a drug extracted from the plant Rauwolfia canescens, used to block the flow of or reaction to adrenaline, and thus useful as a tranquilizer or to treat hypertension
deserpidine in American English
(dɪˈsɜːrpɪˌdin)
noun
Pharmacology
a purified alkaloid derived from rauwolfia, C32H38N2O8, used as an antihypertensive in mild cases of essential hypertension and also as a major tranquilizer for the symptomatic relief of agitated psychotic states
Word origin
[perh. d(i)-1 + (r)eserp(ine) + -idine suffix of derivative compounds]