Rauvolfia vomitoria
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Rauvolfia vomitoria Common Names: Swizzle Stick, Poison Devil’s-Pepper,
Serpent Wood Scientific
Classification Kingdom: Plantae Clade: Tracheophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Gentianales Family: Apocynaceae Genus: Rauvolfia Species: R. vomitoria Authority: Wennberg Synonyms: Rauvolfia
congolana De Wild. & T. Durand; Rauvolfia pleiosiadica K. Schum.; Rauvolfia
senegambiae A. DC.; Rauvolfia stuhlmannii K. Schum. (accepted name and synonymy
per Kew POWO and World Flora Online). Morphological Description · Habit: Fast-growing shrub or small tree, typically 0.5–8 m tall,
occasionally to 15–20 m; copious white latex. · Stems: Erect with whorled branching; nodes often swollen. · Leaves: In whorls of three; broadly lanceolate to elliptic, about
8–20 × 3–7 cm; glossy dark green above, paler beneath. · Flowers: Small, white to yellowish, in terminal or axillary cymes;
fragrant. · Fruit: Globose drupes 5–10 mm diameter, green turning red when
ripe; typically 1–2 seeds; bird-dispersed. Distribution and Habitat · Native range: West Tropical Africa east to Tanzania and south to Angola;
widely cultivated and locally naturalized in parts of Asia and the Caribbean. · Habitats: Evergreen and deciduous forests, forest edges, secondary
growth and savanna mosaics; seedlings are shade-tolerant. · Ecology: Seasonally dry tropical climates; roughly 0–1,800 m
elevation; thrives on loamy to sandy soils. Birds aid dispersal, supporting
colonization of disturbed sites. Traditional Uses · Roots and stem bark used in West and Central
African traditional medicine for hypertension, mental health conditions, fever,
pain, gastrointestinal disorders and malaria; leaves used for skin infections
and as general tonics. · Reserpine-rich roots historically supplied the
pharmaceutical industry for antihypertensive and tranquilizing preparations;
the species is also planted as live fences and occasional shade for plantation
crops. Ethnopharmacology · Antidiabetic: A randomized, double-blinded clinical
trial of a traditional Rauvolfia–Citrus tea reported improved glycemic indices
in type 2 diabetes, supporting traditional antidiabetic use (Campbell-Tofte et
al., 2011). · Antipsychotic/Neurobehavioral: In mice, crude preparations of R.
vomitoria produced antipsychotic-like behavioral effects comparable to
chlorpromazine while differing from reserpine in side-effect profile (Bisong et
al., 2011; Bisong et al., 2010 abstract). The indole alkaloid alstonine
(occurring in Rauvolfia spp.) shows antipsychotic-like properties with atypical
profiles in preclinical studies (Elisabetsky et al., 2006; Linck et al., 2015;
Olawale et al., 2023). · Cholinesterase/Neuroprotective: Leaves contain monoterpene indole
alkaloids with acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity, relevant to cognitive
disorders (Zhan et al., 2020). In vitro work with R. vomitoria leaves also
reports free-radical scavenging and inhibition of cholinergic/monoaminergic
enzymes (Oyeniran et al., 2021). · Anticancer: A standardized R. vomitoria root extract inhibited ovarian
cancer cell growth and potentiated carboplatin efficacy in vitro and in vivo
(Yu et al., 2013). · Antimicrobial: Multiple reports describe antibacterial and antifungal
activities of leaf/root extracts against pathogenic species, aligning with
traditional dermatologic uses. · Cardiovascular: Reserpine, a key indole alkaloid present
in Rauvolfia spp. (including R. vomitoria), depletes catecholamines and has
established antihypertensive effects; historical and modern reviews document
blood pressure reduction and safety considerations (Shamon & Perez, 2016;
Lobay, 2015). Phytochemistry R. vomitoria is rich in
monoterpene indole alkaloids (MIAs), including reserpine, ajmaline, ajmalicine,
serpentine, yohimbine-type alkaloids and β-carbolines (e.g., alstonine),
alongside flavonoids, tannins and saponins. Recent isolations from leaves
identified acetylcholinesterase-active MIAs, while broader ethnopharmacology
reviews summarize the phytochemical diversity and quality control issues across
Rauvolfia (Kumar et al., 2021; Zhan et al., 2020). Additional Uses · Pharmaceutical: Historic industrial extraction of
reserpine from Rauvolfia roots for antihypertensive and tranquilizer drugs. · Agricultural/Ecological: Used as live fence and occasional shade
tree; bird-dispersed fruits promote regeneration dynamics; invasive behavior
recorded in some island ecosystems. · Cultural: Employed in spiritual protection and healing rites in parts
of West Africa. ⚠ Toxicity Profile: Potent indole alkaloids necessitate caution.
Subacute and chronic studies in rodents report liver changes and other organ
effects at repeated dosing of aqueous or ethanolic extracts (commonly ≥300
mg/kg/day), while some acute studies report high LD50 thresholds with no
mortality at 2,000 mg/kg (Bonheur et al., 2020; Asoro et al., 2018; Adomefa et
al., 2024). Reserpine can cause central and cardiovascular adverse effects
(e.g., sedation, depression, bradycardia, hypotension); avoid in pregnancy,
peptic ulcer disease, and depressive disorders (Lobay, 2015; Shamon &
Perez, 2016). Use only under trained practitioner supervision. References
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| Compounds of Rauvolfia vomitoria |
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