Question 1

What is Ailanthus triphysa used for?

Accepted Answer

Ailanthus triphysa is catalogued among Sri Lanka's Ayurvedic medicinal plants, where various parts of the tree — particularly the bark — have traditionally been used by practitioners for conditions involving inflammation, fever, and digestive disturbance. The bitter compounds in the bark, known as quassinoids, are thought to underpin many of these applications. Any therapeutic use should be guided by a qualified Ayurvedic physician.

Question 2

What family does Ailanthus triphysa belong to?

Accepted Answer

Ailanthus triphysa belongs to the family Simaroubaceae, a group of flowering plants found across tropical and subtropical regions. Members of this family are characterised by bitter bark and wood, a quality linked to the presence of quassinoid compounds that have attracted interest from both traditional medicine practitioners and modern pharmacologists.

Question 3

Where does Ailanthus triphysa grow?

Accepted Answer

The species is native to tropical Asia, including Sri Lanka, India, and parts of Southeast Asia. In Sri Lanka it tends to occur in lowland and mid-elevation zones, often in secondary forests, forest margins, and areas recovering from disturbance. It tolerates a range of soil types but generally performs best with reliable rainfall and good drainage.

Question 4

Is Ailanthus triphysa endemic to Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

Ailanthus triphysa is not endemic to Sri Lanka — it has a broader distribution across tropical Asia, including peninsular India and parts of Southeast Asia. However, it is documented as part of Sri Lanka's official Ayurvedic plant catalogue, recognising its historical role in the island's traditional medicine system.

Question 5

What are quassinoids and why do they matter for medicinal plants?

Accepted Answer

Quassinoids are a class of bitter triterpenoid compounds found in plants of the Simaroubaceae family, including Ailanthus species. They are of interest in phytochemical research because many quassinoids have demonstrated antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antiparasitic activity in laboratory studies. Their presence in Ailanthus triphysa is one reason traditional practitioners have used bark preparations from this tree.

Question 6

How is Sri Lanka's Ayurvedic plant knowledge officially documented?

Accepted Answer

Sri Lanka's Department of Ayurveda maintains a pharmacopoeia that catalogues medicinal plants used in traditional practice, providing standardised information on botanical identity, vernacular names, and therapeutic applications. Research institutions such as the Bandaranaike Memorial Ayurvedic Research Institute also conduct scientific studies to verify and expand this knowledge base.

Question 7

What other medicinal plants are catalogued alongside Ailanthus triphysa in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

The Sri Lankan Ayurvedic catalogue includes hundreds of plant species. Among those with documented traditional uses are Acacia chundra, valued for its astringent bark, and Pongamia pinnata, whose seeds yield an oil used in skin treatments. The catalogue reflects both classical Ayurvedic traditions inherited from Sanskrit texts and indigenous knowledge developed locally over centuries.