Four-Leaf Devilpepper

At a glance

Origin / distribution: ", Mexico

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Avicide, Parasiticide, Poison, Wound

Science studied: AJMALICINE, AJMALINE, ALKALOIDS, ALSTONINE

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Apocynaceae

Scientific name: Rauvolfia tetraphylla

Common names: Four-Leaf Devilpepper, Pinque-Pinque, Be Still Tree, Be still tree, Chalchupa, Chilillo, Lechoso, Madura plátano, Piñique-piñique, Sanango, Solito, Veneno de gusano, amerikansk rauvolfia, be still tree, devil's-pepper, devil-pepper, four-leaf devil's-pepper, four-leaf devil-pepper

POWO: 81663-1 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in ", Elsewhere, Mexico.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Avicide
• Parasiticide
• Poison
• Wound
• Skin

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• "
• Elsewhere
• Mexico

Documented cultural uses

• Avicide
• Parasiticide
• Poison
• Wound
• Skin

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Avicide · " · "
• Parasiticide · Elsewhere · "
• Poison · " · "
• Wound · Mexico · "
• Skin · Elsewhere · "

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• WGT-aware analysis reveals increased complexity in the yohimbane biosynthesis pathway of <i>Rauvolfia tetraphylla</i> · 2026 source ↗
• Green synthesis of AgNPs using Rauvolfia tetraphylla leaf extract: Invitro antidiabetic potential and characterization using FTIR, UV-Vis spectrophotometry and SEM analysis · 2026 source ↗
• Extraction of bioactive compounds and silver nanoparticle synthesis from fruits of Rauvolfia tetraphylla · 2024 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• AJMALICINE
• AJMALINE
• ALKALOIDS
• ALSTONINE
• CANEMBRINE
• CHALCHUPINE-A
• CHALCHUPINE-B
• ISORAUNESCINE
• ISORESERPILINE
• PSEUDORESERPINE
• RAUJEMIDINE
• RAUVOLSINE
• RESERPILINE
• RESERPINE
• RESERPININE
• SERPENTINE

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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