Dama de noche
Cestrum nocturnum Linn.
NIGHT BLOOMING CESTRUM

Other scientific names  Common names
Cestrum parqui Usteri Dama de noche (Tag., Span.)
  Huele de noche (Span.)
  Galan de noche (Span.)
  Night blooming cestrum (Engl.)

Botany
Erect and climbing ornamental smooth shrub, about 2 to 3 meters in height, with long drooping branches. Leaves are oblong-ovate to oblong-lanceolate, 8 to 10 cm long, pointed at the tips. Flowers are numerous, slender, yellowish-green, about 2 to 2.3 cm long, borne in lax, axillary and terminal inflorescences, 7 to 10 cm long.

Distribution
Widely cultivated for its sweet-scented flowers that bloom at night.

Properties
Toxic to livestock with poisoning symptoms of tachycardia, fever, oliguria, and slowing of respiratory rate; in extreme cases, convulsions and coma. Toxicity more likely to be found in dry plants.

Parts used and preparation
Leaves.
.
Uses
Folkloric
Extract of the plant used as antispasmodic and treatment of epilepsy.
Studies
Flavonol glycosides and steroidal saponins from the leaves of Cestrum nocturnum and their cytotoxicity: The study isolated two new flavonoid glycosides and seven steroidal saponins. The study reports cytotoxic activities of the compounds against human oral squamous cell carcinoma.
Effects of cestrum nocturnum n-butyl alcohol extract on contractile characteristics of right atrium: The extract study showed a two-fold regulation on contraction of right atrium in isolated guinea pig.

Availability
Wild-crafted. 


Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Flavonol glycosides and steroidal saponins from the leaves of Cestrum nocturnum and their cytotoxicity
MIMAKI Yoshihiro; WATANABE Kazuki; ANDO Yuka; SAKUMA Chiseko; SASHIDA Yutaka; FURUYA Shigenori; SAKAGAMI Hiroshi
cat.inist
(2)
Effects of cestrum nocturnum n-butyl alcohol extract on contractile characteristics of right atrium
http://www.shvoong.com/medicine-and-health/1595110-effects-cestrum-nocturnum-butyl-alcohol/