Family : Apocynaceae

English : Rauvolfia Root, Serpentina Root

Hindi : Chhotaa Chaand, Dhavalbaruaa

Gujarati : Amelpodee, Sarpagandha

Sanskrit : Nakuli, Candrika, Chandramarah

Part used : Root

Botanical Description: A small erect shrub or undershrub with red pedicels and calyx; leaves simple, three in a whorl, thin glabrous, bright green above, flowers white often tinged with violet in irregular corymbose cymes; fruits drupes, purplish black when ripe. The roots when dry are very hard, less flexible tortrous with a yellowish brown surface provided with vertical and irregular wrinkles, when rubbed with water yields a light yellowish tinged paste. The bark does not separate easily from the woody portion when dry but separates easily in fresh conditions. Flowering and fruiting from September to January.

It occurs throughout India.

Modern Pharmacological Action: The plant is extensively used in the treatment of insanity and snake bite. The root extract of this plant is very useful in disorders of gastro intestinal tract viz., diarrhea, dysentery, cholera and colic.