Tree-of-Heaven is a deciduous tree member of the Quassia-wood family Simaroubaceae, growing to 65 ft (20 m) having large leaves with upto 12 lance-shaped leaflets, unpleasant odour, bitter taste and small greenish-yellow flowers, native to China and India.
Plant Description
Tree-of-Heaven is a medium-sized, fast growing, deciduous, exotic invasive tree that may reach 18-21m (60-70 feet) in height, 24m (80 feet) in crown width, and 6m (20 feet) in trunk diameter at maturity.
The tree is found growing in woodland edges and openings, thickets, riverbanks, vacant lots, landfills and dumps, gravelly back alleys, areas along roads and railways, fence rows, and urban waste areas.
It tolerates a wide range of soil nutrient levels and other soil conditions.
Best growth occurs on nutrient-rich, loamy soils, but Tree-of-Heaven establishes in nutrient-poor soils.
The plant has taproot and several large lateral roots.
Barks are normally smooth and light green when young, eventually turning to light brown to gray somewhat rougher with light tan fissures as the tree ages resembling the Skin of a Cantaloupe.Twigs and branches
The twigs of Tree-of-Heaven are alternate on the tree, stout, greenish to brown in color, and lack a terminal bud.
They have large V- or heart-shaped leaf scars. Twigs easily break to expose the large, spongy, brown center, or pith.
Branches are light to dark gray in color, smooth, lustrous, and contain raised lenticels that become fissures with age.
The ends of the branches become pendulous.The branches are brittle and self-pruning.
There are 2 branch types: long and short shoots.
Long shoots are sterile and may extend 18 feet (5 m), while short shoots bear flowers and rarely reach more than 18 inches (46 cm) long.Leaves
The large, malodorous leaves are odd-pinnately or even-pinnately compound, and arranged alternately on the stem, with prominent glands on the back of each leaflet.
They range in size from 30-90 cm (0.98-2.95 ft.) in length and contain 10–41 leaflets organized in pairs, with the largest leaves found on vigorous young sprouts.
The rachis is light to reddish-green with a swollen base.Leaflets
Leaflets are ovate-lanceolate with entire margins, somewhat asymmetric and occasionally not directly opposite to each other.
Each leaflet is 5-18cm (2.0-7.1 in) long and 2.5-5cm (0.98-1.97 in) wide.
Leaflets range from 15-41 in number, and total leaf length may reach 3 feet (1 m).
Leaf stipules have nectaries that excrete sugars.
They have a long tapering end while the bases have 2-4 teeth, each containing one or more glands at the tip.
The upper sides of leaflets are dark green in color with light green veins, while the undersides are a more whitish green.
Petioles are 5-12 mm (0.20-0.47 in) long.
The lobed bases and glands differentiate it from similar Sumac species.Flowers
Flowers are small and appear in large panicles up to 50cm (20 in) in length at the end of new shoots.
Individual flowers are yellowish green to reddish in colour, each with 5 petals and sepals.
The sepals are cup-shaped, lobed and united while the petals are valvate (i.e. they meet at the edges without overlapping), white and Hairy towards the inside.
They appear from mid-April in the south of its range to July in the north.
It is dioecious, with male and female flowers being borne on different individuals.
Male trees produce 3-4 times as many flowers as the females, making the male flowers more noticeable.
Additionally, the male plants emit a foul-smelling odour while flowering to attract pollinating insects.Most flowers are unisexual, but some trees may have perfect flowers.
The inflorescence is a 4-7-inch (10-20 cm) long panicle with 6-8 mm long flowers.
Staminate flowers have a strong odor that is objectionable to humans.Female flowers contain 10 (or rarely 5 through abortion) sterile stamens (stamenoides) with heart-shaped anthers.
The pistil is made up of 5 free carpels (i.e. they are not fused), each containing a single ovule.
Their styles are united and slender with star-shaped stigmas.The male flowers are similar in appearance, but they lack a pistil and the stamens do function, each being topped with a globular anther and a Glandular green disc.
Male flowers wither away; the female flowers are replaced by single-seeded samaras that mature during the late summer or fall.
Individual samaras are about 2.5cm long (1 in) and 1cm (0.39 in) broad and are initially light green, but later become yellowish or reddish green, and finally become tan to brown.
Each samara has two elongated membranous wings and a central seed; the wings are often slightly twisted.
Individual seeds are about 5mm in diameter, ovoid, and slightly flattened.
The samaras are distributed by the wind or water.fruits
The fruits are one-seeded, dry schizocarps with wings.
They are 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) long and propeller-shaped, resembling maple (Acer spp.) fruits.
The fruits grow in clusters; a fruits cluster may contain hundreds of seeds.Seeds
The seeds average 0.2 × 1.0 inch (0.6 × 0.25 cm) in area and 27 mg in mass.Roots
The roots are shallow and wide-spread.
Young trees have a taproot and several large lateral roots, although the taproot may diminish with age.
In dry, rocky soil or beneath pavement, Tree-of-Heaven grows long, horizontal roots that do not branch until reaching a more favorable substrate.
Roots near the trunk thicken with age, serving as storage organs.
Deep roots send out smaller roots that grow near the soil surface; stem shoots generally sprout from these shallow roots.
Most roots occur in the upper 18 inches (46 cm) of soil [10-20].
History
Types & Varieties
Varieties of Tree-of-heaven
Altissima var. altissima – It is one of the popular varieties and is native to mainland China.
Altissima var. tanakai – This variety is common to northern Taiwan highlands and differs from the other types by having yellowish bark, odd-pinnate leaves that are also shorter on average at 45-60 cm (18-24 in) long with only 13–25 scythe-like leaflets.
Altissima var. sutchuenensis – This variety differs in having red branchlets.
Mechanism of Action
Additional Information
Key Actions
• Tree-of-Heaven (whole plant) is:
• Acaricidal,
• Analgesic,
• Anthelmintic,
• Anti-bacterial,
• Anti-diarrheal,
• Anti-histaminic,
• Anti-HIV,
• Anti-Inflammatory,
• Anti-Microbial,
• Anti-oxidant,
• Anti-parasitic,
• Anti-plasmodial,
• Anti-progestogenic,
• Anti-pyretic,
• Anti-Spasmodic,
• Anti-viral,
• Astringent,
• Cardiac depressant,
• Cytotoxic,
• Mollusicidal,
• Parasiticide,
• Repellent,• The root and stem bark are:
• Anti-Spasmodic,
• Astringent,
• Bitter,
• Cardiac depressant,
• Diuretic,
• Emetic,
• Febrifuge,
• Rubefacient,
• Vermifuge,• Root-bark is:
• Anti-anaphylactic (potent),
• Anti-Inflammatory,• The stem bark is:
• Emmenagogue,
• The leaves are:
• Anthelmintic,
• Astringent,
• Deobstruent,• Indications:
• Asthma,
• Cancer,
• Diarrhea,
• dysentery,
• dysmenorrhoea,
• Dysuria,
• ejaculation (premature),
• Epilepsy,
• eruption,
• Fever,
• gonorrhoea,
• haematochezia,
• Leucorrhoea,
• Malaria,
• metrorrhagia,
• sores,
• spasms,
• spermatorrhoea,
• stomachic,
• tumours of the breast,
• wet dreams.
Usable Parts
various parts (inner bark, root, dried trunk and root bark) are used.
However the bark is the part most commonly used,
The bark is harvested in the spring and dried for later use.
Directions of Preparation
Recommended Dosage
• Dried bark: – 7-20 grains.
• Tincture: – 5-60 drops from 2-4 times aday.
• Infusion: – A teaspoonful (night and morning) of 50g of the rootbark infused for a short time in 75g of hot water, then strained.
Its Active Constituents:
• Tree of Heaven bark and root bark contain:
• Three neolignan Glycosides (7,9,9′-trihydroxy-3,3′,5′-trimethoxy-8-O-4′-neoLignan-4-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, sonchifolignan B and citrusin B),
• A new seco-neoLignan Glycoside,
• Seco-dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol-4-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside,
• Canthin-6-one,
• Ailantcanthinosides A (1-methoxycanthin-6-one canthin-6-one-5-o-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-[1→6]-beta-D-glucopyranoside),
• Ailantcanthinosides B (canthin-6-one-1-o-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-[1→6]-beta-D-glucopyranoside),
• Proteins,
• Flavonoids,
• Alkaloids,
• Quassinoids (such as ailanthone and quassin),
• Fatty acids,
• Volatile oils,
The stem bark contain:
• Many Terpenylated Coumarins (including [2’R,3’R]-7-[2′,3′-dihydroxy-3′,7′-dimethylocta-6′-nyloxy]-6,8-dimethoxy Coumarin, 6,8-dimethoxy-7-[3′,7′-dimethylocta-2′,6′-dienyloxy]Coumarin, [2’R,3’R,6’R]-7-[2′,3′-dihydroxy-6′,7′-epoxy-3′,7′-dimethyloctaoxy]-6,8-dimethoxy Coumarin, and [2’R,3’R,4’S,5’S]-6,8-dimethoxy-7-[3′,7′-dimethyl-4′,5′-epoxy-2′-hydroxyocta-6′-enyloxy]Coumarin),
• Tetracyclic Triterpenoids (altissimanins A-E,),
• A new Terpenylated Coumarin (altissima Coumarin G),
The seed contain:
• Protein,
• Fat,
• 6-alpha-tigloyloxy chaparrinone,
• Ailanthone,
• Quassiin,
• Quassinoids,
• Ailantinols A-G,
• Shinjulactone A-O,
• Altissinol A-H,
The fruits contain:
• Cerebroside,
• Three cycloartan triterpenes (1-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-[2S, 3R, 4E, 9E]-2-[2’R-hydroxyhexadecenoy]-4, 9-octadecadiene-1,3-diol, 9,19-cyclolanost-23 [Z]-ene-3beta,25-diol, cycloart-25-ene-3beta,24R-diol and cycloart-25-ene-3beta,24S-diol),
The leaves contain:
• Tannin (12%),
• Quercetin,
• Isoquercetin,
• Phenolic compounds (gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, HHDP-galloylglucose, epicatechin, Rutin, hyperoside and Quercetin-3-galloyl hexoside),
The flowers contain:
• Brevifolin,
• Brevifolin carboxylic acid,
• Methyl brevifolin carboxylate,
• Ellagic Acid,
• Diethyl-2,2′,3,3′,4,4′-hexahydroxybiphenyl-6,6′-dicarboxylate,
• Rutin,
• Gallic acid,
• Ethyl gallate,
The leaf volatile oils contain:
• Non-terpenic compounds (tetradecanol, heneicosane, tricosane and docosane),
• Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (alpha-curcumene and alpha-gurjunene),
• Oxygenated sesquiterpenes (42.1%, mainly caryophyllene oxide (22.7%),
• Oxygenated aliphatic compounds (alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, acids and esters, especially C6-compounds),
The root essential-oils contain:
• Aldehydes (hexadecanal [22.6%]),
The flowers essential-oils contain:
• Oxygenated sesquiterpenes (74.8%, mainly caryophyllene oxide [42.5%]),
The samara oil contain:
• Rich in Hexahydrofarnesyl acetone ([58.0%]), an apocarotenoid derivative)
The stems essential-oils contain:
• Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (54.1%, mainly beta-caryophyllene [18.9%]),
The fresh young plant contain:
• Main aliphatic compounds ([Z]-3-hexen-1-ol, [E]-2-hexenal, [Z]-3- hexen-1-ol esters [butanOate, acetate and hexanOate] and hexadecanoic acid),
The dried young plant contain:
• Main aliphatic compounds ([E]-2-hexenal, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-on, esters of [Z]-3-hexen-1-ol [butanOate and methylbutanOate], nonanal and hexadecanoic acid),
The dried old plant contain:
• Main aliphatic compounds ([Z]-3-hexen-1-ol, [Z]-3-hexen-1-yl acetate, 1-hexadecanol and tetradecanal, octadecanal, [E]-2-hexenal, 6-metil-5-hepten-2-on, hexadecanoic, dodecanoic and tetradecanoic acid),
• Young plants have the highest contents of [Z]-3-hexen-1-ol, and its esters [acetate, butanOate and hexanOate].
• Dried (young and old) plants do not contain [Z]-3-hexen-1-yl acetate.
• Dried plant Materials contain several times higher amounts of [E]-2-hexenal and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one than the fresh ones.
• Fresh leaves of young plants have the most abundant of Hexadecanoic, dodecanoic, tetradecanoic and 9-octadecenoic acids.
• Twelve (12) sesquiterpene compounds are identified (representing the second significant group of ailanthus volatiles after aliphatic compounds [among them, gamma-cadinene, beta-caryophyllene, alpha-humulene and calarene are the main components]).
• Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons are many times higher in fresh plant Materials than in the dried ones.
• The smaller part of sesquiterpene compounds are oxygenated sesquiterpenes (such as alpha-sinesal, [E,E)-farnesal and farnesol).
• Oxygenated Monoterpenes represent the third group of ailanthus volatile compounds.
• Seven oxygenated Monoterpenes are identified (linalool and beta-cyclocitral being the most representative),
• Monoterpene hydrocarbons are not identified among the ailanthus volatile compounds (unlike most aromatic plants),
Note:
* The root and stem bark vermifuge properties do not act on round worms or earthworms.
Precaution:
* It should be used under the supervision of a qualified practitioner, since the bark is a Nauseatingly bitter herb (readily causes Vomiting).
* The plant is possibly Poisonous as it may cause fatigue, Nausea, Vomiting, High Blood Pressure, Depression, Arthritis.
* Its leaves are toxic to domestic animals and contact with the tree on felling may cause Skin rashes.
* Its male flowers have potentially allergenic pollen which can cause Hay Fever.
* Its foliage odour is intensely disagreeable causing Headaches, Nausea, Rhinitis and Conjunctivitis.
Health Benefits of Tree-of-Heaven
Cancer & Tumor Prevention
• Tree-of-Heaven‘s bark extracts contain quassinoids which act against Cancerous cells, thus used in homeopathic remedies for Cancer.
• Tree-of-Heaven show a remarkable increase in the apoptosis (natural cell death) or cytotoxic activities against several tumor cell lines through its quassinoids.
• Its extracts four (4) cytotoxic Alkaloids/quassinoids (canthin-6-one, 1-methoxycanthin-6-one, 5-methoxycanthin-6-one, and canthin-6-one-3-N-oxide) show inhibitory activity against tumor cell lines (HeLa, MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, HepG2 and A549 cells, and the normal HUVEC line).
• Its fruits anti-tumor constituents (shinjulactone A, shinjuglycoside B, 5-hydroxymethylfuraldehyde) show moderate anti-proliferative activity.
• Its quassinoids (ailantinol E, ailantinol F, and ailantinol G, and related compounds) show anti-tumor promoting effects against Epstein-Barr virus early antigen activation.
• Its quassinoids (altissinol A and B, together with 12 known quassinoids) show cytotoxic potential (in vitro) against three human hepatoma cell lines, where seven (7) display potent cytotoxic activities against human hepatoma Hep3B and HepG2 cell lines and three (3) compounds exhibit cytotoxic activity against multidrug resistance HepG2/ADM cell line.
Foods & Cancer
Cardiovascular System
• Tree-of-Heaven has marked Anti-Spasmodic properties and acts on the body as a cardiac depressant (slows The Heart rate and relaxes spasms).
• Its effective in taking care of heart complaints (such as rapid and slow heart pulse) by aiding in the normalization of heart rate.
Foods & Cardiovascular System
Circulatory System
• Tree-of-Heaven bark works efficiently in treatment of Anemia (insufficiency of blood due to deficiency in Iron content), while its barks cooling and Astringent properties, is primarily used to treat intestinal hemorrhage, Menorrhagia and spermatorrhoea.
Foods & Circulatory System
Detoxification
• Tree-of-Heaven is valuable in treating urinary disorders (such as insufficient amount of urine, unconscious discharge of urine and improper urine flow).
Foods & Detoxification
Digestive System
• Tree-of-Heaven is beneficent in taking care of stomach problems (such as extreme pain in The Stomach, along with burning sensation and feeling of empty stomach) and effective in curbing bowel movement disorders (such as pain at the time of bowel or uneasy and hard bowels). Its Resin purges, but rarely acts as an Anthelmintic.
Foods & Digestive System
Eye
• Tree-of-Heaven fruits are useful in the treatment of ophthalmic diseases and beneficial in curbing troubles relating to Eyes (such as Conjunctivitis, burning sensation in the Eyes causing pain and blurry vision [due to purulent discharge]).
Foods & Eye
Hair
• Tree-of-Heaven, Catalpa and Peach tree young leaves can be crushed together and the resulting liquid applied to the scalp help to stimulate Hair growth.
Foods & Hair
Immune System
• Tree-of-Heaven have anti-progestogenic properties, its leaves have strong anti-oxidant activities, while its stem bark contain luteolin-7-O-glucoside (L7G), which can inhibit 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX)-dependent leukotriene C4 (LTC4) production in Bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) and also has Anti-Asthmatic activity which may be mediated in part via the inhibition of leukotriene C4 (LTC4) generation and mast cell degranulation.
• The inhibition of leukotriene C4 (LTC4) production by luteolin-7-O-glucoside (L7G) also shows a decrease in cPLA2 phosphorylation, which occurred via the extracellular signal-regulated Protein kinase-1/2 (ERK1/2) and p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathways.
• Luteolin-7-O-glucoside (L7G) also attenuate mast cell degranulation through inhibition of phospholipase Cγ1 (PLCγ1) phosphorylation.
• Its extracts Anti-Inflammatory effect can inhibit the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) generation and activity dependent phases of prostaglandin D2 in Bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC), inhibit leukotriene C4 (LTC4) production, inhibit degranulation reaction and reduces the levels of eosinophil infiltration into the airway, the eotaxin, IL-4, and IL-13 mRNA expression.
• Luteolin-7-O-glucoside (L7G) also reduces the amount of eosinophil infiltration in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and inhibit both the prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and serum immunoglobulin E level in BAL fluid.
• Luteolin-7-O-glucoside (L7G) inhibit the transcript profiles of interleukin IL4, IL5, and IL13 mRNA expression levels.
• Tree-of-Heaven significantly inhibit the allergic and inflammatory reaction on Edema (Dropsy) and anaphylaxis (both systemic and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis) by significantly inhibiting the production of inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-8 on human mast cell line (HMC-1 cells).
• It also inhibits the IgE (or stem cell factor-induced TNF production) and decreases the level of NF-kappaB/Rel A in the nucleus of activated HMC-1 cells.
• Tree-of-Heaven stem bark four terpenylated Coumarins can strongly enhance SIRT1 activity (by direct stimulatory effect on SIRT1 deacetylation activity) and also increase the NAD-to-NADH ratio in HEK293 cells, thus may serve as lead molecules for the treatment of some age-related disorders (such as ailments relating to memory [like memory loss, unable to concentrate, difficulty in learning and recalling things]).
Foods & Immune System
Infections
• Tree-of-Heaven leaves show Anti-Microbial and anti-bacterial effects where it inhibit significantly the growth of all six (6) gram-positive bacteria (Listeria monocytogenes [ATCC 19116, ATCC 19118 and ATCC 19166], Staphylococcus aureus [ATCC 6538 and KCTC 1916] and Bacillus subtilis [ATCC 6633]) and two (2) gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa [KCTC 2004] and Escherichia coli [ATCC 8739]).
• Its fruits extracts new naturally occurring sterol and six (6) known stigmasterols show potent activity against many bacteria.
• Its extracts are bactericidal.
• Tree-of-Heaven root bark three (3) neolignan Glycosides extract (7,9,9-trihydroxy-3,3,5-trimethoxy-8-O-4-neolignan-4-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, sonchifolignan B and citrusin B) show moderate anti-viral effect on tobacco mosaic virus.
• Tree-of-Heaven stem bark extract show potent Anti-HIV activity, which is based on the interaction between the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120/41 and the cellular membrane Protein CD4 of T-Lymphocytes.
• Tree-of-Heaven ailantinol E, ailantinol F, and ailantinol G, and related compounds show anti-tumor promoting effects against Epstein-Barr virus early antigen activation.
• Tree-of-Heaven seedlings two (2) quassinoids (ailanthone and 6 alpha-tigloyloxychaparrinone) show anti-plasmodial activity against Plasmodium falciparum and against Plasmodium berghei Infections (in vitro).
• Tree-of-Heaven bark extract has stronger toxicity and potential acaricidal properties against two (2) common species of animal ectoparasitic mites (Psoroptes cuniculi and Sarcoptes scabiei var. cuniculi) and also mollusicidal effects against Oncomelania hupensis snails.
• Tree-of-Heaven whole plant has a marked Anti-malarial activity (a good herbal treatment for combating Fever in case of Malaria), while its bark contain quassinoids which are intensely bitter and Anti-malarial.
• Tree-of-Heaven is a good herbal treatment for countering typhoid Fever, whose root cause is either bacterial Infection or adulterated food and water.
Foods & Infections
Intestine
• Tree-of-Heaven is a beneficial and popular remedy for the healing of acute dysentery, treating Diarrhea and ease abdominal pain (within 2 days)as its roots, leaves and bark are primarily used as an Astringent in the treatment of gastric and intestinal upsets.
• Its Resin (in small dose) or fresh stem bark have cooling and Astringent properties, primarily used to treat Diarrhea and dysentery.
• Its efficient in arresting loose stool (dysentery and Diarrhea).
• Its fruits is used in the treatment of bloody stools and dysentery.
• Tree-of-Heaven is useful in the removal of tapeworms.
Foods & Intestine
Musculoskeletal System
• Tree-of-Heaven is appreciated in healing ear disorders (such as pain in the ear at the time of swallowing, due to swelling in the salivary gland), while its root bark and root-bark tincture is successfully used in the treatment of muscle contactions/Palpitations (cardiac Palpitations, Asthma and Epilepsy).
Foods & Musculoskeletal System
Oral & Dental
• Tree-of-Heaven is useful in combating oral problems (such as ulcers in the Gums and mouth, and bleeding Gums) and advantageous in treatment to throat related problems (like dryness, irritation and pain in the throat) and also helps in providing relief from painful tonsils, which makes breathing and food intake difficult.
Foods & Dental
Reproductive Health
• Tree-of-Heaven is helpful in treating and overcoming gonorrhea (a sexually transmittable disease affecting by both the genders).
Foods & Reproductive Health
Respiratory System
• Tree-of-Heaven root bark is suitable in treatment of Respiratory ailments (such as Bronchitis, Asthma, Coughs, quick and irregular breathing [due to Cough and cold]), and also effective in treating nasal complaints (such as dryness in nose, Congestion in nostrils, inflamed mucus membrane accompanied by sneezing and loss of smell).
Foods & Respiratory System
The Brain & Nervous System
• Tree-of-Heaven is helpful in relieving cases of mental disturbance (or in controlling the degree of Anxiety and fatigue) and proficient in counteracting the problem of Epilepsy (whose outcome is disorientated operations of the brain cells) and capable in ceasing problem of Insomnia/sleeplessness.
• Its productive in combating ailments associated to the head (such as extreme Headaches accompanied by Dizziness, Vertigo or Nausea, congestive Headaches comprises hot head along with watering of Eyes).
• Its leaves when taken internally make one incoherent and sleepy.
Foods & Nervous System
Women Health
• Tree-of-Heaven is profitable in combating women related problems (such as Leucorrhoea [thick white yellowish vaginal discharge], uterine bleeding) and its fruits are useful at regulating menstruation (curbing discomfort and pain due to cramps during menstruation).
Foods & Women Health
