This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or have a medical condition.
Frangipani contains bioactive compounds including plumericin, isoplumericin, iridoids, and triterpenoids that contribute to its therapeutic effects. These compounds demonstrate antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties through inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators. Plumericin and isoplumericin have shown antimicrobial activity against various pathogens in laboratory studies. The iridoid compounds may also contribute to wound-healing effects when applied topically. Evidence Level: C (preliminary research).
Does Frangipani interact with any medications?
There are no well-documented drug interactions for Frangipani in clinical literature. However, due to limited pharmacological research, caution is advised when combining with other herbs or medications. The latex content may affect skin absorption of topical medications. Those taking immunosuppressants, anti-inflammatory drugs, or anticoagulants should consult a healthcare provider before use. Evidence Level: D (insufficient evidence for interactions).
What is the recommended dosage for Frangipani?
Traditional use suggests 1-2 grams of dried bark prepared as tea for internal use. For topical applications, a poultice made from bark or leaves can be applied to affected areas for skin and joint conditions. Fresh latex should never be used internally due to irritant properties. Standardized extracts lack established dosing guidelines. Consult a qualified herbalist for personalized recommendations. Evidence Level: C (traditional use with limited clinical validation).
Is Frangipani safe to use during pregnancy?
Frangipani is considered unsafe during pregnancy and should be strictly avoided. The plant contains compounds that may stimulate uterine contractions, potentially leading to miscarriage or premature labor. The latex is particularly concerning due to its irritant properties and potential toxicity. Breastfeeding women should also avoid use due to insufficient safety data. Evidence Level: C (traditional contraindication supported by preliminary evidence).
What are the side effects of Frangipani?
Frangipani may cause skin irritation, particularly from the fresh latex which contains irritant compounds. Internal use can cause gastrointestinal upset including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Allergic reactions are possible in sensitive individuals, especially those with latex sensitivity. Fresh latex should never be applied to open wounds or used internally. Discontinue use if irritation occurs. Evidence Level: C (based on traditional knowledge and preliminary research).
What is Frangipani used for in herbal medicine?
Frangipani is traditionally used across Southeast Asia and the Pacific for skin conditions including wounds, rashes, and fungal infections. It is also applied topically for joint pain and inflammation, fever reduction, and gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea. The antimicrobial properties make it useful for minor skin infections. Most applications involve topical use as poultices, though some traditions use bark tea internally. Evidence Level: C (traditional use with limited clinical evidence).
PubMed-compiled information sheet
This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.
Compiled from 30 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Plumeria rubra is a tropical ornamental plant with diverse traditional uses and documented pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic properties [PMID:32841700, 38202698, 32634455].
Background
Plumeria rubra (Apocynaceae) is a deciduous tropical tree known for its fragrant, colorful flowers and is commonly used in urban landscaping, parks, and gardens [PMID:32841700, 36406428].
Traditional uses
Different parts of the plant are traditionally used to treat leprosy, inflammation, diabetes mellitus, ulcers, wounds, itching, acne, toothache, earache, tongue cleaning, pain, asthma, constipation, and antifertility [PMID:32841700]. In China and Mexico, a decoction of the flowers is used for diabetes treatment [PMID:32634455].
Active compounds
Identified compounds include spirocyclic iridoid alkaloids (plumerianoids A-D and plumerianine) [PMID:39668723], carboxyl-substituted phenylpropionic acid derivatives (plumeriapropionics A-E) [PMID:38202698], and various volatile organic compounds such as 2-phenylethanol [PMID:30804010]. Flower extracts contain palmitic acid, linoleic acid, N-(O-Nitrophenylthio)-l-leucine, plumieridin B, lupeol, and rutin [PMID:39897934], as well as anthocyanins [PMID:23261702]. Other constituents include iridoids, polyphenols, terpenoids, and fatty acids [PMID:39273963].
Mechanism of action
Certain flower compounds exhibit inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B [PMID:32634455]. Plumeriapropionics A-E inhibit nitric oxide (NO) production induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells [PMID:38202698].
Clinical evidence
Evidence DCardiovascular Disorders
Crude leaf extract showed ex vivo vaso-relaxant effects in rabbit aorta and cardioprotective properties against adrenaline-induced myocardial infarction, reducing troponin, CK-MB, LDH, ALT, ALP, AST, and CRP levels [PMID:35011482]
Evidence DDiabetes Mellitus
Flower compounds showed moderate to significant inhibitory activities against α-glucosidase and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B [PMID:32634455]; methanol leaf extract exhibited 91.23% α-glucosidase inhibitory activity [PMID:41035526]
Evidence DInflammation
Plumeriapropionics A-E from flowers showed remarkable inhibitory activities on NO production in vitro [PMID:38202698]
Massage therapy using frangipani aromatherapy oil was used to observe the reduction of childbirth pain intensity in pregnant women [PMID:31191785]
Safety & adverse effects
Plumeria rubra contains significant amounts of immunoreactive cardiac glycosides [PMID:3086679].
Pregnancy & lactation
General reviews on medicinal plants note that substances in herbal remedies can be toxic to the human body and the fetus, posing risks of embryotoxicity [PMID:33164294].
Evidence summary
The current evidence is primarily based on in vitro studies, animal models (rabbits), and quasi-experimental observations, indicating a low overall strength of clinical evidence (Level D).
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 33164294 (2021) — Is it safe to consume traditional medicinal plants during pregnancy? · Phytotherapy research : PTR
2.PMID: 36406428 (2022) — Host biology and genomic properties of Plumeria mosaic virus, a tobamovirus discovered in a temple tree in India co-infecting with frangipani mosaic virus. · Frontiers in microbiology
4.PMID: 32841700 (2021) — Plumeria rubra L.- A review on its ethnopharmacological, morphological, phytochemical, pharmacological and toxicological studies. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
No direct government monograph is available for this herb. The content below is AI-generated and has not been verified against an authoritative government source. Use the search links to check official sources before relying on this information.
6.PMID: 32634455 (2020) — Potential anti-diabetic isoprenoids and a long-chain δ-lactone from frangipani (Plumeria rubra). · Fitoterapia
7.PMID: 30804010 (2019) — CYP79D73 Participates in Biosynthesis of Floral Scent Compound 2-Phenylethanol in Plumeria rubra. · Plant physiology
8.PMID: 41035526 (2025) — Solvent-dependent metabolite profile and in vitro biological activity of frangipani (Plumeria rubra) leaf extracts. · 3 Biotech
9.PMID: 31191785 (2019) — The Effect of Massage Therapy Using Frangipani Aromatherapy Oil to Reduce the Childbirth Pain Intensity. · International journal of therapeutic massage & bodywork
10.PMID: 23261702 (2013) — Performance of dye-sensitized solar cells fabricated with extracts from fruits of ivy gourd and flowers of red frangipani as sensitizers. · Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy
11.PMID: 38202698 (2023) — Plumeriapropionics A-E, Carboxyl-Substituted Phenylpropionic Acid Derivatives with Anti-Inflammatory Activity from Plumeria rubra L. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
12.PMID: 3086679 (1986) — Naturally occurring cardiac glycosides. · The Medical journal of Australia
13.PMID: 36510695 (2023) — Identification and screening of potential inhibitors obtained from Plumeria rubra L. compounds against type 2 diabetes mellitus. · Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics
14.PMID: 35011482 (2021) — Pharmacological Justification for the Medicinal Use of Plumeria rubra Linn. in Cardiovascular Disorders. · Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
15.PMID: 39273963 (2024) — Beyond the Scent: New Evidence about Micromorphological, Phytochemical and Biological Features of Plumeria rubra 'Tonda Palermitana' (Apocynaceae). · Plants (Basel, Switzerland)