Effect of reserpine-free extract of Rauwolfia serpentina on stress-induced activation of adrenal cortex.

Previous observations on rats have shown that reserpine free extract of R. Serpentina prevents the stress induced activation of adrenal cortex. The therapeutic success of R. Serpentina in clinical hypertension has stimulated extensive research recently. It has been observed that the drug has, in addition to the well marked hypotensive action, a tranquillising influence on the patient. Results of a comparative study of the therapeutic effects of total extracts and of reserpine alone in hypertensives have shown that some patients have a preference for the former to the latter. In fact, in one of the instances cited by Wilkins, the patient was actually able to “guess” as to which of the two preparations she was receiving. It was, therefore, felt that fractions other than reserpine present in the total extract might have some action distinct from the hypotensive effect of the purified active principle.