Sarpagandha (Rauwolfia serpentina)

 SARPAGANDHA

Latin Name- Rouwolfia serpentina
Family- Apocynaceae
Synonyms- Chandramara, Dhavalvitap, Nakuli, Mukta, Nakuleshta
Introduction- It is a perennial shrub commonly known as Indian snake root. Fruits are obliquely ovoid, purple black when ripe. Its root is the source of drug in Ayurveda. It contains an alkaloid reserpine which has an excellent anti hypertensive effect.
Used Part- root
Uses- 1. Taken with warm water in Visuchika (Cholera).
          2. It is very efficacious in rat poisoning.
          3. It is a well known anti hypertensive drug.
Important formulations- Sarpagandha ghan vati, Sarpagandha churna
Note;- There is one more wild variety of Sarpagandha i.e Rauwolfia tetraphylla. It bears 4 leaves from each node. Two leaves are smaller while other two are larger.
                                                   Rauwolfia tetraphylla