Question

“Ajmaline alkaloid’ yielding plant is
A. Rauvolfia serpentina
B. Curcuma longa
C. Atropa belladonna
D. Datura stramonium

Answer 1

Hint: Ajmaline, also known as Aritmina, is an alkaloid chemical which is used for inducing arrhythmic contractions in patients of Brugada syndrome. Thus this biochemical acts as an antiarrhythmic agent.

Complete answer: The plant Rauwolfia serpentina is a flowering plant belonging to the family Apocynaceae. The other common names for this plant are Indian snakeroot, serpentine wood and devil pepper. It is a perennial undershrub in the habit that is widely distributed in the sub-Himalayan regions of India. The various biochemicals found in these plants are serpentine, deserpidine, ajmaline, reserpine, and yohimbine. The biochemical reserpine obtained from it is used for the treatment of systolic hypertension. There are several side effects also of the medicines obtained by using the biochemical of this plant. The common side effects are diarrhea, dizziness, headache, anxiety, hypersensitivity reactions, etc.
Curcuma longa is a flowering plant that belongs to the family Zingiberaceae, The roots of this plant are used for cooking purposes. They are called turmeric in Hindi and these have great medicinal values. They have a biochemical called curcumin that has been used for a long time for treating various inflammation and diseases.
Atropa belladonna is a perennial herb in habitat. It belongs to the solanaceae family of Angiosperms. It is used for medicinal purposes, cosmetics and as dietary supplements.
Datura stramonium, commonly known as thorn apple or jimsonweed, is a plant belonging to the family solanaceae. It is used in making several medicines for the treatment of various diseases. The drug obtained from this plant is hallucinogenic in nature.
So, the correct answer is “Option A”.

Note: Rauvolfia serpentina, Curcuma longa, Atropa belladonna and Datura stramonium are all examples of economically important plants. The parts of these plants either produce spices or certain biochemicals that are used for medicinal purposes.