In traditional herbal medicine, the roots of this plant are used in the treatment of hypertension.(Uphof. J. C. The Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959) The roots yield up to 1.3% medically active alkaloids, as well as oleoresin and the sterol serposterol. The alkaloid rauwolfine has been shown to decrease the heart rate. Several alkaloids, including serpentine, neoajmaline and isoajmaline, produce a fall in blood pressure. Serpentine also causes an increase in the tone of the small intestine and decrease in the peristaltic contractions of the intestine. The alkaloid-free oleoresin extract from the roots produces sedative and hypnotic effects. Reserpine, a highly active alkaloid, shows a very marked hypnotic effect and lowers blood pressure[Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants ] 240Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants 46 Uphof. J. C. The Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959

http://www.pfaf.org, https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Rauvolfia+serpentina

R serpentina was used in folk medicine in India for centuries to treat a wide variety of maladies, including snake and insect bites, febrile conditions, malaria, abdominal pain, and dysentery. It was also used as a uterine stimulant, febrifuge, and cure for insanity. The plant was mentioned in Indian manuscripts as long ago as 1000 bc and is also known as sarpagandha and chandrika

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4566472/

Asia-Tropical, Indian Subcontinent, Assam

Asia-Tropical, Indian Subcontinent, Bangladesh

Asia-Tropical, Indian Subcontinent, India

Asia-Tropical, Indian Subcontinent, East Himalaya

Asia-Tropical, Indian Subcontinent, Nepal

Asia-Tropical, Indian Subcontinent, Laccadive Is.

Asia-Tropical, Indo-China, Andaman Is.

Asia-Tropical, Indo-China, Cambodia

Asia-Tropical, Indo-China, Laos

Asia-Tropical, Indo-China, Myanmar

Asia-Tropical, Indo-China, Vietnam

Asia-Tropical, Indo-China, Thailand

Asia-Tropical, Malesia, Jawa

Asia-Tropical, Malesia, Lesser Sunda Is.