Reserpine
Reserpine is an alkaloid found in Rauwolfia serpentina and R. vomitoria roots. It is primarily used to treat high blood pressure, often in combination with a thiazide diuretic or vasodilator. It has also been used to treat severe agitation in patients with mental disorders. In some cases, it's used for PAH, a condition with high blood pressure in the lungs.
Reserpine prevents norepinephrine from entering storage vesicles, which depletes serotonin and other neurotransmitters like catecholamines from both central and peripheral axon terminals.
Reserpine was originally developed in the 1950s, it was one of the first drugs used for hypertension and psychosis, but its use has declined due to side effects. Some common side effects are Dizziness, Loss of appetite, Diarrhea, Upset stomach, vomiting, Stuffy nose, Headache, Dry mouth, Decreased sexual ability. Depression, nightmares, or suicidal thoughts are the serious side effects of reserpine.
Synthesis of Reserpine
Woodward's Synthesis of Reserpine (1956)
Woodward synthesized the reserpine in 1956 from p-benzoquinone and vinyl acrylic acid in the following steps-
