The Rauvlofia Project: Team

The Medicinal Plant Group, an interdisciplinary team of young scientists
with interest in medicinal plant studies.

Medicinal uses, Rauvolfia vomitoria

R. vomitoria has about 44 different phytochemicals, with nearly half of them found in the roots, 20% of them found in the leaves and 30% found in the whole plant. However, R. vomitoria is known as a source of the medicinally important reserpine present in the roots. This alkaloid reduces high blood pressure and used in treatment of mental illness. The root of the species is often harvested and may be used as a sedative, aphrodisiac or antispasmodic.