Contents: Part I Pharmacognosy,Foreword,Preface,Acknowledgement,Variation in alkaloid contents,The pharmacognosy of rauvolfia roots,Alkaloids from rauvolfia species,Synonyms of rauvolfia alkaloids,Part II Biogenesis of rauvolfia alkaloids,Biogenesis of rauvolfia alkaloids,Metabolism,excretion and mode of action of reserpine,serpentine,and rescinnamine,Therapeutic and bio-assay of rauvolfia preparation,Rauvolfia preparations,The drug of commerce,Side effect of rauvolfia drugs,Rauvolfia serpentina benth in Ayurvedic,Unani and home medicine,Index.