reserpine

re·ser·pine  (r-sûrpn, -pn, rsr-pn, -pn, rz-)

n.

A white to yellowish powder, C₃₃H₄₀N₂O₉, isolated from the roots of certain species of rauwolfia and used as a sedative and an antihypertensive.

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[German Reserpin, from shortening and alteration of New Latin Rauwolfia serpentna, species of snakeroot : rauwolfia + Late Latin serpentna, feminine of serpentnus, serpentine; see serpentine.]

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reserpine [ˈrɛsəpɪn]

n

(Medicine / Pharmacology) an insoluble alkaloid, extracted from the roots of the plant Rauwolfia serpentina, used medicinally to lower blood pressure and as a sedative and tranquillizer. Its main adverse effect is mental depression. Formula: C₃₃H₄₀N₂O₉

[from German Reserpin, probably from the New Latin name of the plant]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

reserpine - antihypertensive consisting of an alkaloid extracted from the plant Rauwolfia serpentina (trade names Raudixin or Rau-Sed or Sandril or Serpasil) Rau-Sed, Raudixin, Sandril, Serpasil antihypertensive, antihypertensive drug - a drug that reduces high blood pressure rauwolfia - any of several alkaloids extracted from the shrub Rauwolfia serpentina