Pharmacological Studies of Syrian Rue (Peganum harmala L., Zygophyllaceae)

Year 2018, Volume: 5 Issue: 1, 1 - 6, 04.01.2018

Nazim A. Mamedov Ardalan Pasdaran Nilufer Z. Mamadalieva Mamadalieva

https://doi.org/10.21448/ijsm.335539

Cited By: 1

Abstract

Syrian rue (Peganum harmala L., Zygophyllaceae) has been used in traditional medicine of Central Asia, the Middle East, and Caucasus areas (Azerbaijan) for centuries, mainly as ritual and psychedelic plant. At full growth, this erect, dichotomously branched shrub is about 1 m in height with a dense foliage consisting of narrow, linear, pinnate leaves with acute spreading lobes, and small solitary, axillary, white flowers and globe capsules enclosing numerous angular seeds. All parts of the plant (including roots) contain alkaloids. The seeds contain β-carbolineses (harmine, harmalol and harman) with the active hallucinogen being the alkaloid harmine. The seeds contain a red pigment used for coloring wool and carpets and for use as a spice and, in traditional medicine, as valuable aphrodisiac.

Keywords

Pharmacological studies, Syrian rue, Peganum harmala L., Zygophyllaceae

Pharmacological Studies of Syrian Rue (Peganum harmala L., Zygophyllaceae)

Abstract

Syrian
rue (Peganum harmala L., Zygophyllaceae) has been used in
traditional medicine of Central Asia, the Middle East, and Caucasus areas
(Azerbaijan) for centuries, mainly as ritual and psychedelic plant.  At full growth, this erect, dichotomously
branched shrub is about 1 m in height with a dense foliage consisting of
narrow, linear, pinnate leaves with acute spreading lobes, and small solitary,
axillary, white flowers and globe capsules enclosing numerous angular
seeds.  All parts of the plant (including
roots) contain alkaloids.  The seeds
contain β-carbolineses (harmine, harmalol and harman) with the active
hallucinogen being the alkaloid harmine. 
The seeds contain a red pigment used for coloring wool and carpets and
for use as a spice and, in traditional medicine, as valuable aphrodisiac.

Keywords

pharmacological studies, Syrian rue, Peganum harmala L., Zygophyllaceae

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