Abstract
BackgroundSarpagandha is an important Ayurveda drug used for treating many diseases including high blood pressure. Rauvolfia serpentina is the genuine source plant for Sarpagandha and it is a critically endangered species belonging to the family Apocynaceae. The present study is aimed at finding out an appropriate substitute for the endangered species R. serpentina by evaluating the phytochemistry and biological activities of allied species such as Rauvolfia tetraphylla L, Rauvolfia hookeri S.R.Sriniv. & Chithra, Rauvolfia micrantha Hook.f., and Rauvolfia verticillata (Lour.) Baill.ResultsThe result indicated that the root of R. serpentina is phytochemically similar with that of R. tetraphylla. Chemical profiling using HPTLC showed similar chemical profiles for R. serpentina and R. tetraphylla. LC/MS characterization of various species showed that most of the active alkaloids are common for both R. serpentina and R. tetraphylla. Anti-hypertensive activity and analgesic activity were evaluated in experimental animal model. Rauvolfia serpentina and R. tetraphylla showed comparatively significant reduction in systolic and diastolic pressure. Comparable analgesic activity was also shown by R. serpentina and R. tetraphylla.ConclusionOn the basis of phytochemical and pharmacological evaluation, it was concluded that the root of R. tetraphylla can be used as a validated substitute for Sarpagandha.Graphical abstract
Highlights
Sarpagandha is an important Ayurveda drug used for treating many diseases including high blood pressure
The objective of the present study is to find out an appropriate substitute for the root of R. serpentina by evaluating the phytochemical and pharmacological properties of its allied species
2.2 Collection of plant materials Various species such as Rauvolfia serpentina, R. hookeri, R. micrantha, R. tetraphylla, and R. verticillata were collected from different zones of south India (Table 1)
Summary
Sarpagandha is an important Ayurveda drug used for treating many diseases including high blood pressure. Rauvolfia serpentina is the genuine source plant for Sarpagandha and it is a critically endangered species belonging to the family Apocynaceae. In Ayurveda, Sarpagandha is used for the treatment of high blood pressure, insomnia, asthma, acute stomach ache and painful delivery and for mental illness such as neuropsychiatric disorders, psychosis, and schizophrenia. The root of Rauvolfia serpentina is the genuine source drug of Sarpagandha. It is used in the treatment of snake-bite, insect stings, mental disorders, gastric tumor, general weakness, goiter, hysteria, insomnia, insanity, lipoma, paraplegia, paratyphoid, piles, pneumonia, Genus Rauvolfia, belonging to the family Apocynaceae, comprises more than 80 species, which are distributed in tropical climatic conditions. It is native to West Indies but naturalized in South India [3]
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