reserpine

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reserpine

reserpine , alkaloid isolated from the root of the snakeroot plant ( Rauwolfia serpentina ), a small evergreen climbing shrub of the dogbane family native to the Indian subcontinent. Known in India as Sarpaganda, it was used for centuries to treat insanity as well as physical illnesses such as fevers and snakebites. After its isolation in 1952 it was used to lower high blood pressure , but its property of producing severe depression as a side effect also made it useful in psychiatry as a tranquilizer in the control of agitated psychotic patients. It has largely been replaced in psychiatric use by the phenothiazine tranquilizers, although it is still used as an experimental tool in the study of psychosis. Reserpine causes many toxic side effects including nightmares, Parkinsonism (see Parkinson's disease ), and gastrointestinal disturbances.

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reserpine

A Dictionary of Plant Sciences | 1998 | | Â© A Dictionary of Plant Sciences 1998, originally published by Oxford University Press 1998. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

reserpine See RAUVOLFIA.

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MICHAEL ALLABY. "reserpine." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 9 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL ALLABY. "reserpine." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (November 9, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-reserpine.html

MICHAEL ALLABY. "reserpine." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Retrieved November 09, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-reserpine.html

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Rauvolfia

A Dictionary of Plant Sciences | 1998 | | Â© A Dictionary of Plant Sciences 1998, originally published by Oxford University Press 1998. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Rauvolfia (family Apocynaceae) A genus of shrubs or small trees, some species of which, especially R. serpentina, produce the alkaloid reserpine, used to counteract high blood pressure. There are 110 species, with a pantropical distribution.

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MICHAEL ALLABY. "Rauvolfia." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Retrieved November 09, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-Rauvolfia.html

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