Steinmetz:Rauvolfia

Rauvolfia serpentina

Also known as (or relevant to) Rauvolfia serpentina Ophioxylum serpentinum Family Apocynaceae English Names Java Devil pepper Natural Habitat India Ceylon Java Malaya Thailand Part(s) Used Radix Rauvolfiae serpentinae (formerly known as Radix Mustelae or Radix Musteltoe)

Constituent(s) rauwolfinin rauwolficin reserpin raupin ophioxylin resin starch wax ajmaline ajmalinine ajmalicine serpentine serpentinine phytosterol oleic acid unsaturated alcohol sugar Action hypertensive bradycardic bitter tonic hypnotic sedative febrifuge toxic. The drug has attained prominence as a remedy for insomnia hypochondria insanity inertia uteri (sluggishness of the uterine contraction during labour) and irritative conditions of the central system