Indian Snakeroot
Rauvolfia serpentina · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Extensive (273 studies) · ★★★★★
Indian Snakeroot, scientifically known as Rauvolfia serpentina, is a perennial medicinal shrub native to the Indian subcontinent. Renowned in Ayurveda, it contains the potent alkaloid reserpine. Historically utilized to treat hypertension and mental disturbances, this plant remains a cornerstone in pharmacology for its significant sedative and antihypertensive properties.
Names
Common Names
- Indian Snakeroot
- Java devil-pepper
- ajmaline
- rauwolfia
- serpentine-wood
- snakewood
- Snakeroot
- serpentine wood
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Rauwolfia serpentina
German:
- Indische Schlangenwurzel
- Sarpagandha
- Java-Teufelspfeffer
- Rauwolfia serpentina
- Wahnsinnskraut
- Java-Teufelspfeffer
French:
- Rauwolfia serpentina
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Rauvolfia serpentinaSynonyms
- Rauvolfia obversa
- Rauvolfia serpentina var. obversa
- Ophioxylon salutiferum
- Ophioxylon album
- Rauvolfia trifoliata
- Ophioxylon serpentinum
- Ophioxylon trifoliatum
- Ophioxylon obversum
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is classified within the order Gentianales and the family Apocynaceae. Finally, it is identified under the genus Rauvolfia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Gentianales | WCVP |
| Family | Apocynaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Rauvolfia | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a widespread distribution across several key regions in Asia. In China, it can be found specifically throughout the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan areas. Its presence extends into the Indian Subcontinent, where it is notably located in Assam. Additionally, the species is documented to grow within the borders of Bangladesh. Together, these locations highlight the plant's significant footprint across diverse subtropical landscapes.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | Hainan | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | East Himalaya | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Laccadive Is. | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Nepal | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Sri Lanka | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Rauvolfia serpentina, is a medicinal species where various anatomical components hold significant pharmacological value. The most potent part is the root, specifically the elongated, twisted roots that are harvested for their alkaloid content. In some botanical descriptions, the texture of the hairy root system is noted, distinguishing its physical structure. Beyond the underground portions, the leaves are used in various traditional applications, while the small seeds serve as a key component in the plant's reproductive cycle.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| root | Applied microbiology and biotechnology (and other 5 sources) | ★★★☆☆ |
| leaf | Scientific reports (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| seed | Journal of pharmaceutical analysis (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Rauvolfia serpentina has 59 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include reserpine, ajmaline, Ajmalicine, Serpentine, Strictosidine.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| reserpine | 9 supporting sources | ★★★★☆ |
| ajmaline | 8 supporting sources | ★★★★☆ |
| Ajmalicine | 6 supporting sources | ★★★☆☆ |
| Serpentine | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Strictosidine | 3 supporting sources | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Vinorine | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Yohimbine | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tryptamine | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 10-Hydroxy-19(S),20(R)-dihydroperaksine | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 16-epi-Vellosimine | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
reserpine
- Dr. Duke
- Schizophrenia research and treatment
- Applied microbiology and biotechnology
- Journal of chromatographic science
- 3 Biotech
View 4 additional sources
- Scientific reports
- Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine
- PloS one
- Fitoterapia
ajmaline
- Dr. Duke
- Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry
- Applied microbiology and biotechnology
- Journal of chromatographic science
- The Plant cell
View 3 additional sources
- 3 Biotech
- Biochimica et biophysica acta
- Fitoterapia
Ajmalicine
- Dr. Duke
- Applied microbiology and biotechnology
- Journal of chromatographic science
- 3 Biotech
- PloS one
View 1 additional sources
- Fitoterapia
Serpentine
- Dr. Duke
- Applied microbiology and biotechnology
- 3 Biotech
Strictosidine
- Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
- FEBS letters
- Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry
Vinorine
- Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry
- Chembiochem : a European journal of chemical biology
Yohimbine
- Dr. Duke
- Applied microbiology and biotechnology
tryptamine
- Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
- FEBS letters
10-Hydroxy-19(S),20(R)-dihydroperaksine
- Journal of natural products
16-epi-Vellosimine
- Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry
Activities
Rauvolfia serpentina has 152 reported activities identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiarrhythmic, Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antipsychotic, Abortifacient.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Antiarrhythmic | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | Dr. Duke (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antipsychotic | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Abortifacient | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Absorbent | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Adrenergic-Blocker | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Adrenolytic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Allergenic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Analgesic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Rauvolfia serpentina has 14 reported medicinal uses identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include hypertension, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, COVID-19, Klebsiella pneumoniae.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| hypertension | Applied microbiology and biotechnology (and other 3 sources) | ★★☆☆☆ |
| schizophrenia | Schizophrenia research and treatment (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Alzheimer's disease | PloS one (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| COVID-19 | BMC complementary medicine and therapies (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Klebsiella pneumoniae | Journal of pharmaceutical analysis (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| SARS-CoV-2 | BMC complementary medicine and therapies (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| abdominal pain | Fitoterapia (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| anxiety | Applied microbiology and biotechnology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cognitive disorders | PloS one (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dysentery | Fitoterapia (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Ayurvedic and Unani medicinal preparations | Applied microbiology and biotechnology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Extracts | PloS one (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Petroleum ether root extract | Saudi journal of biological sciences (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dried root | Schizophrenia research and treatment (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| enzyme extracts | Natural product research (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hairy root culture | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf extract | Scientific reports (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| pectin | Cryo letters (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| plant cell suspension cultures | Natural product letters (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| roots | Journal of natural products (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |