Article Text

Download PDFPDF
Rauwolfia alkaloids as tranquillizing and antihypertensive agents

Abstract

Rauwolfia and its derivatives have been used extensively for the treatment of hypertension and of agitation, but have now largely been replaced by more effective drugs. Rauwolfia serpentina is available in three major forms: as the crude root, as a fraction containing a mixture of the alkaloids in the naturally occurring proportions, and as pure alkaloids, the most important of which is reserpine. The three forms are essentially equivalent in their effects in the ratio of 100 mg of the whole root (Raudixin - Squibb; and others), to 1 mg of the mixed alkaloids fraction (Rauwiloid - Riker; and others), and 0. 1 to 0.25 mg of reserpine (Serpasil - Ciba; and others). Despite claims to the contrary, there is no convincing evidence that the whole root or any fraction of it is more useful than reserpine. This also applies to the alkaloids deserpidine (Harmonyl - Abbott) and methoserpidine (Decaserpyl - Roussel).

Statistics from Altmetric.com

Request Permissions

If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.