Varieties and Genuses

There is a variety which is a collection from the wild known as Rauvolfia which unfortunately is declining due to its importance in the medicinal uses.

Plant Description

• Leaves
  Its leaves are large, in whorls of three. The above is dark green while its pale green below.
• Flowers
  The flowers are white, pinkish or red, occurring in whorls.
• Fruits
  Its fruit are tiny, oval, fleshy which turn a shiny purple-black when ripe.
• Height on Maturity
  This crop grows at an elevation of 1200 to 1300 metres.

Habitat

It’s a large climbing tree found in the tropical Himalayas and plains near the foot of the hills.

• ClimateThe crop thrives best in tropical to sub-tropical regions under frost free conditions and required irrigation.Humid and warm climate are best suited for Sarpagandha cultivation.
• Soil
  The nature of the soil varies from acidic to neutral with medium to deep-well drained black soils rich in organic matters.They can grow in sandy,loamy soils to clay loamy soils rich in humus.The ideal soil pH for growing Sarpagandha is about 4.7 to 6.5.

Usefulness of the plant

Medicinal uses

• Sarpagandha can be used in serpent wood which is popular among woodcarving
• The root is used in herbal medicines for treating high blood pressure,nervousness,insomnia and many mental disorders
• The plant root is used to treat snakes and reptile bites,fever,constipation,feverish intestinal diseases,liver ailments and painful joints
• Rauwolfia Serpentine (also known as Indian snakeroot or devil pepper is one of the varieties of Sarpagandha) was used as a pharmaceutical drug in Western medicines earlier for treating high blood pressures and mental disorders.It is an effective remedy to treat gastro-intestinal ailments and as a cure for acne. The plant contains a very important chemical, Reserpine
• Sarpagandha acts as a tranquilizer and has been used in India for a long duration to treat mental disorders like Paranoia and Schizophrenia
• About 80 alkaloids have been identified from these Rauvolfia species. Detailed study on the chemistry of these alkaloids their pharmacodynamics have proved their essential usage in hypertension and neuropsychiatric conditions

Chemical isolated from the plant

The plant contains a multitude of compounds like alkaloids,glycosides etc. Alkaloid are extracted from roots and leaves confirmed by the chemical tests. These exert physiological and therapeutic effects. The root powder contains a percentage of alkaloids. Reserpine is an alkaloid isolated from Serpentine which was widely used as an antihypertensive drug. The plant contains several bioactive chemicals, including ajmaline, deserpidine, rescinnamine, serpentinite, and yohimbine. The useful parts are roots and leaves.

Cultivation

Sarpagandha can be propagated through seeds,stem cuttings,root stumps and soot cuttings.The seeds are collected during January and February months and dried immediately under shade.The seeds are rubbed vigorously to remove the plumpy matter.

• Sowing Method
  
  1. Seed Propagation -Freshly collected heavy seeds provide more germination as compared to previously collected seeds.
  2. Stem Cutting Propagation - (The hard wood stem cutting of the plant with 15-20 cm length are closely planted during June in the nursery beds.The beds are maintained with persistent moisture conditions.After germination,the plants are transplanted to the main field.
  3. Root Cutting Propagation -The 5 cm long root cuttings are planted on nursery beds with well decomposed farmyard manure,sand and saw-dust.The beds are continuously watered to preserve the moisture quotient.The root cuttings sprout within 20 days after planting.The cuttings are transplanted in the main field during rainy season for better root establishment.
  4. Root Stumps Propagation - The stem portion is transplanted above the collar with 5 cm of roots directly in the field under irrigated conditions.
• Land Preparation
  The Land is well prepared by providing deep ploughings to it. Any unnecessary rocks,weeds are removed from it.
• Irrigation
  Sarpagandha is grown in regions where rainfall usually occurs hence the water is evenly distributed of above 150 cm.This crop can be grown as a rain-fed crop under sub-tropical conditions or irrigated crop.It requires a total of 16-17 irrigations throughout its growth period.
• Manure
  Natural fertilizers help in yielding more produce e.g;cow-dung, garden manures, green manures are used for the growth of medicinal plants.
• Intercultural Operations
  Timely Intercultural operations is essential for Sarpagandha cultivation. Weeding is an extremely important step and this plant needs 6-7 weedings. Defloration on the other hand is used for better root growth and yield.If the crop is grown for seed cultivation then that specific area is left without defloration. The last leg being Intercropping which can help farmers earn some extra money. Since it’s a shade loving plant, it can be planted as inter-crop amongst other plantation crops.
• Weed control and Pest Management
  Controlling pests and diseases is essential to any crop cultivation. Root Knots,Nematodes,caterpillars are common insect pests found in Sarpagandha plants. Leaf Spot and Alternaria tenuis are also the most common diseases found in this plantation.
• Harvest Management
  The Sarpagandha crop matures in 2-3 years after planting in the field. Harvesting is done by digging up the roots and thin roots are collected. The harvested roots are cleaned and washed before bring cut to 12-14 cm pieces for drying and storing. The dried roots are then stored in gunny bags in a cool and a dry shelf.

Commercial Benefits

Due to the over-harvesting of this plant, there is an emerging demand for the cultivation of Sarpagandha. Officially called the ‘Wonder Drug of India’ one of the varieties, Sarpagandha Ghanvati is a classical Ayurvedic formulation widely prescribed for anxiety and insomnia in India. Reserpine which is one of the chemicals in Indian snakeroot is the same as a prescription drug called reserpine. The cultivation of Sarpagandha (wild and cultivated varieties) is profitable. One can start growing Sarpagandha with a small piece of land.The farming demands comparatively small input capital investment.

A major part of the commercial supply of this drug used in the USA and European countries originates from India, Pakistan, Sri lanka, Myanmar, Burma and Thailand, with India being the major supplier. There is also a great demand for the alkaloids as well as the raw drug in the international market. The world requirement of dried Sarpagandha roots is around 20000 t/annum. The consumption of the raw drug is substantial in the indigenous drug market.

Due to the over-harvesting of this plant, there is an emerging demand for the cultivation of Sarpagandha globally and for the same reason the natural reserves of the plant is declining due to over exploitation by the local people. In India, Government of India has prohibited the collection of plants growing in wild in forests and its export since 1969. For the fulfilment of the present and future demand, this plant needs to be cultivated scientifically at a commercial scale.