10. Indian Snakeroot: Blood Pressure Controller
This South Asian plant produces reserpine, an alkaloid that depletes catecholamines in the nervous system. This action lowers blood pressure and calms psychotic symptoms. Isolated in the 1950s, reserpine became one of the first medications to treat hypertension effectively. Side effects like depression limited its long-term use. Nevertheless, its discovery inspired the development of modern antihypertensive drugs that target similar biological pathways with fewer adverse effects.