Snakewood

Authors:Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer, Prof. Dr. med. Martina Bacharach-Buhles

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Last updated on: 22.01.2025

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Synonym(s)

Java Devil's Pepper; Rauvolfia serpentina; Rauwolfia serpentia

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DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.

The snakewood, also known as Rauwolfia serpentia, is an evergreen plant in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae). It contains a milky sap and grows up to 1 m high, has a white, smooth bark, reddish petals, pea-sized red stone fruits that later turn black and are 8 mm in size. However, the snakewood is not identical to the black cohosh or wild snakewood. Its original home is in India. From there, the distribution area has expanded to Indonesia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Exporting the plant from India has been banned since 1997.

Rauwolfiae radix has been used phytotherapeutically. Cave: pronounced sympatholytic and centrally sedative.

Cosmetics: Root extracts of the plant are used in cosmetic formulations under the INCI designation"Rauwolfia serpentina (root) extract". These have a calming, skin-caring and astringent effect.

LiteratureThis section has been translated automatically.

  1. https://www.awl.ch/heilpflanzen/rauvolfia_serpentina/schlangenwurzel.htm
  2. Blaschek W (2015) Wichtl tea drugs and phytopharmaceuticals. A handbook for practice. Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft Munich. S 543-545

Authors

Last updated on: 22.01.2025

Authors: Prof. Dr. med. Peter AltmeyerProf. Dr. med. Martina Bacharach-Buhles