This is a small, upright, perennial shrub with up to only a meter high, usually unbranched slender stem and unbranched prominent tuberous crooked (where the name serpentina comes from) roots. The leaves are opposite or in whorl of 3 to 5, oblanceolate or obovate, the stalks up to 1.5 cm long. The inflorescences are generally terminal, sometimes axillary, cymose, dense-flowered forming a hemispheric head on the end of the stalk, white or red in color. The fruits consist of 1 to 2 rounded with a sharp top drupelets, joined at the base, dark red or blackish when ripe. The seeds are single in each fruit, oval, with a rough and dull surface. It can be propagated by seeds, stem and root cuttings.

Hypotensive, anthelmintic, sedative and aids in contracting the uterus (root).

Rauvolfia serpentina

Ajmalicine, ajmaline, ajmalinine, deserpidine, papaverine, reserpine, reseinamine, serpentine, yohimbine (root); corynanthine, stigmasterol (plant)

Removing corneal opacity (leaf); central nervous system disorders including various mental problems, anthelmintic, intestinal problems (including dysentery) and lowering blood pressure (root), bile vomiting, blood dysentery, chickenpox, cough, dog-bite, fever, gastric problems, headache, insanity, insomnia, prolapse of rectum, rheumatism / rheumatoid arthritis and spermatorrhoea.

Side effects of rauwolfia include nasal stuffiness and constipation, drowsiness, severe depression, bradycardia, hypergastric secretion, nausea, nasal congestion, diarrhea and various sexual-endocrine dysfunctions (inhibition of menses, impotence).

Chandel et al., Biodiversity in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in India.