CULTIVATE RAUVOLFIA FOR RESERPINE

S.ESWARA REDDY

Rauvolfia serpentina Benth (Sarpagandha) is one among the most important medicinal plants native to India. The roots of the plant have been used in the indigenous system of medicine since 3000 years.k .The roots of the plant were used for centuries by the Ayurvedic and Unani system of medicine in india. It has anti-hypertensive and sedative properties. Its importance in allopathy was recognized in 1952 only after the isolation of an alkaloid - Reserpine, from the roots of Rauvolfia, which is used as sedative and anti-hypertensive. Roots of Rauvolfia are available from Vishakhapatnam and Srikakulam districts in Andhra Pradesh. The genus Rauvolfia was named in honour of a sixteenth century traveler and botanist- Leonard Rauvolfia; serpentine refers to the long tapering snake like roots.

Rauvolfia serpentirta plant is an erect, small perennial shrub, seldom attaining a height of lm when cultivated. Tap root is tuberous, soft, some times irregularly nodular; bark pale brown corky with irregular longitudinal fissures. The plant is characterised by long elliptic lanceolate or obvate leaves occurring in whorls of three to five at the nodes. Flowers appear in corymbose cymes, flowers are white or pink. Rauvolfia 0.6cm in diameter, shining black when fully ripe. Rauvolfia can be propagated by: (1) seeds (2) stem cuttings and (3) root cuttings, (4) root stumps. Seed propagation: Usually propagated by seeds. Only heavy seeds, which sink in water should be used for sowing. The seeds must be collected from June to October for sowing. Seeds collected during other periods, don't germinate satisfactorily. The percentage germination is quite variable (10-50%) due to either partheno carpy or defective development of embryo. About 8 kg seed is sufficient to raise I ha plantation. Direct sowing of seeds in the main field is not successful, and hence seedlings arc raised in the nursery. Vegetative propagation: (a) Stem cuttings: Stem cuttings of 15 22 cm long with three inter nodes are considered ideal. The cuttings are planted in the nursery in June and kept moist until they sprout. Rooting of cuttings (hard wood cuttings) may be hastened by treating with IAA at 30 ppm for 12 hours. Roots appear with in 15 days. This method gives 40-65% success. (b) Root cuttings: fruit is a drupe,

Root cuttings are taken from tap root as well as secondary roots. Root cutting of 3-5 cm long and 1 to 1.25 cm thick are planted horizontally at 5cm depth during spring and are covered with soil. The beds are kept moist. The cuttings sprout within 3 weeks and a success, of 50 to 80% has been obtained. About 100kg of root cuttings are required to plant one ha of land. Method: Seedlings (40 45 days old) of 7 to 12cm height having 4-6 leaves are carefully lifted from the seedbed, avoiding injury to the long delicate roots, they are planted in rows at 60x30cm spacing. A hole is dug at each hill (15 20 cm deep) and seedling is planted in the hole without bending the main root and the soil is then gently but firmly pressed and irrigated. Harvesting: The roots of Rauvolfia will be ready for harvesting from 15 months to 36months, depending on the area of cultivation, and irrigation. Maximum root yield was obtained when the duration of crop is 18 months. Roots dry in winter when the plant is completely defoliated, as at this stage the total alkaloid content in the root is at its maximum. A light irrigation should be given one day prior to digging for easy uplifting of the roots. The roots are removed carefully with a spade with out damaging the bark of the root, as the bark has higher alkaloid content. The bark contributes 40 -50% of the roots. The harvested roots are washed to remove the adhering soil and then air dried to reduce the moisture content from 60% to 8% for storage. The plants raised from seeds give maximum yield of roots than those raised vegetatively, Seedlings 1,175 kg/ha (rain fed air dry basis)

Stem cutting Root cuttings Active constituents:

175 kg/ha (rain fed air dry basis) 345 kg/ha (rain fed air dry basis)

The root owes its pharmacological activity to the presence of several alkaloids, of which reserpine is the most important. The total alkaloidal content of the roots ranges normally from 1.7 to 3.0%, which are mostly concentrated in the bark (about 90%).

dr_esreddy@yahoo.co.in 10 th Feb 2013

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