Sarpagandhi (Rauwolfia serpantinae), Indian Bazaar Medicine

One of the first Indian medicinal plants that stimulated a great deal of interest from biomedicine is the bazaar medicine Sarpagandhi (Rauwolfia serpantinae). In traditional medicine Sarpagandhi is used for insomnia, snake bite, mental stress, digestive disorders and to induce uterine contractions. The major active ingredient of Sarpagandhi, the Indole alkaloid Reserpine, was a key compound that contributed to understanding the molecular mechanism of neurotransmitters.