HERBAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS - Rauwolfia serpentina (SARPGANDHA)

Sarpagandha (Rauvolfia serpentina) is a species of flowering plant in the family Apocynaceae. About 80 alkaloids are isolated from Rauvolfia species among them reserpine is most important principal active constituent. Sophisticated advancements in chemistry combined with changing pattern of consumer preference have revolutionized the chemical maneuvering of medicinal herbs. Semi purified/purified chemical derivatives of herbs like extracts, fractionates, isolates are being preferred over the whole herb for therapeutic uses. As a logical spin off, this also has thrown up a debate, if these chemical derivatives are medicinally better than the herb