The generic name is often mis-spelt as Rauwolfia[].

Common Name:

General Information

Rauvolfia caffra is a tree with a dense crown; it can grow up to 40 metres tall. The straight bole can be slightly buttressed, it is up to 1 metre in diameter[, , ].
The plant is harvested from the wild mainly for local medicinal use, though it also provides a fibre, wood and a flavouring for beer. It is used as a shade tree in plantations and has potential for use in agroforestry systems. A decorative fast-growing tree for sheltered gardens, it is grown as an ornamental shade tree in southern Africa[, ].

Known Hazards

Although we have seen no specific information for this species, most if not all members of this genus contain poisonous alkaloids[].

Botanical References

Range

Africa - Togo to Sudan, Uganda and Kenya, south to Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Swaziland and S. Africa.

Habitat

Rainforest, riverine forest, montane forest and old secondary forest, at elevations from sea-level up to 2,500 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	25.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

The plant is found from the tropics to the subtropics, where it grows at elevations up to 2,500 metres. It grows in areas where the mean temperatures range from 16 - 24°c and the mean annual rainfall from 500 - 1,270mm[]. It is intolerant of frost[].
The plant needs shade when young; old trees, however, do not tolerate shade[]. It appears to prefer fairly fertile soils that are well drained. It grows in the wild on loamy sands to sandy clay-loam soils. When growing away from rivers and streams it is always associated with the availability of ground water[, ].
Young trees transplant well[].
When established, the plants have a fast growth rate that can be up to 1.5metres a year[].
Roots may be harvested annually in a non-destructive way by cutting them 10cm from the taproot. All plant partsare harvested whenever the need arises[].
The tree should not be grown near houses, pavements etc because of its large size and invasive root system[]
The plant can be coppiced or pollarded[, ].

Edible Uses

An extract from the root and the powdered stem bark are added to a local beer made from cooking bananas in order to add a bitter flavour and to increase the alcohol percentage of the drink[, ].

Medicinal

The bark is commonly used in local medicine, especially in east Africa. Much research has been carried out into the compounds contained in the plant, many of them supporting the traditional uses.
The plant contains a large number of indole alkaloids. The total alkaloid content of young root bark is 3%, with the major components ajmaline (1.25%) and serpentine (1.09%), followed by ajmalicine (0.16%), reserpine (0.08%), reserpinine (0.02%) and reserpiline (0.01%)[].
The principal alkaloids from the stem bark are ajmaline, norajmaline, ajmalicinine, ajmalicine, and geissoschizol[].
The principal alkaloids isolated from the leaves are from the less common indolenine type (raucaffrinoline, perakine and vomilenine) and from the peraksine type (peraksine and dihydroperaksine)[].
The seeds yielded 0.012% alkaloids, comprising mainly yohimbine and related compounds, and normacusine B[].
Five of the Rauvolfia alkaloids are used in Western medicine: reserpine, reserpinine, deserpidine, ajmalicine and ajmaline[].
Reserpine, now no longer widely used, is a well-known antihypertensive, antipsychotic and sedative, although an important side effect is depression[].
Reserpinine and deserpidine are reserpine analogues. Both alkaloids have the same effects as reserpine, and can be used to treat the same conditions, but their side effects are reported to be less pronounced[].
Ajmalicine is an alpha-adrenergic blocking spasmolytic which, at high doses, reverses the effects of adrenaline, and moderates the activity of the vasomotor centres, especially in the brain stem. It causes an increase of the blood flow to the brain. Ajmalicine is mainly used in products that treat the psychological and behavioural problems associated with senility, as well as stroke and head injuries[].
Ajmaline is an anti-arrhythmic, which substantially decreases the rate of depolarization of atrial and ventricular cells. Its toxicity has limited its uses and it is mainly prescribed against rapid irregular cardiac beat, and some other cardiac dysfunctions. Because of its toxicity it is no longer marketed in several countries[].
The root extract showed antibacterial activity against Enterobacter cloacae in vitro, but was not active against a range of other human pathogens[].
The stem bark extract showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureusin vitro[].
The root extract showed low to moderate activity against Plasmodium falciparum in vitro[].
The stem bark or roots of Rauvolfia caffra can be used fresh or dried and powdered and stored in a closed container for later use. The leaves are usually used fresh[].

A bark decoction is used in traditional medicine as an astringent, purgative or emetic to treat fever, swellings, rheumatism, hepatitis, pneumonia, abdominal pain and as a tranquilizer. A piece of bark is chewed to cure cough and toothache[]. The vapour of a bark decoction is inhaled to treat epilepsy and eye diseases. The stem bark is used to treat venereal diseases[]. A decoction of the bark is taken as a tranquilizer for hysteria, and to treat insomnia[].
The crushed bark is applied against measles or itching rash[].

The dried, powdered leaves are sniffed as a cure for headache[].

A root decoction is taken to treat fever, swollen legs, insomnia and palpitation of the heart. The root is used for treating insomnia and insecurity[]. A root decoction is taken to treat abdominal pain, constipation and irregular periods or hypertension[].

A root or bark decoction cooked in porridge is applied to hardened abscesses[]. A stem or root bark decoction is taken to treat internal parasites, such as roundworm and tapeworm[].

The powdered, unopened inflorescences are applied to sores[].

The root sap, mixed with honey, is applied to fractures[].

The sap of pounded fruits is used as ear drops to cure earache[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is used to provide shade in coffee plantations, and is an important species in bee keeping in Tanzania due to its multitude of flowers[, ].
It has prospects as a shade tree in agroforestry systems in East Africa, especially in highland systems with coffee and banana. Its invasive root system, however, requires further study[].
When growing away from rivers and streams it is always associated with available ground water, therefore it is regarded as an indicator of water[].

Other Uses

The bark contains a fibre which is used to make bow strings and cords[].

The wood is yellowish-white with only a small heartwood. It is soft, moderately light in weight and takes nails well. It is suitable for making fruit boxes, kitchen furniture and shelving. Household utensils and drums are sometimes carved from it and it is also used as poles in traditional buildings and for making bee hives[, , ].
The tree is a good source of fuel[, ].

Propagation

Seed -
Rauvolfia caffra regenerates by seed, cuttings and suckers. The number of seeds/kg is 4,500-5,000. Before sowing, the fruit pulp is removed by washing the seeds in water. The seeds are sown in seedling trays filled with a mixture of river sand and compost (1:1), and covered with a thin layer of sand or left on the surface. Germination is fast and reaches up to 80% after two weeks. The seedlings are transplanted into nursery beds when they reach the 3-leaf stage and are 25-30 cm tall. They need regular watering for the first3 months after transplanting into the field. Seeds retain viability only for a short period of about 1 month at room temperature, although other sources mention that seed germinates even after staying on the forest floor for a long time[].

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