African serpentwood
Rauvolfia vomitoria · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Extensive (154 studies) · ★★★★☆
African serpentwood, scientifically known as Rauvolfia vomitoria, is a medicinal shrub native to tropical Africa. Renowned for its potent alkaloids, particularly reserpine, it has been used traditionally to treat hypertension and mental disorders. This plant serves as a vital botanical resource in both ethnobotany and modern pharmacology.
Names
Common Names
- African serpentwood
- African snakeroot
- poison devil-pepper
- swizzle-stick-tree
- poison devil's-pepper
Regional and Traditional Names
German:
- Brech-Teufelspfeffer
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Rauvolfia vomitoriaSynonyms
- Rauvolfia senegambiae
- Rauvolfia pleiosiadica
- Rauvolfia stuhlmannii
- Rauvolfia congolana
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Gentianales, it is classified under the family Apocynaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by 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 is primarily distributed across the region of West Tropical Africa. Within this specific zone, its presence is documented in the nation of Benin. It is also found inhabiting the landscapes of Burkina. Furthermore, the species can be located throughout Ghana and Guinea-Bissau. Finally, its geographical range extends into the country of Guinea.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Benin | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea-Bissau | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ivory Coast | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Liberia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Mali | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Senegal | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Rauvolfia vomitoria, is highly valued in traditional medicine, with various components serving specific therapeutic purposes. The foliage and individual leaf structures are often studied for their chemical properties, though the most potent medicinal compounds are concentrated underground. Specifically, the roots contain high concentrations of alkaloids, and the root bark is frequently harvested for its pharmacological potency. Whether utilizing the raw root barks or processed extracts, each part contributes to the plant's significant role in treating various ailments.| Plant Part | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| leaf | Nigerian journal of physiological sciences : official publication of the Physiological Society of Nigeria (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| root | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Rauvolfia vomitoria has 35 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Ajmalicine, Flavonoids, Yohimbine, ajmaline, reserpine.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Ajmalicine | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Flavonoids | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Yohimbine | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ajmaline | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| reserpine | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ALSTONINE | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anthocyanins | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Aricine | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Carapanaubine | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| ISOAJMALINE | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Ajmalicine
- Dr. Duke
- Journal of separation science
Flavonoids
- Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
- Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology
Yohimbine
- Dr. Duke
- Journal of separation science
ajmaline
- Dr. Duke
- Journal of separation science
reserpine
- Dr. Duke
- Journal of separation science
ALSTONINE
- Dr. Duke
Anthocyanins
- Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
Aricine
- Dr. Duke
Carapanaubine
- Dr. Duke
ISOAJMALINE
- Dr. Duke
Activities
Rauvolfia vomitoria has 100 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticonvulsant, Antiinflammatory, Antioxidant, (-)-Chronotropic, Abortifacient.
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Anticonvulsant | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiinflammatory | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | Dr. Duke (and other 2 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (-)-Chronotropic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Abortifacient | 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) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Amebicide | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Anesthetic | Dr. Duke (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Rauvolfia vomitoria has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include diabetes mellitus, malaria, psychosis, rheumatoid arthritis.
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| diabetes mellitus | Journal of separation science (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| malaria | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| psychosis | Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rheumatoid arthritis | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Preparations
| Preparations | Sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Asofeyeje (Root) | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Ghanaian antiarthritic herbal preparation | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts | Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| encapsulated in alginate beads | Natural product communications (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tea | Journal of ethnopharmacology (and other 1 sources) | ★☆☆☆☆ |