Rauvolfia vomitoria

Rauvolfia vomitoria, the poison devil's-pepper,[3] is a plant species in the genus Rauvolfia. It is native from Senegal east to Sudan and Tanzania, south to Angola; and naturalized in China, Bangladesh, different ranges of Himalayan and Puerto Rico.[4] The plant contains a number of compounds of interest to the pharmaceutical industry and is widely used in traditional medicine.

Rauvolfia vomitoria

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Apocynaceae
Genus: Rauvolfia
Species:
R. vomitoria
Binomial name
Rauvolfia vomitoria
Afzel., 1817[1]
Synonyms[2]
  • Rauvolfia congolana De Wild. & T.Durand
  • Rauvolfia pleiosiadica K.Schum.
  • Rauvolfia senegambiae DC.
  • Rauvolfia stuhlmannii K.Schum.

Description

Rauvolfia vomitoria is a small tree or large shrub, growing to 8 m (26 ft) high. The branches grow in whorls, and the leaves grow from swollen nodes in groups of three. The leaf blades are broadly lanceolate or elliptical, tapering to a long point. The small, fragrant flowers are followed by globular red fruit. All parts of the plant, except the mature wood, contain latex.[5][6]

Ecology

This is a fast-growing tree that produces large quantities of seeds which are dispersed by birds. The seedlings and saplings are tolerant of shade and the tree regenerates after cutting or burning, soon forming dense thickets.[6]

Uses

Rauvolfia vomitoria has been used across its range in traditional medicine.[5] A decoction or extract of the roots is extensively used to treat diarrhoea, jaundice, venereal disease, rheumatism and snake-bites, and is also used to reduce colic or fever, to calm people with anxiety or epilepsy, and to lower blood pressure. The macerated root, or sometimes the pulped fruit, is used to treat a variety of skin conditions, and the bark, twigs and leaves are used as a purgative and emetic.[5]

The plant contains a number of compounds used by the pharmaceutical industry; these include reserpine, reserpinine, deserpidine, ajmalicine and ajmaline. In the 1970s the bark from stems and roots was harvested and the reserpine extracted and sold for human use. It is still available, but has largely been replaced by less toxic products.[7] 2,6-Dimethoxybenzoquinone is a benzoquinone found in R. vomitoria[8] which is active against tumour cells.[9]

Every part of the tree is toxic,[10] and this is put to use with a paste made from the pulverized root being coated on arrow tips and spears for hunting, and by being mixed with cassava meal to make rat poison.[7]

It has been identified as an invasive species in the Hawaiian island of Oahu.[6]

References
  1. "Subordinate Taxa of Rauvolfia L". TROPICOS. Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
  2. The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species, retrieved 19 November 2016
  3. "Rauvolfia vomitoria". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  4. Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  5. Neffati, Mohamed; Najjaa, Hanen; Máthé, Ákos (2017). Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the World - Africa. Springer. pp. 253–256. ISBN 978-94-024-1120-1.
  6. Invasive Species Fact Sheet 16, Pacific Islands Area, Poison devil's-pepper (Rauvolfia vomitoria) (PDF), Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2011, retrieved 19 November 2016
  7. Fern, Ken (13 June 2019). "Rauvolfia vomitoria". Useful Tropical Plants Database. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  8. Kupchan, S. Morris; Obasi, Mang E. (2006). "A note on the occurrence of 2,6-dimethoxybenzoquinone in Rauwolfia vomitoria". Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association. 49 (4): 257. doi:10.1002/jps.3030490421.
  9. Rizzello, Carlo Giuseppe; Mueller, Thomas; Coda, Rossanna; Reipsch, Franziska (2013). "Synthesis of 2-methoxy benzoquinone and 2,6-dimethoxybenzoquinone by selected lactic acid bacteria during sourdough fermentation of wheat germ". Microbial Cell Factories. 12 (1): 105–110. doi:10.1186/1475-2859-12-105.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. "Eyes and Ears Network". Kohala Center Newsletter. November 2010. Archived from the original on 3 November 2014.
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