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This sheet was compiled from PubMed (NIH) abstracts using AI assistance. Every factual claim is cited to a real PubMed article (see the source list). It has not yet been human-reviewed — confirm with a healthcare provider before use.
Compiled from 30 PubMed articles · model: gemma4:31b
Summary
Rauvolfia vomitoria is a medicinal plant used in traditional African and Asian medicine for various conditions, including psychosis, diabetes, and hypertension [PMID:34592080, 33470534, 34335835].
Background
Rauvolfia vomitoria is an ethno-botanical plant widely distributed in tropical regions of Africa and Asia [PMID:37216495, 33470534].
Traditional uses
Traditional uses include the management of several human diseases, specifically psychosis [PMID:34592080], hypertension [PMID:34335835], infectious diarrhea [PMID:34007296], malaria [PMID:15814260], and the enhancement of male sexual and reproductive activity [PMID:31692024]. It is also used in Nigerian traditional medicine to treat type 2 diabetes, often as a tea combined with Citrus aurantium [PMID:38744382].
Active compounds
The plant contains monoterpene indole alkaloids, including reserpine, yohimbine, ajmaline, ajmalicine, and serpentine [PMID:33470534, 27437669]. Specific isolated alkaloids include rauvomitorine A-I, rauvines A and B, and rauvomine A-G [PMID:32580106, 33044757, 32827693]. Phenolic components and alpha-amyrin palmitate have also been identified [PMID:37216495, 7475126].
Mechanism of action
In vitro studies show inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), arginase, and ACE [PMID:37216495, 32738570]. It exhibits anti-diabetic activity through the inhibition of alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase [PMID:40156817]. Additionally, it demonstrates antioxidant properties, reducing free radicals and inhibiting lipid peroxidation [PMID:34592080].
Clinical evidence
Evidence DType 2 Diabetes
Rauvolfia-Citrus tea causes normalization of blood glucose and reduction of ectopic lipid accumulation in genetic diabetic mice and humans with T2D [PMID:38744382].
Evidence DSeizures
Phenol extract relieved pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures and protected temporal lobe structures in Swiss mice [PMID:40217363].
Evidence DColorectal Cancer
Total alkaloids (RVA) acted as a chemosensitizer for 5-fluorouracil, significantly reducing final tumor weight in mice [PMID:36174417, 36688051].
Evidence DSexual Performance
Ethanolic extract enhanced sexual behavior and reproductive function in male rats [PMID:31692024].
Evidence DInflammation/Arthritis
A combination of R. vomitoria root bark with other plants suppressed carrageenin-induced edema and reduced ankle swelling in rats [PMID:1921424, 1943160].
Evidence DMalaria
Safety & adverse effects
R. vomitoria root bark may adversely affect the brain functionally and structurally, as evidenced by decreased grooming frequency and altered amygdala microstructure in mice [PMID:32006225]. Acute toxicity tests at 2000 mg/kg in the Beninese flora study were conducted, though specific adverse outcomes for R. vomitoria were not detailed in the abstract [PMID:34007296].
Drug interactions
R. vomitoria total alkaloids (RVA) exhibit synergistic effects with 5-fluorouracil in colorectal cancer therapy [PMID:36174417] and certain sarpagine-type alkaloids show synergy with cisplatin against ovarian cancer cells [PMID:41313936, 42308054].
Evidence summary
The current evidence is primarily based on in vitro assays and animal models (Level D), with limited mention of human application in traditional tea formulations. No high-level clinical trials (RCTs) or systematic reviews were provided.
PubMed sources
1.PMID: 37216495 (2023) — Chemical composition, antioxidant, and enzyme inhibitory properties of Rauwolfia vomitoria extract. · Journal of complementary & integrative medicine
2.PMID: 40217363 (2024) — Rauvolfia vomitoria phenol extract relieves pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures in Swiss mice and protects some temporal lobe structures. · Acta epileptologica
3.PMID: 36688051 (2022) — Identification of chemosensitizing agents of colorectal cancer in Rauvolfia vomitoria using an NMR-based chemometric approach. · Frontiers in chemistry
4.PMID: 34592080 (2020) — Phenolic constituents and inhibitory effects of the leaf of Rauvolfia vomitoria Afzel on free radicals, cholinergic and monoaminergic enzymes in rat's brain in vitro. · Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology
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Ethanolic extracts showed significant antiplasmodial activity against chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum in vitro [PMID:15814260].
(2024)
— In Vitro and In Vivo Investigation of the Antidiabetic Mechanisms of Action of Rauvolfia vomitoria leaf.
· Nigerian journal of physiological sciences : official publication of the Physiological Society of Nigeria
6.PMID: 31692024 (2020) — In vivo effects of Rauvolfia vomitoria (Apocynaceae) ethanolic extract on sexual performance and reproductive activity in male rats. · Andrologia
7.PMID: 32738570 (2020) — Monoterpene indole alkaloids with acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity from the leaves of Rauvolfia vomitoria. · Bioorganic chemistry
8.PMID: 33044757 (2020) — Cytotoxic Yohimbine-Type Alkaloids from the Leaves of Rauvolfia vomitoria. · Chemistry & biodiversity
9.PMID: 36174417 (2022) — A serum metabolomics study based on LC-MS: Chemosensitization effects of Rauvolfia vomitoria Afzel. combined with 5- fluorouracil on colorectal cancer mice. · Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
10.PMID: 32827693 (2020) — Peraksine derivatives with potential anti-inflammatory activities from the stems of Rauvolfia vomitoria. · Fitoterapia
11.PMID: 27157629 (2016) — Why ritual plant use has ethnopharmacological relevance. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
12.PMID: 38416335 (2024) — Characterization, Anti-glycation, Anti-inflammation, and Lipase Inhibitory Properties of Rauvolfia vomitoria Leaf Extract: In Vitro and In Silico Evaluations for Obesity Treatment. · Applied biochemistry and biotechnology
13.PMID: 32580106 (2020) — Monoterpene indole alkaloids with diverse skeletons from the stems of Rauvolfia vomitoria and their acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities. · Phytochemistry
14.PMID: 28718654 (2017) — Rauvomines A and B, Two Monoterpenoid Indole Alkaloids from Rauvolfia vomitoria. · Organic letters
15.PMID: 33470534 (2021) — Simultaneous determination of five alkaloids from Rauvolfia vomitoria in rat plasma by LC-MS/MS: Application to a comparative pharmacokinetic study in normal and type 2 diabetic rats. · Journal of separation science
16.PMID: 38744382 (2024) — Standardization parameters and synergism of source plant materials for the antidiabetic efficacy of the Rauvolfia-Citrus tea. · Fitoterapia
17.PMID: 35596240 (2020) — Attenuation of potassium dichromate and sodium arsenite toxicities by methanol extract of Rauvolfia vomitoria in mice. · Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology
18.PMID: 42308054 (2026) — Diverse Monoterpene Indole Alkaloids with Unprecedented Chemical Architectures from Rauvolfia vomitoria and Their Potential as Cisplatin Sensitizers. · The Journal of organic chemistry
19.PMID: 41872917 (2026) — Diabetes mellitus in ECOWAS: an overview of the safety and efficacy of medicinal plants used in traditional medicine practices. · Tropical medicine and health
20.PMID: 32006225 (2020) — Murine's amygdala microstructure and elevated plus maze activities following R. vomitoria root bark and G. latifolium leaf extracts administration. · Anatomical science international
21.PMID: 34007296 (2021) — Toxicological Characterization of Ten Medicinal Plants of the Beninese Flora Used in the Traditional Treatment of Diarrheal Diseases. · Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
22.PMID: 19619631 (2009) — Mutagenic screening of some commonly used medicinal plants in Nigeria. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
23.PMID: 35270103 (2022) — Ethnobotanical Survey of Local Flora Used for Medicinal Purposes among Indigenous People in Five Areas in Lagos State, Nigeria. · Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
24.PMID: 41313936 (2026) — SMART-guided discovery of Sarpagine-type monoterpene indole alkaloids from Rauvolfia vomitoria and the synergistic effects with cisplatin against human ovarian cancer cells. · Bioorganic chemistry
25.PMID: 27437669 (2016) — Simultaneous Determination of Bioactive Monoterpene Indole Alkaloids in Ethanolic Extract of Seven Rauvolfia Species using UHPLC with Hybrid Triple Quadrupole Linear Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry. · Phytochemical analysis : PCA
26.PMID: 1921424 (1991) — Antiinflammatory activity of a Ghanaian antiarthritic herbal preparation: I. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
27.PMID: 1943160 (1991) — Antiinflammatory activity of a Ghanaian antiarthritic herbal preparation: II. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
28.PMID: 34335835 (2021) — Ethnopharmacological Survey on Treatment of Hypertension by Traditional Healers in Bukavu City, DR Congo. · Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
29.PMID: 7475126 (1995) — Antiinflammatory activity of a Ghanaian antiarthritic herbal preparation: III. · Journal of ethnopharmacology
30.PMID: 15814260 (2005) — In vitro antiplasmodial activity and cytotoxicity of 33 West African plants used for treatment of malaria. · Journal of ethnopharmacology