Rauvolfia tetraphylla L. (Apocynaceae) - A Comprehensive Review on Its Ethnobotanical Uses, Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Activities

Author(s): Mahalakshmi S.N, Achala H.G, Ramyashree K.R and Prashith Kekuda T.R

Abstract: Plants are an indispensable source of various needs of human beings such as food, construction tools, flavoring agents, and medicine. Rauvolfia tetraphylla L. is endangered and is one of the important plants of Apocynaceae family being cultivated for its immense medicinal properties. The present review highlights ethnobotanical uses and pharmacological potential of R. tetraphylla. The plant R. tetraphylla is widely used in traditional medicine and often it is used as an adulterant or substitute of Rauvolfia serpentina. The plant is used as a remedy for snake and other poisonous bite, blood pressure, diabetes, piles, malaria, wound, helminthiasis, hypertension, vomiting, insomnia, skin diseases, mental disorders, cough, fever and others. A vast number of secondary metabolites such as reserpine, reserpiline, yohimbine, ajmaline, lankanescine, rauvotetraphyllines, alstonine, deserpidine, aricine, isoreserpine, sarpagine and others have been detected in the plant among which reserpine is the most important one. R. tetraphylla is shown to exhibit a range of pharmacological activities such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, platelet antiaggregant, cardioprotective, sedative, antihypertensive, insecticidal, allelopathic and antiparasitic act ivities. Isolated constituents are shown to be pharmacologically activity as they have displayed activities such as antimicrobial and antipsychotic activity. In conclusion, the plant R. tetraphylla is a critically endangered medicinal species with tremendous ethno medicinal importance and an important source of valuable alkaloids, hence, it is very important to conserve the species for its multifold beneficial applications.

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