Definition

Noun 1. A type of medicinal plant: Any shrub or small tree belonging to the genus Rauwolfia, characterized by leaves arranged in whorls and flowers in cymes. It yields substances used in medicine, notably as treatments for hypertension, or as emetics and purgatives.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The alkaloids extracted from rauvolfia are important in traditional and modern medicine.
  • Several species of rauvolfia are found in tropical regions of Asia and Africa.
  • The root of the rauvolfia plant has been used for centuries to treat various ailments.

Advanced Usage

• "Rauvolfia serpentina": This is the most well-known species, commonly called Indian snakeroot. It is the primary source of the alkaloid reserpine, a historically significant antihypertensive and tranquilizing drug.
  • The study focused on the pharmacological properties of Rauvolfia serpentina.

Variants and Related Words

• Rauwolfia: An alternative, and historically common, spelling for the genus name. The words "rauvolfia" and "rauwolfia" are often used interchangeably.
  • Older texts may refer to the plant as rauwolfia.

Synonyms

• Snakeroot: A common name for , referring to its traditional use in treating snakebites.
• Devil's pepper: Another colloquial name for plants in this genus.

Notes on Meaning

The word rauvolfia almost exclusively refers to the botanical genus and its member species. Its primary significance lies in its medicinal applications, particularly its use as a source of compounds for treating high blood pressure. It is a specialized term used in botany, pharmacology, and ethnomedicine.

Noun

1. any shrub or small tree of the genus Rauwolfia having leaves in whorls and cymose flowers; yield substances used medicinally especially as emetics or purgatives or antihypertensives