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Rauvolfia

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Rauvolfia
Rauvolfia sandwicensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Rauvolfioideae
Tribe: Vinceae
Subtribe: Rauvolfiinae
Benth. & Hook.f.
Genus: Rauvolfia
L.[1]
Type species
Rauvolfia tetraphylla
L., 1753[2]
Synonyms[3]
  • Cyrtosiphonia Miq.
  • Dissolena Lour.
  • Heurckia Müll.Arg.
  • Ophioxylon L.
  • Podochrosia Baill.
Rauvolfia serpentina fruit

Rauvolfia (sometimes spelled Rauwolfia) is a genus of evergreen trees and shrubs, commonly known as devil peppers, in the family Apocynaceae. The genus is named to honor Leonhard Rauwolf. The genus can mainly be found in tropical regions of Africa, Asia, Latin America, and various oceanic islands.[3][4]

Spelling

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The International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants stipulates that the genus name was established by Carl Linnaeus in his 1753 book Species Plantarum,[5][6] which cites his earlier description[7] which states in Botanical Latin that the name is dedicated "to Leonhard Rauwolf": "Leon. Rauvolfio". Although some subsequent authors hypercorrected the Classical Latin letter "v" to a modern "w", this is not accepted by the code of nomenclature.[8]

Chemical constituents

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Rauvolfia serpentina, commonly known as Indian snakeroot or sarpagandha, contains many indole alkaloids.[9]

Medicinal uses

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Reserpine is an alkaloid first isolated from R. serpentina and was widely used as an antihypertensive drug[10]

Conservation

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Rauvolfia serpentina is declining in the wild due to collection for its medicinal uses.[11] Consequently, it is listed in CITES Appendix II.[12] Rauvolfia vomitoria is a highly invasive species in Hawaiʻi, and is capable of establishing dense monotypic stands.

Species

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Species include:[3]

formerly included[3]

References

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  1. ↑ "Rauvolfia L." Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2003-03-14. Archived from the original on 2009-09-12. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
  2. ↑ "Rauvolfia L." TROPICOS. Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "World Checklist of Selected Plant Families". Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  4. ↑ Flora of China Vol. 16 Page 157 萝芙木属 luo fu mu shu Rauvolfia Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 208. 1753.
  5. ↑ (McNeill et al. 2012, Article 38.1)
  6. ↑ Linnaeus, C. (1753), "Rauvolfia tetraphylla", Species plantarum: exhibentes plantas rite cognitas, ad genera relatas, cum differentiis specificis, nominibus trivialibus, synonymis selectis, locis natalibus, secundum systema sexuale digestas, vol. 1, Stockholm: Lars Salvius, p. 208
  7. ↑ Linnaeus, C. (1737), "Rauvolfia g. pl. 179", Hortus Cliffortianus, Amsterdam, p. 75
  8. ↑ (McNeill et al. 2012, Articles 60 and 61, particularly 60.1)
  9. ↑ SerpentinaDB
  10. ↑ Lobay D (2016). "Rauwolfia in the Treatment of Hypertension". Integr Med (Encinitas). 14 (3): 40–46. PMC 4566472. PMID 26770146.
  11. ↑ "India's wild medicinal plants threatened by over-exploitation". International Union for Conservation of Nature. 2008-11-24. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
  12. ↑ "Appendices I, II and III" (PDF). Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species. 2009-05-22. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
  13. ↑ Little Jr., Elbert L.; Roger G. Skolmen (1989). "Hao" (PDF). United States Forest Service.[permanent dead link]

Bibliography

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