Ruta graveolentis herba

Medicinally used herb of Ruta graveolens the garden rue. Ruta graveolentis Herba is the base product of Oleum Rutae the rue oil, which is obtained by steam distillation of the herb.

0,2-0,7 % essential oil (in fresh herbs 0,06-0,09 %) with methyl ketones and their carbinols or carbinyl acetates; furthermore rutin, bergapten, psoralen, as well as various alkaloids Herb and oil contain the coumarin derivatives rutamarin, gravelliferone, daphnoretin and daphnoretin methyl ether.

Root extracts contain the furanocoumarins bergapten, isopimpinellin, rutamarin and xanthotoxin.

Spasmolytic, abortive, phototoxic, virostatic, antibacterial, insecticidal.

Preliminary reports of antitumour effects of extracts of garden herb are to be considered as preliminary.

Use as an antispasmodic, emmagogue. Ophthalmologically, it is used for "red eye" and "eye fatigue". In this case we recommend e.g. Ruta D3 Weleda

Lozenge oil can lead to contact dermatitis in humans. Furthermore, phototoxic reactions in terms of the development of light dermatoses are described. Severe liver and kidney damages caused by lozenge oil are also documented. The furanocoumarins contained in the drug have phototoxic and mutagenic effects.

1. Freyer G et al (2014) Open-label uncontrolled pilot study to evaluate complementary therapy with Ruta graveolens 9c in patients with advanced cancer. Homeopathy 103:232-238.
2. Jeon JH et al (2015) Isolation of Insecticidal Constituent from Rutagraveolens and Structure-Activity Relationship Studies against Stored-Food Pests (Coleoptera). J Food Prot 78:1536-1540.
3. Klosa R et al (1987) Ruta graveolens - The garden rue. Zschr. f. Phytother 8: 202-206.
4. Loonat F et al (2014) Antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities of the leaf methanol extract of Ruta graveolens L. (Rutaceae) in mice and rats. Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med 11:173-181.
5. Minker, E. et al (1979) Pharmacological study of the antispasmodic principles isolated from Ruta graveolens L.. Planta medica 36: 255-256
6. Novák I et al.(1967) Investigation of the active ingredients of Ruta graveolens L.. Planta medica 15: 132-139.
7. Saeidinia A et al. (2016) Lack of antibacterial activity of Ruta graveolens extracts against Enterococcus fecalis. Pak J Pharm Sci 29(4 Suppl):1371-1374.
8. Sivakamavalli J et al (2014) Discrete nanoparticles of ruta graveolens induces the bacterial and fungal biofilm inhibition. Cell Commun Adhes 21:229-238.