Rauvolfia serpentina

Rauvolfia serpentina, the Indian snakeroot or devil pepper, is a species of flower in the milkweed family Apocynaceae. It is native to the Indian subcontinent and East Asia (from India to Indonesia). Rauvolfia is a perennial undershrub widely distributed in India in the sub-Himalayan regions up to 1,000 metres (3,300 ft). English: serpentine woodBengali: Chandra; Hindi: Chandrabagha, Chota chand; Kannada: Patalagondhi, Sarpagandhi, Shivavabhiballi, Sutranavi;Malayalam: Chuvanna-vilpori, Suvapavalforiyan; Tamil: Chivan amelpodi;Telgu: Paataala garuda, Paataala goni; Indonesia: Pule pandak Rauvolfia serpentina contains dozens of alkaloids of the indole alkaloid family, including ajmaline, ajmalicine, reserpine, and serpentine, among others. R. serpentina may cause adverse effects by interacting with various prescription drugs or via interference with mechanisms of mental depression or peptic ulcer. The reserpine in R. serpentina is associated with diverse adverse effects, including vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, anxiety, or hypersensitivity reactions. The wood, commonly known as serpentwood, is mildly popular amongst woodcarving and woodturning hobbyists.