Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1

The use of the blackboard tree (Alstonia scholaris) to support or treat cholera is rooted primarily in traditional medicine, particularly within Ayurveda and folk medicinal systems in South and Southeast Asia. Historical accounts and ethnobotanical surveys indicate that the bark and other parts of the plant have been employed for treating a range of ailments, including diarrhea and dysentery, which are symptomatic of cholera. The rationale for its use is based on the astringent, antidiarrheal, and antimicrobial properties attributed to its alkaloid-rich bark. However, scientific evidence specifically validating its efficacy against Vibrio cholerae infection or in the clinical management of cholera is extremely limited. A handful of in vitro and animal studies have suggested that extracts of Alstonia scholaris may possess general antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects, but robust clinical trials are lacking. Furthermore, the exact mechanisms by which the plant would ameliorate the dehydration and severe diarrhea characteristic of cholera have not been elucidated. Thus, although its traditional use for gastrointestinal complaints—including those resembling cholera—is well documented, the current scientific evidence to support its use for actual cholera is weak, meriting a low evidence rating.

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