Pharmacological and therapeutic properties of Peganum harmala L. (Syrian rue)

Peganum harmala (Syrian rue) is a medicinal plant rich in bioactive alkaloids, particularly β-carboline, harmalol, harmaline, and harmine. It exhibits a wide range of biological activities, including antifungal, antimicrobial, antibacterial, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, hypothermic, analgesic, abortifacient, anthelmintic, cytotoxic, and hallucinogenic effects. These diverse pharmacological properties make it a significant subject for therapeutic applications and drug discovery.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Peganum harmala, commonly known as Syrian rue, African rue, wild rue, harmel, or esfand, is a medicinal plant highly valued for its rich composition of bioactive phyto-constituents. It is particularly abundant in naturally occurring alkaloids such as β-carboline, harmalol, harmaline, and harmine, with harmine being the most extensively studied. This plant exhibits a wide spectrum of biological activities, including antifungal, antimicrobial, antibacterial, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, hypothermic, analgesic, abortifacient, anthelmintic, cytotoxic, and hallucinogenic effects. Such diverse pharmacological properties make P. harmala a significant plant of interest for therapeutic applications and further drug discovery. Key words: Peganum harmala; alkaloids, pharmacological properties; medicinal and traditional uses.