Beljanski® ingredient
What Is Rauwolfia Vomitoria?
An African Plant With a Complex Chemistry
Rauwolfia vomitoria—botanically spelled Rauvolfia vomitoria—is an African shrub or tree belonging to the Apocynaceae family.
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew recognizes it as an accepted botanical species native from West Tropical Africa through parts of Central and East Africa to Tanzania and Angola.1
Sometimes called African snakeroot, it should not be confused with the Asian species Rauwolfia serpentina. Maison Beljanski uses a reserpine-free Rauwolfia vomitoria extract, standardized for alstonine, in Rovol V®, Womabel®, Prostabel® and OnKobel-Pro®.
Source: Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (taxon 81673-1)
tropical Africa
- Apocynaceae family · native to tropical Africa
- At least 72 naturally occurring alkaloids
- Beljanski® preparation: reserpine undetectable, standardized for alstonine
- U.S. regulatory history since 1997
Rauwolfia vomitoria contains a complex family of naturally occurring alkaloids. One published analysis isolated 43 indole alkaloids from its stem bark and reported at least 72 alkaloids occurring in the plant.2
Source: Kumar S, Kumari D, Singh B. Genus Rauvolfia: a review… J Ethnopharmacol. 2022;295:115327. PMID: 35504505
What is Reserpine?
Reserpine is one of the best-known Rauwolfia alkaloids.
It has powerful pharmacological effects and became historically important as an antihypertensive drug. Its chemistry and pharmacology have been studied extensively since the 1950s.3
Source: Schlittler E, et al. Chemistry of Rauwolfia alkaloids, including reserpine. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1954;59(1):1-7. PMID: 13198034
Why is the Beljanski® Extract Reserpine-Free?
Rauwolfia vomitoria is naturally rich in active plant compounds called alkaloids. One of the best known is reserpine, a powerful compound historically used as a pharmaceutical drug for high blood pressure.
Dr. Mirko Beljanski was interested in something different.
His research focused on other compounds in Rauwolfia, including alstonine. He developed a distinctive preparation designed to remove reserpine while retaining a different profile of naturally occurring alkaloids.
reserpine
The best-known Rauwolfia alkaloid, with powerful pharmacological effects. Undetectable in the Beljanski® preparation.
alstonine
One of the compounds of particular interest in the Beljanski® preparation, which is standardized for it.
The result
A reserpine-free Rauwolfia vomitoria extract standardized for alstonine, used for nearly 30 years and supplied for academic research.
Why Remove Reserpine?
Because Reserpine Has Powerful Pharmacological Effects
Reserpine isn’t simply another plant compound.
It has been used as a pharmaceutical drug for high blood pressure and has significant effects on the nervous and cardiovascular systems. NIH’s PubChem identifies reserpine as an alkaloid naturally occurring in Rauvolfia serpentina and R. vomitoria and as an antihypertensive agent.4
Sources: PubChem CID 5770, Reserpine · La Barre J. Therapie. 1958;13(4):698-712. PMID: 13603408
alstonineIndole alkaloid · Rauwolfia vomitoria
What is Alstonine?
Alstonine is an indole alkaloid that has been independently investigated for decades.
A peer-reviewed Oxford University Press review discusses its chemistry and pharmacological properties and identifies Rauwolfia vomitoria among the African Rauwolfia species associated with alstonine.6
It is one of the compounds of particular interest in the Beljanski® preparation.
Mirko Beljanski developed a specific Rauwolfia preparation, designed to remove reserpine while retaining other alkaloids of interest. Peer-reviewed research using the extract supplied by Maison Beljanski describes the preparation as standardized by HPLC for alstonine, with reserpine undetectable.7
Sources: Elisabetsky E, Costa-Campos L. The alkaloid alstonine: a review. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2006;3(1):39-48. PMID: 16550222 · Huang G, et al. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2022;22(1):125. PMID: 35513857
The Same Preparation is Used in Research
The reserpine-free Rauwolfia extract available through Maison Beljanski is also supplied for academic scientific research.
Published researchers have independently documented the Maison Beljanski preparation as:7
For those interested in what researchers have investigated using the preparation, The Beljanski Foundation provides access to the published scientific literature.
Scientific studies investigate specific preparations under defined experimental conditions and should not be interpreted as evidence that a dietary supplement diagnoses, treats, cures or prevents disease.
- Reserpine undetectable
- Standardized for alstonine
- Quality-controlled for pesticides and heavy metals
- Tested for bacteria, yeast and mold
1997FDA New Dietary Ingredient notification
Nearly 30 Years of Continuity
The Beljanski® Rauwolfia preparation isn’t a recent addition.
Rovol V® / Rauwolfia vomitoria has a documented U.S. regulatory history dating to 1997, when Natural Source International submitted it as a New Dietary Ingredient to the FDA.
Nearly three decades later, the reserpine-free preparation remains at the heart of several Beljanski® formulas.
FDA NDI #13. An NDI notification does not constitute FDA approval or endorsement.
Beljanski® products
Find Rauwolfia in Beljanski® Products
Does Rauwolfia vomitoria contain reserpine?
The plant does. Reserpine is one of the best-known alkaloids in Rauwolfia vomitoria. The Beljanski® preparation is different: it is made to remove reserpine, and peer-reviewed research using the extract describes reserpine as undetectable by HPLC, with the preparation standardized for alstonine.7
What is Rauwolfia vomitoria used for?
Rauwolfia vomitoria has a long history of traditional use in West and Central Africa, and its alkaloids have been studied since the 1950s. Today the reserpine-free Beljanski® extract is used as a dietary supplement ingredient in Rovol V®, Womabel®, Prostabel® and OnKobel-Pro®, and is supplied for academic research. Suggested use for each supplement is given on its label.
Is Rauwolfia vomitoria the same as Rauwolfia serpentina?
No. They are different species. Rauvolfia vomitoria is native to tropical Africa, while Rauvolfia serpentina (Indian snakeroot) is primarily native to South and Southeast Asia. Maison Beljanski uses Rauwolfia vomitoria.
Why are there two spellings: Rauwolfia and Rauvolfia?
Rauvolfia is the botanical spelling currently accepted by Kew, while Rauwolfia is widely used in scientific, historical and commercial literature. Maison Beljanski has historically used Rauwolfia vomitoria.
What does “standardized for alstonine” mean?
Each batch of the Beljanski® extract is analyzed by HPLC so that its alstonine content falls within a defined range, which keeps the preparation consistent from batch to batch. Alstonine is an indole alkaloid naturally present in Rauwolfia vomitoria.
Are there precautions when taking a Rauwolfia vomitoria supplement?
Follow the suggested use on the product label. Consult a healthcare practitioner before use if you are pregnant, nursing, have a medical condition or are taking prescription medication, and keep supplements out of reach of children.
References
-
Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Rauvolfia vomitoria Afzel., taxon 81673-1.
Plants of the World Online -
Kumar S, Kumari D, Singh B. Genus Rauvolfia: A review of its ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, quality control/quality assurance, pharmacological activities and clinical evidence. J Ethnopharmacol. 2022;295:115327. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2022.115327.
PMID: 35504505 -
Schlittler E, MacPhillamy HB, Dorfman L, et al. Chemistry of Rauwolfia alkaloids, including reserpine. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1954;59(1):1-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1954.tb45913.x.
PMID: 13198034 -
National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Summary for CID 5770, Reserpine.
PubChem -
La Barre J. A propos des propriétés pharmacodynamiques des extraits de Rauwolfia Vomitoria non reserpinés [The pharmacodynamic properties of reserpine-free extracts of Rauwolfia vomitoria]. Therapie. 1958;13(4):698-712. French.
PMID: 13603408 -
Elisabetsky E, Costa-Campos L. The alkaloid alstonine: a review of its pharmacological properties. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2006;3(1):39-48. doi: 10.1093/ecam/nek011.
PMID: 16550222 -
Huang G, He X, Xue Z, et al. Rauwolfia vomitoria extract suppresses benign prostatic hyperplasia by inducing autophagic apoptosis through endoplasmic reticulum stress. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2022;22(1):125. doi: 10.1186/s12906-022-03610-4.
PMID: 35513857 -
Yu J, Ma Y, Drisko J, Chen Q. Antitumor Activities of Rauwolfia vomitoria Extract and Potentiation of Carboplatin Effects Against Ovarian Cancer. Curr Ther Res Clin Exp. 2013;75:8-14. doi: 10.1016/j.curtheres.2013.04.001.
PMID: 24465036
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
