Pharmacological and therapeutic effects of Peganum harmala and its main alkaloids

Abstract

Wild Syrian rue (Peganum harmala L. family Zygophyllaceae) is well-known in Iran and various parts of this plant including, its seeds, bark, and root have been used as folk medicine. Recent years of research has demonstrated different pharmacological and therapeutic effects of P. harmala and its active alkaloids, especially harmine and harmaline. Analytical studies on the chemical composition of the plant show that the most important constituents of this plant are beta-carboline alkaloids such as harmalol, harmaline, and harmine. Harmine is the most studied among these naturally occurring alkaloids. In addition to P. harmala (Syrian rue), these beta-carbolines are present in many other plants such as Banisteria caapi and are used for the treatment of different diseases. This article reviews the traditional uses and pharmacological effects of total extract and individual active alkaloids of P. harmala (Syrian rue).

Identification of natural products and their derivatives as promising inhibitors of protein glycation with non-toxic nature against mouse fibroblast 3T3 cells

“…It has major pharmacological potential against cardiovascular diseases, nervous system problems, gastrointestinal disorders, diabetes mellitus, and various tumors [41]. Aphyllinic acid, a synthetic derivative of alkaloid aphylline, obtained from Anabasis aphylla L, has shown branchoiospomodic and nerve-blocking activities.…”

Psychoactive plants used in designer drugs as a threat to public health

“…Various parts of P . harmala have been used in folk medicine to treat cardiac, gastrointestinal diseases, in rheumathism, fever, ulcers and also in diabetes or as a pain reliever [64]. Its main active compounds are β-carboline alkaloids: harmaline and harmine, harmalol and harmane [65].…”

“…It has been proven that β-carbolines from P . harmala interact with opioid, dopamine, GABA, 5-hydroxytryptamine, benzodioazepine and imidazoline receptors, so they induce many pharmacological effects [64]. Wild rue is also one of the constituents of Ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic beverage ingested in rituals by the Amazonian tribes.…”

Genetic Variation of Harmal (Peganum Harmala L. and Rhazya Stricta Decne) Based on Polymorphism in Protein Profile, Soil Analysis and Internode Anatomy

“…P. harmala contains many pharmacologically active chemical compounds [8], such as alkaloids (harmaline, harmine, harmalol and harmol). It has been used in folk medicine as antiinflammatory [9], anticancer [10], antitumor [11], antimutagenic [12], antiprotozoal, antibacterial and antifungal agents [13]. The vernacular name of P. harmala is 'harmal', also applied to another noxious weed, Rhazya stricta (family Apocynaceae) [14].…”