ENGLISH NAME: WILD SERPANT ROOT
BOTANIC NAME: Chasalia curviflora
Synonym: Chasalia ophyoxyloids
FAMILY : Rubiaceae
HABIT: An erect, evergreen, shade loving plant.
DESCRIPTION
PLANT : Shrub grows up to a height of 1meter.
LEAF : Simple, opposite, 10-15 cm length, 2.5-5cm width. Dark green in colour.
FLOWER: Inflorescence terminal, in cymes up to 3cm long,
Petals five, white margin with yellow shade inside.
Purple tubular corolla curves upwards.
Tiny white coloured sepals.
FRUIT/SEED: fleshy green in colour turns to black when ripe.
PROPAGATION : By seeds
MEDICINAL USES:
The roots are used in tribal medicines.
APPLICATIONS:
Folkloric:
Paste of leaves and root is applied topically on affected places to heal wounds and pimples.
Decoction of the root is reported to be used for the treatment of Pneumonia and throat pain.
LOCAL NAMES: KAARUTHA AMALPORI , VELLA KURINJI (Malayalam).
AMALPORI
ENGLISH NAME: SERPANT ROOT
BOTANIC NAME: Rauvolfia serpentina
FAMILY: Apocynacea
HABIT: An erect, evergreen, shade loving plant.
DESCRIPTION
PLANT: Perennial grows up to a height of 1meter.
LEAF : Simple, 10-15 cm length, 2.5-5cm width.
Leaves are seen in whorls of three in each node.
FLOWER:Inflorescence terminal, in cymes up to 3cm long,
Five petals white in colour form a tubular corolla with red sepals.
FRUIT/SEED: Tiny oval, fleshy turns to purple/black when ripe, two seeds are seen
in a fruit.
PROPAGATION : By seeds
 |
| Serpentina Seeds |
MEDICINAL USES: The roots are used in medicines.
APPLICATIONS:
Folkloric:
Powdered roots are used for the treatment of high blood pressure.
(Long term use may cause some side effects.)
Anti dote against the bite of venomous reptiles.
Studies:
The roots contain more than 60 alkaloids.
Chiefly used as a sedative,tranquilizer and anti psychotic.
LOCAL NAMES :
SARPAGANDI, CHUVANNAVALPORI (Malayalam),
OPHIOXYLON, INDIAN SNAKE ROOT, SARPAGANDA (English),
CHANDRABHAGA, CHOTACHAND (Hindi),
CHIVANMELPODI (Tamil),
SARPAGANDI (Kannada),
PAATAALAGANDI (Telugu).
FOOT NOTE: Use of Rauvolfia serpentina is fatal to persons suffering from bronchitis, asthma or gastric ulsers.
