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rauwolfia

 
Dictionary: rau·wol·fi·a
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(rou-wʊl'fē-ə, rô-) pronunciation
n.
Any of various tropical trees and shrubs of the genus Rauvolfia, especially R. serpentina, of southeast Asia, the root of which is the source of tranquilizing alkaloid drugs such as reserpine.

[Variant of New Latin Rauvolfia, genus name, after Leonhard Rauwolf (1535-1596), German botanist.]


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Sci-Tech Encyclopedia: Rauwolfia
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A genus of mostly poisonous, tropical trees and shrubs of the dogbane family (Apocynaceae). Certain species are the source of valuable emetics and cathartics. The species Rauwolfia serpentina has received special attention as the source of tranquilizing drugs. Among the purified alkaloids obtained from R. serpentina, reserpine is perhaps the one most used as a tranquilizing agent. See also Gentianales; Tranquilizer.

WordNet: rauwolfia
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Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The noun has 2 meanings:

Meaning #1: any of several alkaloids extracted from the shrub Rauwolfia serpentina

Meaning #2: any shrub or small tree of the genus Rauwolfia having leaves in whorls and cymose flowers; yield substances used medicinally especially as emetics or purgatives or antihypertensives
  Synonym: rauvolfia

Wikipedia: Rauvolfia
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Rauvolfia
Rauvolfia sandwicensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Rauvolfioideae
Tribe: Vinceae
Genus: Rauvolfia
L.[1]
Type species
Rauvolfia tetraphylla L., 1753[2]
Species

About 85 species known.

Rauvolfia (also spelled Rauwolfia) is a genus of evergreen trees and shrubs in the milkweed family, Apocynaceae. The genus is named to honor Leonhard Rauwolf. The approximately 85 species in the genus can mainly be found in tropical regions. Rauvolfia caffra is the South African quinine tree.

Contents

Chemical constituents

Rauvolfia serpentina, commonly known as or Indian Snakeroot or Sarpagandha, contains a number of bioactive chemicals, including ajmaline, deserpidine, rescinnamine, serpentinine, and yohimbine.

Medicinal uses

Reserpine is an alkaloid first isolated from R. serpentina and was widely used as an antihypertensive drug. It had drastic psychological side effects and has been replaced as a first-line antihypertensive drug by other compounds that lack such adverse effects, although combination drugs that include it are still available in some countries as second-line antihypertensive drugs.

Other plants of this genus are also used medicinally, both in conventional western medicine and in Ayurveda, Unani, and folk medicine. Alkaloids in the plants reduce blood pressure, depress activity of the central nervous system and act as hypnotics.

Conservation

R. serpentina is declining in the wild due to collection for its medicinal uses.[3] Consequently, it is listed in CITES Appendix II.[4]

Precautions

Women who are pregnant, may be pregnant, or plan pregnancy in the near future should not ingest Rauvolfia plants or preparations made from them. They may also be harmful for people with any chronic disease of the gastrointestinal tract, such as stomach or duodenal ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (reflux esophagitis), ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and diverticulosis. No "safe" dosage has been established.

Selected species

References

  1. ^ "Rauvolfia L.". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2003-03-14. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/genus.pl?10272. Retrieved 2009-11-11. 
  2. ^ "Rauvolfia L.". TROPICOS. Missouri Botanical Garden. http://tropicos.org/Name/40022964. Retrieved 2009-11-11. 
  3. ^ "India’s wild medicinal plants threatened by over-exploitation". International Union for Conservation of Nature. 2008-11-24. http://www.iucn.org/about/work/programmes/species/index.cfm?uNewsID=2326. Retrieved 2009-11-11. 
  4. ^ "Appendices I, II and III". Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species. 2009-05-22. http://www.cites.org/eng/app/e-appendices.pdf. Retrieved 2009-11-11. 
  5. ^ Little Jr., Elbert L.; Roger G. Skolmen (1989) (PDF). Hao. United States Forest Service. http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/forestry/data/CommonTreesHI/CFT_Rauvolfia_sandwicensis.pdf. 
  6. ^ "Subordinate Taxa of Rauvolfia L.". TROPICOS. Missouri Botanical Garden. http://tropicos.org/NameSubordinateTaxa.aspx?nameid=40022964. Retrieved 2009-11-11. 

General references

  1. Lewis, W.H. and M.P.F. Elvin-Lewis. (2003). Medical Botany. Hoboken: Wiley. pg 286
v • d • e
Serotonergics
Receptor
ligands

Agonists: Azapirones: Alnespirone • Binospirone • Buspirone • Eptapirone • Gepirone • Ipsapirone • Perospirone • Tandospirone • Tiospirone • Zalospirone; Lysergamides: Dihydroergotamine • Ergotamine • Methysergide • LSD; Phenethylamines: MDA • MDMA; Piperazines: Eltoprazine • Flesinoxan • Flibanserin; Tryptamines: 5-CT • 5-MeO-DMT • 5-MT • DMT • Psilocin • Psilocybin • Rauwolscine • Yohimbine; Atypical Antipsychotics: Aripiprazole • Asenapine • Clozapine • Quetiapine • Ziprasidone; Others: 8-OH-DPAT • Befiradol • F-11440 • Lesopitron • Lu AA21004 • LY-293,284 • LY-301,317 • MKC-242 • Osemozotan • Piclozotan • PRX-00023 • Repinotan • RU-24969 • S-15535 • Sarizotan • SSR-181,507 • Sunepitron • U-92016A • Urapidil • Vilazodone • Xaliproden
Antagonists: Beta Blockers: Alprenolol • Cyanopindolol • Iodocyanopindolol • Oxprenolol • Pindobind • Pindolol • Propranolol; Piperazines: Nefazodone • Trazodone • WAY-100,135 • WAY-100,635; Others: AV965 • BMY-7378 • Dotarizine • GR-46611 • Isamoltane • Lecozotan • Methiothepin • MPPF • NAN-190 • Robalzotan • S-15535 • SB-649915 • SDZ 216-525 • Spiperone • Spiramide • Spiroxatrine • UH-301 • WAY-100,135 •

WAY-100,635 • Xylamidine
Agonists: Lysergamides: Dihydroergotamine • Ergotamine • Methysergide; Piperazines: Eltoprazine • TFMPP; Triptans: Eletriptan • Sumatriptan • Zolmitriptan; Tryptamines: 5-CT • 5-MT; Others: CP-93,129 • CP-94,253 • CP-135,807 • RU-24969
Antagonists: Lysergamides: Metergoline • Methiothepin; Tryptamines: Yohimbine; Others: AR-A000002 • GR-127,935 • Isamoltane • SB-216,641 • SB-224,289 • SB-236,057
Agonists: Lysergamides: Dihydroergotamine • Methysergide; Triptans: Almotriptan • Eletriptan • Frovatriptan • Naratriptan • Rizatriptan • Sumatriptan • Zolmitriptan; Tryptamines: 5-CT • 5-MT; Others: CP-135,807 • CP-286,601 • GR-46611 • L-694,247 • L-772,405 • PNU-109,291 • PNU-142,633
Antagonists: Lysergamides: Metergoline • Methiothepin; Tryptamines: Rauwolscine • Yohimbine; Others: Alniditan BRL-15572 • GR-127,935 • Ketanserin • LY-310,762 • LY-367,642 • LY-456,219 • LY-456,220 • Ritanserin • Ziprasidone
Agonists: Lysergamides: Methysergide; Triptans: Eletriptan; Tryptamines: Tryptamine
Antagonists: Methiothepin
Agonists: Triptans: Eletriptan • Naratriptan • Sumatriptan; Tryptamines: 5-MT; Others: LY-334,370
Antagonists: Methiothepin
Agonists: Lysergamides: ALD-52 • Ergonovine • Lisuride • LA-SS-Az • LSD • Lysergic acid 2-butyl amide • Methysergide; Phenethylamines: 25I-NBMD • 25I-NBOH • 25I-NBOMe • 2C-B • 2C-B-FLY • 2C-E • 2C-I • 2C-T-2 • 2C-T-7 • 2C-T-21 • 2CBCB-NBOMe • 2CBFly-NBOMe • Bromo-DragonFLY • DOB • DOC • DOI • DOM • MDA • MDMA • Mescaline • Myristicin • TCB-2 • TFMFly; Piperazines: BZP • Quipazine • TFMPP; Tryptamines: 5-CT • 5-MeO-α-ET • 5-MeO-α-MT • 5-MeO-DET • 5-MeO-DiPT • 5-MeO-DMT • 5-MeO-DPT • 5-MT • α-ET • α-Methyl-5-HT • α-MT • Bufotenin • DET • DiPT • DMT • DPT • Psilocin • Psilocybin; Others: AL-34662 • AL-37350A • PNU-22394
Antagonists: Atypical Antipsychotics: Amperozide • Aripiprazole • Clozapine • Iloperidone • Melperone • Olanzapine • Paliperidone • Pimozide • Quetiapine • Risperidone • Sertindole • Ziprasidone • Zotepine; Typical Antipsychotics: Loxapine • Pipamperone; Antidepressants: Amitriptyline • Amoxapine • Etoperidone • Mianserin • Mirtazapine • Nefazodone • Trazodone; Others: 5-I-R91150 • AC-90179 • Altanserin • AMDA • APD-215 • Blonanserin • Cinanserin • Cyproheptadine • Deramciclane • Dotarizine • Eplivanserin • Fananserin • Flibanserin • Ketanserin • KML-010 • Lubazodone • Methiothepin • Nantenine • Pimavanserin • Pizotifen • Ritanserin • Sarpogrelate • Setoperone • Spiperone • Spiramide • SR-46349B • Volinanserin • Xylamidine • Yohimbine
Agonists: Oxazolines: 4-Methylaminorex • Aminorex; Phenethylamines: Chlorphentermine • DOB • DOC • DOI • DOM • Fenfluramine • MDA • MDMA • Norfenfluramine; Tryptamines: 5-CT • 5-MT • α-Methyl-5-HT; Others: BW-723C86 • Cabergoline • mCPP • Pergolide • PNU-22394 • Ro60-0175
Antagonists: Agomelatine • Asenapine • EGIS-7625 • Ketanserin • Lisuride • LY-272,015 • Rauwolscine • Ritanserin • RS-127,445 • Sarpogrelate • SB-200,646 • SB-204,741 • SB-206,553 • SB-215,505 • SB-221,284 • SB-228,357 • SDZ SER-082 • Tegaserod • Yohimbine
Agonists: Phenethylamines: 2C-B • 2C-E • 2C-I • 2C-T-2 • 2C-T-7 • 2C-T-21 • DOB • DOC • DOI • DOM • MDA • MDMA • Mescaline • Myristicin; Piperazines: Aripiprazole • mCPP • TFMPP; Tryptamines: 5-CT • 5-MeO-α-ET • 5-MeO-α-MT • 5-MeO-DET • 5-MeO-DiPT • 5-MeO-DMT • 5-MeO-DPT • 5-MT • α-ET • α-Methyl-5-HT • α-MT • Bufotenin • DET • DiPT • DMT • DPT • Psilocin • Psilocybin; Others: A-372,159 • AL-38022A • CP-809,101 • Lorcaserin • MK-212 • PNU-22394 • Ro60-0175 • Vabicaserin • WAY-629 • WAY-161,503 • YM-348
Antagonists: Atypical Antipsychotics: Clozapine • Iloperidone • Melperone • Olanzapine • Paliperidone • Pimozide • Quetiapine • Risperidone • Sertindole • Ziprasidone • Zotepine; Typical Antipsychotics: Chlorpromazine • Loxapine • Pipamperone; Antidepressants: Agomelatine • Amitriptyline • Amoxapine • Etoperidone • Fluoxetine • Mianserin • Mirtazapine • Nefazodone • Nortriptyline • Trazodone; Others: Cinanserin • Cyproheptadine • Deramciclane • Dimebolin • Dotarizine • Eltoprazine • FR-260,010 • Ketanserin • Ketotifen • Methysergide • Pizotifen • Ritanserin • RS-102,221 • SB-200,646 • SB-206,553 • SB-221,284 • SB-228,357 • SB-242,084 • SB-243,213 • SDZ SER-082 • Xylamidine
Agonists: Piperazines: BZP • Quipazine; Tryptamines: 2-Methyl-5-HT • 5-CT; Others: Chlorophenylbiguanide • RS-56812 • SR-57,227 • SR-57,227-A • YM-31636
Antagonists: Antiemetics: AS-8112 • Alosetron • Azasetron • Batanopride • Bemesetron • Cilansetron • Dolasetron • Granisetron • Lerisetron • Ondansetron • Palonosetron • Ramosetron • Renzapride • Tropisetron • Zacopride • Zatosetron; Atypical Antipsychotics: Clozapine • Olanzapine • Quetiapine; Tetracyclic Antidepressants: Amoxapine • Mianserin • Mirtazapine; Others: ICS-205,930 • Lu AA21004 • MDL-72,222 • Memantine • Ricasetron
Agonists: Gastroprokinetic Agents: Cisapride • Metoclopramide • Mosapride • Prucalopride • Renzapride • Tegaserod • Zacopride; Others: 5-MT • BIMU-8 • CJ-033,466 • PRX-03140 • RS-67333 • RS-67506 • TD-5108
Antagonists: GR-113,808 • GR-125,487 • L-Lysine • Piboserod • RS-39604 • RS-67532 • SB-203,186
Agonists: Lysergamides: Ergotamine • LSD; Tryptamines: 5-CT; Others: Valerenic Acid
Antagonists: Asenapine • Dimebolin • Methiothepin • Ritanserin • SB-699,551
Agonists: Lysergamides: Ergotamine • LSD
Antagonists: Methiothepin
* Note that the 5-HT5B receptor is not functional in humans.
Agonists: Lysergamides: Lisuride • LSD • Metergoline; Tryptamines: 5-CT • 5-MT • E-6801 • E-6837 • EMD-386,088 • EMDT • LY-586,713 • WAY-181,187 • WAY-208,466
Antagonists: Antidepressants: Amitriptyline • Amoxapine • Clomipramine • Doxepin • Mianserin • Nortriptyline; Atypical Antipsychotics: Aripiprazole • Asenapine • Clozapine • Fluperlapine • Iloperidone • Olanzapine • Tiospirone; Typical Antipsychotics: Chlorpromazine • Loxapine; Others: BGC20-760 • BVT-5182 • BVT-74316 • Dimebolin • EGIS-12233 • GW-742,457 • Ketanserin • Methiothepin • MS-245 • PRX-07034 • Ritanserin • Ro 04-6790 • Ro 63-0563 • SB-258,585 • SB-271,046 • SB-357,134 • SB-399,885
Agonists: Lysergamides: LSD; Tryptamines: 5-CT • 5-MT; Others: 8-OH-DPAT • AS-19 • Bifeprunox • LP-12 • LP-44 • Sarizotan
Antagonists: Antidepressants: Amitriptyline • Amoxapine • Clomipramine • Imipramine • Maprotiline • Mianserin; Atypical Antipsychotics: Amisulpride • Aripiprazole • Clozapine • Olanzapine • Risperidone • Sertindole • Tiospirone • Ziprasidone • Zotepine; Typical Antipsychotics: Chlorpromazine • Loxapine; Others: EGIS-12233 • LY-215,840 • Mesulergine • Metergoline • Methiothepin • Pimozide • Ritanserin • SB-258,719 • SB-258,741 • SB-269,970 • SB-656,104 • SB-656,104-A • SB-691,673 • SLV-313 • SLV-314 • Spiperone • SSR-181,507
Reuptake
inhibitors
SERT inhibitors
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs): Alaproclate • Citalopram • Dapoxetine • Desmethylcitalopram • Desmethylsertraline • Elzasonan • Escitalopram • Femoxetine • Fluoxetine • Fluvoxamine • Indalpine • Litoxetine • Lubazodone • Norfluoxetine • Paroxetine • RTI-353 • Sertraline • Vilazodone • Zimelidine; Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs): Bicifadine • Desvenlafaxine • Duloxetine • Milnacipran • Venlafaxine; Serotonin-Norepinephrine-Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNDRIs): Brasofensine • Diclofensine • DOV-102,677 • DOV-21,947 • DOV-216,303 • NS-2359 • SEP-225,289 • SEP-227,162 • Tesofensine; Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs): Amitriptyline • Butriptyline • Cianopramine • Clomipramine • Desipramine • Dosulepin • Doxepin • Imipramine • Lofepramine • Nortriptyline • Protriptyline • Trimipramine; Tetracyclic Antidepressants (TeCAs): Amoxapine; Piperazines: Nefazodone • Trazodone; Antihistamines: Brompheniramine • Chlorpheniramine • Diphenhydramine • Mepyramine (Pyrilamine) • Pheniramine • Tripelennamine; Opioids: Meperidine (Pethidine) • Methadone • Propoxyphene • Tramadol; Others: Cocaine • Cyclobenzaprine (CBZ) • Dextromethorphan (DXM) • Mesembrine • Nefopam • SB-649,915 • Sibutramine • Ziprasidone
TRPC6 activators
VMAT Inhibitors
Releasing
agents
Aminoindanes: Ethyltrifluoromethylaminoindane (ETAI) • Methylenedioxyaminoindane (MDAI) • Methylenedioxymethylaminoindane (MDMAI) • Methoxymethylaminoindane (MMAI) • Trifluoromethylaminoindane (TAI); Aminotetralins: 8-Hydroxydipropylaminotetralin (8-OH-DPAT); Oxazolines: 4-Methylaminorex (4-MAR, 4-MAX) • Aminorex • Clominorex • Fluminorex; Phenethylamines (also Amphetamines, Cathinones, Phentermines, etc): 4-Methylthioamphetamine (4-MTA) • 5-Aminopropyldihydrobenzofuran (5-APDB; 5-Desoxy-MDA) • Benzodioxolylbutanamine (BDB) • Benzodioxolylhydroxybutanamine (BOH) • Brephedrone • Butylone • Chlorphentermine • Diethylcathinone (Diethylpropion, Amfepramone) • Dimethoxyamphetamine (DMA) • Dimethoxymethamphetamine (DMMA) • Dimethylcathinone (Dimethylpropion, Metamfepramone) • Ethylbenzodioxolylbutanamine (EBDB) • Ethylone • Fenfluramine (Dexfenfluramine) • Flephedrone • Indanylamphetamine (IAP) • Lophophine (Homomyristicylamine) • Mephedrone • Methedrone • Methoxymethylamphetamine (MMA) • Methoxymethylenedioxyamphetamine (MMDA) • Methoxymethylenedioxymethamphetamine (MMDMA) • Methylbenzodioxolylbutanamine (MBDB) • Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA; Tenamfetamine) • Methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDEA) • Methylenedioxyhydroxyamphetamine (MDOH) • Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) • Methylenedioxymethylphenethylamine (MDMPEA; Homarylamine) • Methylenedioxyphenethylamine (MDPEA; Homopiperonylamine) • Methylone • Naphthylamphetamine (NAP) • Norfenfluramine • Parabromoamphetamine (PBA) • Parachloroamphetamine (PCA) • Parafluoroamphetamine (PFA) • Parafluoromethamphetamine (PFMA) • Parahydroxyamphetamine (PHA) • Paraiodoamphetamine (PIA) • Paramethoxyamphetamine (PMA) • Paramethoxyethylamphetamine (PMEA) • Paramethoxymethamphetamine (PMMA); Piperazines: 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-bromobenzylpiperazine (2C-B-BZP) • Benzylpiperazine (BZP) • Metachlorophenylpiperazine (mCPP) • Methoxyphenylpiperazine (MeOPP; Paraperazine) • Methylbenzylpiperazine (MBZP) • Methylenedioxybenzylpiperazine (MDBZP; Piperonylpiperazine) • Parafluorophenylpiperazine (pFPP; Fluoperazine) • Trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine (TFMPP); Quinolines: PK-7059 • Viqualine; Tryptamines: Alphaethyltryptamine (AET; Etryptamine) • Alphamethyltryptamine (AMT; Metryptamine)
Enzyme
inhibitors
TPH inhibitors
Others
Others
Activity enhancers: Benzofuranylpropylaminopentane (BPAP) • Phenylpropylaminopentane (PPAP); Reuptake enhancers: Tianeptine

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Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
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