R. sativus var. caudatus, is known as
Rat-Tail Radish.
A native to Java, it is cultivated in
northern and western India. The root
is not used; pods, purple or violet in
colour, are consumed for properties
attributed to Raphanus sp. These are
known as Mungraa or Sungraa.
Dosage Whole plant—20—40 ml juice; root—15—30 ml juice. (API, Vol. II.) Seed—1—3 g powder. (API, Vol. III.)
Rauvolfia serpentina
Benth. ex Kurz.
Family Apocynaceae.
Habitat The sub-Himalayas tract from Punjab to Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, Assam, Western Ghats and the Andamans.
English Rauvolfia root, Serpentina Root, Indian Snakeroot.
Ayurvedic Sarpagandhaa of Ayurvedic texts was not the Sarpagandhaa of modern medicine. (Sarpagandhaa was equated with Naakuli, Sarpachhatrikaa and Varshaasu Chhatrikaaraa. Sarpagandhaa and Sarpasugandhaa were synonyms of Naakuli.)
Folk Chhotaa Chaand.
Action Root—decoction is employed to increase uterine contractions and for expulsion of foetus in difficult cases. The total alkaloidal extract of the root induces bradycardia, hypotension, sedation. It finds application in hypochondria, neuropsychiatric disorders, psychosis and schizophrenia.
Key application In mild, essential hypertension (borderline hypertension, especially with elevated tension of the sympathetic nervous system, for example,
Rauvolfia tetraphylla Linn. 539
sinus tachycardia, anxiety, tension and psychomotor irritation, when dietetic measures alone
are not sufficient. (German
Commission E.)
(Average daily dose: 600 mg drug corresponding to 6 mg total alkaloid.) Treatment is usually administered with a diuretic to prevent fluid retention which may develop if Rauvolfia root is given alone. (WHO.) Contraindicated in depression, bleeding disorders, gastric and duodenal ulcers. (Sharon
