Reserpine, an alkaloid from Rauwolfia serpentina was widely used for its antihypertensive action in the past. In the present investigation, reserpine methiodide (RMI), a quaternary analogue of reserpine was synthesised and evaluated biochemically for its central and peripheral amine depleting actions in rats and compared with reserpine. The 24 h urinary excretion of vanillylmandelic acid (VMA), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and homovanillic acid (HVA), the respective metabolites of noradrenaline, serotonin and dopamine were estimated and considered as indirect biochemical indices for the amine depleting action of reserpine and RMI. The results indicate that RMI at doses of equal to and double the equimolar doses of reserpine was found to deplete the peripheral amines without affecting the central stores of the amines. The results further suggest that the quaternization of reserpine might restrict its transfer across the blood-brain barrier and could be the reason for its selective peripheral action.