Rauvolfia serpentina
Rauvolfia serpentina, commonly called Indian snakeroot or Sarpagandha, is a flowering plant in the milkweed family (Apocynaceae). It grows as a perennial undershrub in the Indian subcontinent and parts of East Asia, from India to Indonesia, and up to about 1,000 meters in the sub-Himalayan region. It is listed in CITES Appendix II, meaning its trade is monitored to protect wild populations.
In India, Sarpagandha has long been used in folk medicine to treat snake and insect bites, fevers, malaria, abdominal pain, and dysentery. It has also been used as a uterine stimulant, a fever reducer, and a remedy for insanity, and it is mentioned in ancient Hindu texts.
The plant contains many alkaloids, including reserpine and ajmaline. Some studies suggest reserpine can lower systolic blood pressure by about 8 mmHg compared with a placebo, though more research is needed to determine safe dosing. Rauvolfia serpentina can interact with other medicines and may cause side effects such as vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, anxiety, or allergic reactions.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 21:00 (CET).