Gen info
- Rauvolfia (sometimes spelled as Rauwolfia) is a genus of evergreen tree and shrubs, commonly known as devil peppers, in the family Apocynaceae.
- Etymology: The genus name Rauvolfia honors Leonhard Rauwolf. The genus name was established by Carl Linnaeus in his 1763 book Species Plantarum, which states in Botanical Latin that the name is dedicated to Leonhard Rauwolf: "Leon  Rauvolfio". Subsequent authors hypercorrected the Classical Latin letter "v" to a modern "w", which is not accepted by the code of nomenclature. (6)
- There are four Rauwolfia species reported as native to the Philippines viz. Rauwolfia amsoniaefolia A. DC., R. samarensis Merr, R. membranacea Merr., and R. loheri. (•) Leonardo Co's database lists 3 species as native: Rauvolfia amsoniifolia, R. sumatrana, and R. verticillata. (5)

Botany
• Sibakong is a shrub or small tree with milky juice which reaches a height of about 15 meters but usually smaller. Leaves are ornamental, occurring in whorls, lanceolate, 6 to 12 centimeters in length, 1.5 to 3 centimeters in width, rather narrow and sharply pointed at both ends. Flowers are small, white, fragrant and borne on compound inflorescences. Fruit is somewhat rounded, about 8 millimeters in diameter, and obscurely two-lobed.

Distribution
- Native to the Philippines. (4) (5)
- In open areas, scrub, thickets, secondary forests, sometimes along edge of coconut plantations. (5)
- In Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Isabela, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Batangas, Camarines Provinces in Luzon; also in Mindoro, Lubang, Masbate, and Mindanao.
- Also native to Lesser Sunda Is., Maluku, Sulawesi. (4)

Constituents
- Study yielded a creamish, amorphous alkaloid, amsoniaefoline. (Gomez, Da Silva and Garcis)
- Study on alkaloid content of different parts of the plant showed: stem bark 2.06%. whole root 2.44%, wood of root 1.39%, bark of root 4.16%, leaves 0.96%. (2)

Parts used
Young buds, leaves, bark.

Uses
Edibility
- No information found on edibility.
Folkloric
- In the Philippines, decoction of bark used as stomachic.
- Young leaves used to treated stomach disorders in babies/.
- In Indonesia, decoction of leaves used as laxative and febrifuge and to stimulate delivery. Bark used to treat framboesia (yaws). (7)
- Bark decoction used as stomachic. Also used to treat yaws. (8)

Studies
• Isolation of reserpine and rescinnamine from Rauwolfia amsoniaefolia A. DC: Preliminary analysis of crude drug yielded alkaloids: reserpine, rescinnamine, deserpidine, aricin, yohimbine, methyl reserpate, possibly ajmalicine, and an unidentified alkaloid from the stem bark. Roots yielded the same alkaloids except deserpidine. (2)

Availability
Wild-crafted.

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Chemistry and Pharmacology of the Rauwolfia Alkaloids / R A Lucas / Progress in medicinal chemistry, Volume 1 By Gwynn Pennant Ellis
(2)
Studies on Philippine species of Rauwolfia. 1. Isolation of reserpine and rescinnamine from Rauwolfia amsoniaefolia A. DC. / BERNAL RM, VILLEGAS-CASTILLO A, ESPEJO OP. / Experientia. 1960 Aug 15;16:353-5.
(3)
Pharmacologic studies on Philippine Rauwolfias. / Gerardo V de Leon
(4)
Rauvolfia amsoniifolia / KEW: Plants of the World Online
(5)
Apocynaceae - Rauvolfia amsoniifolia / Co's Digital Flora of the Philippines
(6)
Rauvolfia / Wikipedia
(7)
Rauvolfia amsoniifolia / PROSEA: Plant Resources of South East Asia
(8)
Rauvolfia amsoniifolia / Ken Fern: Tropical Plant Database / Useful Tropical Plants

DOI: It is not uncommon for links on studies/sources to change. Copying and pasting the information on the search window or using the DOI (if available) will often redirect to the new link page. (Citing and Using a (DOI) Digital Object Identifier)