Research Article

My experiences with the Herbal Plants &
Drugs as I Knew Part VIII : Rauvolfia.

Dr. N.C. Shah.

Summay

The article deals with the author's working at Haldwani and Lucknow in CIMPO in the year 1964-1965 when he knew about the plant Rauvolfia serpentine. It describes its history and scientific history of the plant, the other species found in India and its botany. It also describes another important species of India, i.e., R. canescens L (R. tetraphylla L.). Its use in folk-lore and its first testing of the crude drug from the alleged use in snake-bite. Its entry into the Ayurvedic and Unani systems of medicine and also in the modern system of medicine. The etymology and philology of the commonly used Sanskrit names. Its main chemical constituents and their history and the present position of its main alkaloid reserpine. Its earlier demand through out the world and its ban on the export of species and also discusses the faulty export policy. The discovery of Rauwolfia vomitoria from Africa. Finally in brief its cultivation and the conservation efforts which had been taken so far.

 

About the Author:

Founder & Ex. Director,
Herbal Research & Development Institute, Uttarakhand & Head of the Botany & Pharmacognosy Dept., CIMAP,( CSIR),
MS-78, Sector-D, Aliganj,
Lucknow-226024
Tel No. 0522-232 64 89;
E-mail: drnshah@sancharnet.in