also as an arrow poison. Seed: Has good febrifuge and antidysenteric properties (these good uses have also been mentioned for the leaves and bark).

Notes.

In India the seed is used for dysentery and as a febrifuge ( Jain and DeFilipps 1991). A tribe in Borneo uses the latex in decoction as a febrifuge; they also apply it to festering wounds and snakebites ( Perry 1980). The leaves and bark are said to have good febrifuge and antidysenteric properties; also the seed ( Perry 1980).

Reported chemical constituents of this species include a toxic glycoside; alpha-, beta-, gamma-antiarin; antiarol; and fats ( Perry 1980). Throughout the East, the toxic sap (latex) from this species is known for its use as an arrow or dart poison, and much has been written about it. It proves fatal, however, only when it reaches the bloodstream, and can be taken into the mouth without any ill effects ( Perry 1980). The juice, in very small quantity, is a mild circulatory and cardiac stimulant, but in large doses it acts as a myocardial poison; and has a strong digitalis-like action ( Perry 1980).

References.

Nordal (1963), Perry (1980).