Rauvolfia - Medicinal and Botanical Aspects. 2019. illus. XIV, 118 p. gr8vo. Hardcover.

The genus Rauvolfia of family Apocynaceae is an important medicinal plant of the world. Five species of Rauvolfia are recorded in India. Among them the two species ie. Rauvolfia serpentina and Rauvolfia tetraphylla are found in Bihar. The present book Rouvolfia- Medicinal of Botanical Aspects" incorporate research findings and reviews on medicinal and botanical aspects of two species of Rouvolfia.

R. serpentina is an erect evergreen perennating undershrub whereas R.tetraphylla is a small branched woody shrub reaching upto 4 feet or rarely 6 feet in height. Seeds of both the species are dormant. The seeds of Rauvolfia serpentina germinate within 2-3 months after they are shed off and environmental conditions are favourable but R. tetraphylla seeds germinate immediately after they are shed off. Root is soft, tuberous with pale brown corky bark in previous whereas woody and hard in latter. Rauvolfia species are not easily cultivated due to limited supply from wild sources, poor percentage of seed germination and low vegetative propagation rate.

In recent time, Rauvolfia has been the subject of considerable scientific research, particularly for its applications in medicine. A number of alkaloids has been obtained from both the species having immense therapeutic values. For centuries since Pre- Vedic period the drug Rauvolfia has been used for different medicinal purposes in India and Malaysia. Its preparations have been reported for treatment of fever, snakebite, epilepsy and insanity. In some parts of India it is called Pagalkibooti" (plant of insane). In Ayurveda the plant is also considered as diuretic, laxative and an effective remedy for intestinal disorder.

It is only during the last decade that the importance of the drug and its alkaloid reserpine, which is heavily localized in their root region, has been recognised in the allopathic system of medicine in the treatment of hypertension and as a sedative or tranquillizing agent.

Rauvolfia species are threatened in India due to indiscriminate collection and overexploitation of natural resources. For the fulfilment of present and future demand these plants need to be cultivated scientifically at commercial scale to satisfy species rehabilitation and conservation.