A REVIEW ON POTENTIAL BIOACTIVE CHEMICAL FROM RAUWOLFIA SERPENTINA: RESERPINE

The drug Rauwolfia serpentina is known to Indian system of medicine since last many centuries. Because of snake like shape of drug, it has been known as sarpgandha. Although Rauwolfia serpentina contain more than 50 alkaloids but Reserpine is the principal alkaloid of Rauwolfia serpentina. Reserpine has a success application in antihypertensive even at a smaller dose. Rhizomes of Rauwolfia serpentine also have hepatoprotective activity including antihypertensive, hepatoprotective, Rauwolfia serpentina have many other medicinal uses like: Antidiahoerreal, antipsychotic, sedative, anticancer (in breast) etc. Although Rauwolfia serpentina contains major four Indole alkaloids but main object of this context is to provide knowledge about the main active alkaloid Reserpine, having more concentration in the root of plant, play a major role in antihypertensive activity of Rauwolfia serpentina. A much lesser dose of Reserpine is required to provide an antihypertensive effect otherwise it can cause some serious adverse effect like- lethargy, sedation, psychiatric depression, hypotension, nausea, bradycardia, bronchospasm and withdrawal psychosis. Because of its potent activity Reserpine is still used as antihypertensive and sedative agent.