Rauvolfia serpentina, commonly known as pule pandak, is a medicinal plant that is becoming increasingly rare due to overexploitation in its native habitat. It is categorized as an Endangered Species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).
The root of the plant is the most useful part, containing more than 50 active alkaloid compounds. The hedgehog pule plant contains several compounds, including reserpine, resinamine, ajmaline, and serpentine.
These compounds make the plant a potent herbal treatment for hypertension and heart disease, as they can help normalize heart rate and lower blood pressure.
Another benefit of the hedgehog pule plant is its function as a male aphrodisiac, similar to Korean Ginseng (Panax ginseng), Pasak Bumi (Eurycoma longifolia), Tabat Barito (Ficus deltoidea), and Purwoceng (Pimpinella alpina). This efficacy arises from the root of the plant, which has a bitter taste and contains yohimbine.
Yohimbine is known to provide excellent curative effects in cases of organic impotence, improving erectile function in people with erectile dysfunction.
Erectile dysfunction is defined as the inability to achieve or maintain an erection for sexual satisfaction. It is projected that over 300 million men will experience erectile dysfunction by 2025, primarily due to the effects of diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and vascular disease.
