Additional notes (click to expand)

Medicinal

In traditional herbal medicine, the roots of this plant are used in the treatment of hypertension.(Uphof. J. C. The Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959) The roots yield up to 1.3% medically active alkaloids, as well as oleoresin and the sterol serposterol. The alkaloid rauwolfine has been shown to decrease the heart rate. Several alkaloids, including serpentine, neoajmaline and isoajmaline, produce a fall in blood pressure. Serpentine also causes an increase in the tone of the small intestine and decrease in the peristaltic contractions of the intestine. The alkaloid-free oleoresin extract from the roots produces sedative and hypnotic effects. Reserpine, a highly active alkaloid, shows a very marked hypnotic effect and lowers blood pressure[Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants ] 240Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants 46 Uphof. J. C. The Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959
http://www.pfaf.org, https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Rauvolfia+serpentina

R serpentina was used in folk medicine in India for centuries to treat a wide variety of maladies, including snake and insect bites, febrile conditions, malaria, abdominal pain, and dysentery. It was also used as a uterine stimulant, febrifuge, and cure for insanity. The plant was mentioned in Indian manuscripts as long ago as 1000 bc and is also known as sarpagandha and chandrika
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4566472/

Geographical distribution

  • Asia-Tropical, Indian Subcontinent, Assam
  • Asia-Tropical, Indian Subcontinent, Bangladesh
  • Asia-Tropical, Indian Subcontinent, East Himalaya
  • Asia-Tropical, Indian Subcontinent, India
  • Asia-Tropical, Indian Subcontinent, Laccadive Is.
  • Asia-Tropical, Indian Subcontinent, Nepal
  • Asia-Tropical, Indo-China, Andaman Is.
  • Asia-Tropical, Indo-China, Cambodia
  • Asia-Tropical, Indo-China, Laos
  • Asia-Tropical, Indo-China, Myanmar
  • Asia-Tropical, Indo-China, Thailand
  • Asia-Tropical, Indo-China, Vietnam
  • Asia-Tropical, Malesia, Jawa
  • Asia-Tropical, Malesia, Lesser Sunda Is.

Rauvolfia serpentina (L.) Benth. ex Kurz

Family: APOCYNACEAE
Genus: Rauvolfia
Species: serpentina (L.) Benth. ex Kurz
Common names: Indian Snakeroot, Devil Pepper
Distribution summary: India to S. Central China and W. Malesia
Habit: Shrub
Hardiness: H1c - Heated greenhouse; warm temperate
Habitat: Montane forests, Shady places in moist forests
Garden status: Currently grown
Garden location: seed waiting to be sown or germinating in greenhouse or frame (seed)
Flowering months: July, August
Reason for growing: Medicinal


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