Accession Data

Rauvolfia serpentina

Common Name: Rauvolfia root, serpentine

Family: Apocynaceae

Country of Origin: Indian Subcontinent to SC. China and W. Malesia

Description: Source of the medical alkaloid reserpine

Uses: Very well known in Ayurveda Medicine not as Rauvolfia but as Nakuli, Candrika, or Chandramarah. Specific disorders this plant targets is vaginitis, drug addition, mental and neurological diseases. This plant is bitter, dry and pungent after digestion. It is capable of balancing Vata and Pitta vedas.

It is used for high blood pressure as it has sedative effects on the body; dilation of blood vessels. Some Ayurveda treatments include using the plant to aide in schizophrenia, anxiety, psychosis and other mental disorders.

For women, this herb has been used to regulate menstruation, fertility and even help strengthen contractions during child labor.

Accession Data

Accession #: 199200525

Accession Date: 1992-12-31 00:00:00

Bloom Status: 🪴 Not Flowering

Location: 1220

Quantity: 2

Source: Smith College

Provenance:

Tracking down old info indicates this is 'probably' Smith# 783-77, originally obtained from Wellesley College.
From personal communication with Rob Nicholson, 13 Nov 2002)

Classification

Division: Magnoliophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Subclass: euasterid I

Order: Gentianales

Family: Apocynaceae

SubFamily: Rauvolfioideae

Tribe: Vinceae

Flowering Data:

This accession has been observed in bloom on:
Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009

References

  1. Lonely Traveler blog - visited 2 January 2012
  2. The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Accessed 27 February 2015.
  3. WCSP (2015). World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Accessed 27 February 2015.
  4. R. Kumari, B. Rathi, A. Rani, S. Bhatnagar Rauvolfia serpentina L. Benth. ex Kurz.: Phytochemical, Pharmacological and Therapeutic Aspects Int. J. Pharm. Sci. Rev. Res., 23(2), Nov–Dec2013; nᵒ 56, 348-355. Last accessed on Thursday, February 08, 2018.

Images

Rauvolfia serpentina