Question

Medicinally most important part of Rauwolfia serpentina is
A. Root
B. Rhizome
C. Aerial stem
D. All of these

Answer 1

Hint: It contains chemicals that have been shown to cause low blood pressure and slow heart rate. Long-term use can cause depression. The root of the plant is ground into a powder or sold in tablets or capsules.

Complete answer:
- Reserpine is an organic nitrogen containing base produced from roots of Rauwolfia serpentina, belonging to the family Apocynaceae. Reserpine was utilized in treating high blood pressure and mental abnormalities like schizophrenia.
- It has a large spectrum of important therapeutic activities, essentially effective in the therapy of hypertension and mental abnormalities like epilepsy, insomnia, insanity, schizophrenia, anxiety, and also utilized as a sedative, a hypnotic drug.
- Rauwolfia serpentina consists of numerous bioactive chemicals, involving reserpine, rescinnamine, serpentine, ajmaline, deserpidine. It has been used for millennia to treat insect stings and the bites of venomous reptiles.
- Rhizome and aerial parts of Rauwolfia serpentina do not have any specific medicinal importance.

Thus, the correct option is A. i.e. Root.

Note: Rauwolfia serpentina is secure and effective therapy for hypertension. The plant was utilized by various physicians all over India in the 1940s and then was utilized all over the world in the 1950s, involving in the United States and Canada. It becomes unpopular when unfavorable side effects, consisting of depression and cancer, become related with it.