The document summarizes key details about the Apocynaceae family of plants. It notes that many species in this family contain milky sap and alkaloids that can be toxic if ingested but are also used medicinally. The family includes trees, shrubs, climbers, and rare herbs distributed worldwide, especially in subtropical and temperate regions. Two specific genera are highlighted, Rauwolfia and Catharanthus, which contain important medically useful alkaloids like reserpine, ajmaline, vincristine, and vinblastine that are used to treat conditions like hypertension, arrhythmias, tumors, and leukemia.

1. APOCYNACEAE FAMILY

2. • Many of these plants have milky sap and many
species are poisonous if ingested.
• The plants in this family have diverse
alkaloids which have lead to their toxicity and
to their use in medicine.

3. • Apocynaceae are mostly trees, shrubs or
climbers rarely perennial herb. It comprises
comprising about 355 genera and 3700 species
• HABIT:
Plants are perennials herbs.
• HABITAT:
It is widely distributed all over the world
that especially abundant in sub-tropical and
temperate regions

4. • STEM:
Aerial, erect or climbing, cylindrical or
angular, herbaceous, woody usually solid
• LEAVES:
Simple, alternate or whorled, exstipulate.

5. • INFLORESCENCE:
Usually cymose and cyme may be axillary or
terminal.
• FLOWER:
Regular, bisexual, Hypogynous, Bracteate and
pentamerous
• CALYX:
5 sepals, gamosepalous mostly 5- lobed.

6. • COROLLA:
Usually 5 petals rarely 4 gamopetalous.
• ANDROCEIUM:
5 stamens rarely 4, epipetalous, polyandrous

7. • GYNAECIUM:
Bicarpillary, Apocarpous or syncarpous,
ovary superior, placentation axile may be
marginal, parietal and axile.

8. • FRUIT:
Berries or drupes.
• SEED:
Endospermic

9. RAUWOLFIA

10. • BOTANICAL ORIGION: Rauwolfia
serpentina
• Common Name: Snake root, Chandrika.
• Part used: Dried roots and rhizomes
• Habit: Shrub
• Habitat: Found in Pakistan, India and Burma.
• Constituents:
Mainly contain alkaloidal bases and
from which more than 80 alkaloids have been
separated.
The major alkaloids are

11. Reserpine
Ajmaline
Serpentine
Serpentinine
Yohambinine
Other constituents are
Phytosterols
Fatty acids
Unsaturated alcohols
Sugars

12. • MEDICINAL USES:
Hypnotic
Sedative
Antihypertensive
Ajmaline in Japan is used for the treatment of
cardiac arrhythmias.
It has depressant effect on CNS
It is also used in certain neuro-psychotic
disorders

13. CATHARANTHUS

14. • BOTANICAL ORIGION: Catharanthus
roseus, Vinca rosea
• Common Name: Vinca rosea, Catharanthus
• Part used: Dried whole plant
• Habit: Perennial herb
• Habitat: Found in many tropical and
subtropical regions esp. in South and North
America, Australia, India.
• Constituents:
Alkaloids are present in whole herb
but leaves and roots contain more alkaloids.

15. Important alkaloids are
Ajmaline
Serpentine
Lochnerine
Vincristine
Vinblastine
It also contains
Monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes
Indole and Indoline glycosides

16. • MEDICINAL USES:
Vinblastine is an anti tumor alkaloid and
used in the treatment of Hodgkin’s
disease.
Vincristine is a cytotoxic compound and
used to treat leukemia in children.
As Astringent
As tonic
In diabetes
In bleeding piles used externally as well as
internally.