Rauwolfia: Botanical Overview

<p>R.sociabilis (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>As a chewing stick for dental hygiene (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To avoid the depletion of wild plants (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Vessel diameter (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>2-10 cm long and 5-22 mm in diameter (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Rauwolfia contains 0.7-2.4 % of alkaloids. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Wild plant depletion due to high demand (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It consists of 2-8 cork zones (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Reserpine (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It tends to fall off, exposing wood (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

A small tree, typically 6-12 meters high, with numerous hooked thorns. The dried root of this tree is known as Fagara root and is used in traditional medicine.

An antimalarial alkaloid found in Fagara root, derived from the Zanthoxylum species.

A type of alkaloid known for its antimicrobial properties, commonly found in Fagara root.

An alkaloid with antimicrobial activity, found in Fagara root, often used in traditional medicine.

An organic acid with anti-sickling activity, present in Fagara root.

The dried rhizome and roots of Rauwolfia serpentina L.Benth.ex Kurz. (Apocynaceae), a small shrub found in India, Pakistan, Burma, Thailand, and Java.

It is the process of collecting Rauwolfia from wild plants, leaving some roots in the ground for regeneration, cutting the drug transversely, and drying it. Cultivating Rauwolfia using node or cell cultures is encouraged to protect wild populations and enhance sustainability.

Rauwolfia root is usually not branched. Older roots have a bark that easily peels off, revealing exposed wood. The younger parts have longitudinal wrinkles, while older parts have ridges. Rhizomes can be differentiated by their small central pith and attached aerial stems.

Rauwolfia root has a cork layer divided into 2-8 zones with alternating unlignified and lignified cells. The secondary cortex is filled with parenchyma and starch. The phloem is parenchymatous with sieve tubes and calcium oxalate crystals. Absence of sclerenchyma in the phloem differentiates it from other species like R. vomitoria. The xylem is entirely lignified with 3-6 growth rings, while the secondary xylem contains vessels, fibers, and parenchyma. Vessels in Rauwolfia are less than 57 µm in diameter, a key distinction from R. vomitoria which has vessels exceeding 180 µm. Medullary rays contain starch and alternate with the secondary xylem.

Rauwolfia contains between 0.7% to 2.4% alkaloids, with over 40 different types. The alkaloidal content is influenced by geographical source, with India and Pakistan being preferred.

Reserpine, one of the main alkaloids, is used to treat hypertension and mental disorders. Rescinnamine is another alkaloid used for hypertension. Ajmaline treats cardiac arrhythmias.

Rauwolfia is a plant with several medicinal uses. Its roots are used to treat hypertension, mental disorders, and cardiac arrhythmias.

The depletion of wild Rauwolfia plants due to over-harvesting and its endangered status underscore the importance of sustainable harvesting and cultivating methods, such as nodal or cell cultures, to ensure the continued availability of this valuable medicinal resource.