Scientific name
Rauwolfia serpentina
Family
Apocynaceae
Origin
Himalaya, India, Ceylon
Parts Used
Root drug
Chemical constituents
- Alkaloids (reserpine, ajmaline, raubasine)
Rauwolfia in Herbal Medicine: Property of Rauwolfia
The decoction or the infusion of the root are drunk by many populations of Central America as a remedy for the bite of snakes and scorpions, but the use of rauwolfia is to be abandoned due to the easy appearance of side effects at the level of the CNS and the cardiovascular system, due to in the presence of numerous alkaloids.
In pharmacology, currently, only the single molecules extracted from the root are used: reserpine as an antipsychotic and hypotensive, and ajmaline as an antiarrhythmic.
Contraindications
Avoid taking in case of ascertained hypersensitivity to one or more components.
Pharmacological interactions
- I-MAO: psychomotor agitation;
- levodopa: inhibition of the effects of levodopa;
- antiarrhythmics: summation of effects.