Rauvolfia verticillata 蘿芙木

POISONOUS PARTS

Roots, bark and leaves.^3,4

TOXICITY

• Toxic Constituents

  Not identified.

• Mechanism

  R. verticillata contains reserpine and yohimbine. Reserpine inhibits vesicular monoamine transporter, resulting in reduced action of catecholamines in tissues. Yohimbine is an antagonist at α-2 adrenergic receptors. However, as there are no reported human cases of poisoning, it remains inconclusive with regard to the mechanism of toxicity and the role of reserpine and yohimbine.³

• Poisoning Features

  No definite cases of R. verticillata poisoning have been reported.

CLINICAL MANAGEMENT

Supportive treatment.

IDENTIFICATION FEATURES

Shrubs, up to 3 m tall. Branchlets pale grey, lenticellate. Lower leaves opposite, terminal leaves in whorls of 3 or 4; petioles 0.5–1.5 cm long; leaf blades 3.5–25 × 5–13 cm, nearly papery to membranous. Cymes 3–9 flowered; peduncle 2–15 cm long. Corolla white; tubes 1–1.8 cm long, inflated and villous from middle to throat; lobes 1–4.5 mm. Drupes about 10 × 5 mm.⁵

MEDICINAL USES

Uses in TCM—roots: dispel wind and heat, reduce the liver heat, disperse swelling and remove toxin, tranquilise mind; branches and leaves: clear heat and remove toxin, activate blood and disperse swelling. Recommended dose: roots 10–30 g, branches and leaves 15–30 g.^2,6,7

LABORATORY ANALYSIS

Reserpine and yohimbine can be detected by HPLC-DAD, GC-MS, LC-MS/MS and CE.^8–10