The Pharmacognosy of the Root of Rauwolfia Ligustrina Roem. and Schult

Abstract

Abstract The morphological and anatomical characters of Rauwolfia ligustrina roots are described and compared with those of other Rauwolfia species. The characters of the stem, particularly in so far as they concern its detection when mixed with root, are recorded. Analytical studies on individual plants indicate that reserpine is confined almost entirely to the root-bark, the concentration rapidly decreasing towards the crown and becoming negligible in the stems. Samples of root from different localities may vary greatly in reserpine content.