2469

12(3): Medicinal and poisonous plants 3

Cestrum nocturnum L.

Sp. pl. 1: 191 (1753).

SOLANACEAE

2n = 16

Night blooming cestrum, night blooming jessamine (En). Philippines: dama de noche (Sp, Tagalog). Thailand: raatree. Vietnam: d[aj] l[ys] h[uw][ow]ng.

Cestrum nocturnum probably originates from Central America, and is widely cultivated and locally naturalized throughout the tropics. It is cultivated throughout South-East Asia.

Cestrum nocturnum has been introduced in South-East Asia as an ornamental for its sweet-scented flowers, which bloom at night. In Central America and the Caribbean a leaf decoction is used as a lotion on skin eruptions. In former times a fruit extract was taken orally as a sedative in cases of epilepsy, chorea and hysteria, the treatment being gradually reduced and terminated within a short time. In Thailand the leaves are considered toxic to humans, but they may be used in small doses to treat epilepsy. The leaves are used in Chinese folk medicine as an external application for burns and swellings.

All parts of Cestrum nocturnum are rich in saponins, yielding some 4—5%. The leaves yield flavonol glycosides and numerous steroidal saponins (e.g. nocturnoside A, tigogenin, smilagenin and yuccagenin). Some of these saponins show considerable cytotoxic activity against human squamous cell carcinoma (HSC-2) cells with LD₅₀ values ranging from 2.0 µg/ml to 13 µg/ml, sometimes being 5—10 times more active than against normal human gingival fibroblasts. The saponin fraction showed cardiovascular effects and may act as a respiratory stimulant. Older reports mention cardiotonic and cardiotoxic properties for a saponin isolated from Cestrum nocturnum.
Fresh powdered leaves of Cestrum nocturnum show promising control against the beetles Sitophilus oryzae (rice weevil) and Trogoderma granarium, two common pests in stored grain. Phenylacetylaldehyde, one of three principal volatile compounds emitted from the flowers, strongly attracts the females of the cabbage looper moth (Trichoplusia ni).
Toxicity reports of Cestrum nocturnum in livestock in southern Africa mention dullness, tachycardia, rising temperature, suppression of urine and decrease in respiratory rate as symptoms. Death occurs with coma and slight convulsions. Toxicity of Cestrum for livestock involves several systems. One system mimics vitamin D attributes and influences calcium uptake, leading to a condition called calcinosis. An example of this system is found in Cestrum diurnum L., originating from the Caribbean and occasionally cultivated in South-East Asia. Another system involves liver poisoning and explains the frequent records of hepatotoxic compounds in Cestrum laevigatum Schlechtendal and Cestrum parqui L'Hérit.
A methanol-water (1:1) extract of Cestrum parqui aerial parts showed inhibition of carrageenin-induced oedema in rats. The aggregation of human blood platelets induced by adenosine diphosphate and platelet activating factor was also inhibited with an IC₅₀ of 3 mg/ml and 2 mg/ml, respectively. The extract did not however inhibit arachidonic acid-mediated platelet aggregation.

An evergreen shrub up to 4 m tall; branches erect or drooping, angular, olive or bluish-green, lenticellate, glabrescent. Leaves alternate, simple and entire, narrowly ovate to ovate, (4—)8—13 cm x (1.5)2—4.5(—6) cm, base obtuse or narrowly cuneate, apex acute, membranous to coriaceous; petiole 1—2 cm long; stipules absent. Inflorescence an axillary or terminal cyme 3—8 cm long, often combined in a large leafy panicle. Flowers bisexual, regular, fragrant, yellow or greenish-white, pedicellate; bracteoles 2, one leafy, the other linear; calyx cupular, 2—4.5 mm long, 5—6-toothed; corolla tube 20—30 mm long, gradually expanding upward, 5-lobed, lobes 2—5 mm long; stamens included, filaments adnate to the corolla tube, upper part free, with 2 teeth at base of free part; ovary superior, 2-celled, style exserted. Fruit a globose berry 0.5—1 cm in diameter, whitish, 1—3-seeded. Seeds ovoid, 2.5—6 mm long, black.
Cestrum nocturnum can be found flowering and fruiting throughout the year, intermittently profusely flowering.
Cestrum consists of some 150 species, and is indigenous from the southern United States to Chile. Numerous species are cultivated throughout the world for their ornamental value, in South-East Asia e.g. Cestrum laevigatum, Cestrum nocturnum and Cestrum parqui.

In South-East AsiaCestrum nocturnum is cultivated and locally naturalized from sea-level up to 1600 m altitude.

Cestrum nocturnum can be easily propagated by semi-hardwood cuttings.

Cestrum nocturnum is cultivated throughout the tropics and does not appear to be threatened by genetic erosion.

Recently, steroidal saponins as found in Cestrum nocturnum have received scientific attention because of their structural diversity and significant biological activity. The application of powdered leaves to control insect pests in stored grain deserves more attention.

[80]Benítez de Rojas, C. & D'Arcy, W.G., 1998. The genera Cestrum and Sessea (Solanaceae: Cestreae) in Venezuela. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 85: 273—351.
[138]Chander, H. & Ahmed, S.M., 1983. Potential of some new plant products as grain protectants against insect infestation. Bulletin of Grain Technology 21(3): 179—188.
[306]Gutierrez, H.G., 1980—1982. An illustrated manual of Philippine materia medica. 2 volumes. Natural Research Council of the Philippines, Tagig, Metro Manila, the Philippines. Vol. 1 (1980) pp. 1—234, Vol. 2 (1982) pp. 235—485.
[626]Mimaki, Y. et al., 2001. Flavonol glycosides and steroidal saponins from the leaves of Cestrum nocturnum and their cytotoxicity. Journal of Natural Products 64(1): 17—22.
[646]Morton, J.F., 1981. Atlas of medicinal plants of Middle America. Bahamas to Yucatan. Charles C. Thomas, Springfield, Illinois, United States. 1420 pp.
[844]Shehnaz, D., Hamid, F., Baqai, F.T. & Uddin-Ahmad, V., 1999. Effect of the crude extract of Cestrum parqui on carrageenin-induced rat paw oedema and aggregation of human blood platelets. Phytotherapy Research 13(5): 445—447.

[15]Ahmad, V.U., Baqai, F.T., Iqbal Fatima & Roshan Ahmad, 1991. A spirostanol glycoside from Cestrum nocturnum. Phytochemistry 30(9): 3057—3061.
[62]Backer, C.A. & Bakhuizen van den Brink Jr, R.C., 1964—1968. Flora of Java. 3 volumes. Noordhoff, Groningen, the Netherlands. Vol. 1 (1964) 647 pp., Vol. 2 (1965) 641 pp., Vol. 3 (1968) 761 pp.
[330]Heath, R.R., Landolt, P.J., Dueben, B. & Lenczewski, B., 1992. Identification of floral compounds of night-blooming jessamine attractive to cabbage looper moths. Environmental Entomology 21(4): 854—859.
[760]Quisumbing, E., 1978. Medicinal plants of the Philippines. Katha Publishing Co., Quezon City, the Philippines. 1262 pp.

Slamet Sutanti Budi Rahayu

Rahayu, S.S.B., 2003. Cestrum nocturnum L.. In: Lemmens, R.H.M.J. and Bunyapraphatsara, N. (Editors): Plant Resources of South-East Asia No 12(3): Medicinal and poisonous plants 3. PROSEA Foundation, Bogor, Indonesia. Database record: prota4u.org/prosea