A Pharmacognostical Study Of Rauvolfia Caffra Sond Whole Root

Abstract

A microscopical examination of the powdered root was carried out and the observed diagnostic features recorded. The powdered root was extracted using suitable solvents and the extract showed the presence of alkaloids when it was tested using Dragendorff's reagent. T.L.C. was used qualitatively to show the presence of reserpine in the root extract using pure reserpine as the reference standard. Total alkaloidal content was determined by non-aqueous titration and was found to be 0.3048% W/W calculated as reserpine. Reserpine content was determined by u.v. spectrophotometric assay and was found to be 0.09% W/W, thus accounting for 29.5% W/W of the total alkaloids.