rauwolfia

Rauwolfia /Rau·wol·fia/ (rou-wool´fe-ah) a genus of tropical trees and shrubs, including R. serpentina and over 100 other species, that provide numerous alkaloids, notably reserpine, of medical interest.

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rauwolfia /rau·wol·fia/

1. any member of the genus Rauwolfia.

2. the dried root of Rauwolfia, or an extract of it.

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rauwolfia serpenti´na  the dried root of Rauwolfia serpentina; used as an antihypertensive; also used in folk medicine and Indian medicine.

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rauwolfia (r·wulˑ·fē·),

n Latin name:
Rauvolfia serpentina; parts used: roots; uses: high blood pressure, snake bite, fever, dropsy, nervousness, insomnia; precautions: pregnancy, lactation, children, depression, suicidal tendencies, peptic ulcers, ulcerative colitis, Parkinson's disease, seizure disorders, kidney disease, amphetamines, heart medications, cardiac glycosides, CNS depressants, ephedrine, L-dopa, MAOIs. Also called
Indian snakeroot or
snakeroot.

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rauwolfia, Rauvolfia

any member of the genus Rauwolfia in the plant family Apocynaceae; the dried root, or extract of the dried root, of Rauwolfia; contains reserpine; causes abdominal pain, diarrhea, jaundice, hepatitis; includes R. serpentina, R. tetraphylla (R. canescens), R. vomitoria.