Peganum harmala

Related Terms

Acacetin 7-O-rhamnoside, acetoxyolean, African rue, alpha-(4-nitrobenzylidine) harmine, anthraquinones, beta-carboline, caffeoyloxyolean, canthin-6-one alkaloids, deoxyvasicine, deoxyvasicinone, desoxypeganine, digalactosyldiacylglycerols, dihydroconiferyl ferulate, dihydrosinapyl ferulate, esphand, fatty acids, flavonoids, fructose, gamma-harmine, glucose, glycoflavone 2'''-O-rhamnosyl-2"-O-glucosylcytisoside, harmal, harmal shrub, harmala alkaloids, harmalan, harmaline, harmalol, harman alkaloids, harmane, harmel, harmidine, harmine, harmol, harmol glucuronide, harmol sulfate, huzerlik, isband, kaempferol, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, lipids, luotonin C, luotonin D, luotuo-peng, lupene-type triterpenoids, mercury (II) - harmaine, mercury (II) -harmaline, mercury (II) - harmine, monogalactosyldiacylglycerols, N-acyl tetrahydroharmine derivatives, nigellastrine-I, nigellastrine-II, nor-harmane, oxotirucalla, ozallaik, peganetin, peganidine, peganole, peganone, peganone-1, peganone-2, peganum, Peganum harmala, Peganum multisectum, Peganum nigellastrum, phenylpropanoids, phenylquinoline, prolin, pyrrolidinoquinazoline alkaloid, quercetin, quinoline alkaloids, rutin, steppenraute, sterols, sucrose, Syrian rue, tetraglycoside, tetrahydroharmine, triterpenoids, uzerlik, vasicine, (+)-vasicinol hydro-chloride dihydrate, vasicinone, wild rue, Zygophyllaceae (family).

Background

Peganum harmala, commonly called "Syrian rue," is native to China, the eastern Mediterranean region east to India, and the western United States and can grow spontaneously in arid and rocky areas.
Peganum harmala contains beta-carboline alkaloids (harmine, harmaline, harmalol) that are toxic to both humans and animals. These alkaloids are used in alcoholic beverages, well-cooked foods, and tobacco smoke, and they have known hallucinogenic and strong monoamine oxidase inhibitory (MAOI) activity.
Harmala alkaloids, harmaline and harmine, are known to cause tremors.
When consumed by farm animals, Peganum harmala may have either a sedative or stimulant effect. In humans, the seeds are known to primarily cause a stimulant and hallucinogenic effect. In China, Mongolia, Iran, and Morocco, the seeds have been used to treat various diseases and purposes, such as cancer, hepatic arterial embolization, and high fevers. The seeds may also be used to relieve grief and as a disinfectant. In South America, it is reportedly combined with dimethyltryptamine to make an infusion known as ayahuasca and is used for various healing purposes.
Traditionally, the stems, roots, and seeds have been used for nonmedical purposes, such as making dyes, inks, stains, and tattoos. The plant has also been mixed with other ingredients and placed onto charcoal, where it makes a popping sound and releases a fragrant smoke used in prayer rituals. The dried capsules are also used and hung in homes or vehicles, because it is believed to protect against the "evil eye."

Evidence Table

These uses have been tested in humans or animals. Safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. GRADE *
These uses have been tested in humans or animals. Safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. GRADE *
* Key to grades

A: Strong scientific evidence for this use
B: Good scientific evidence for this use
C: Unclear scientific evidence for this use
D: Fair scientific evidence for this use (it may not work)
F: Strong scientific evidence against this use (it likley does not work)
* Key to grades

A: Strong scientific evidence for this use
B: Good scientific evidence for this use
C: Unclear scientific evidence for this use
D: Fair scientific evidence for this use (it may not work)
F: Strong scientific evidence against this use (it likley does not work)

Tradition / Theory

The below uses are based on tradition, scientific theories, or limited research. They often have not been thoroughly tested in humans, and safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. There may be other proposed uses that are not listed below.

Dosing

Adults (18 years and older)
Avoid use of Peganum harmala in any person.

Safety

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not strictly regulate herbs and supplements. There is no guarantee of strength, purity or safety of products, and effects may vary. You should always read product labels. If you have a medical condition, or are taking other drugs, herbs, or supplements, you should speak with a qualified healthcare provider before starting a new therapy. Consult a healthcare provider immediately if you experience side effects.

Interactions

Interactions with Drugs
Avoid use of Peganum harmala in any person.
Peganum harmala may affect blood sugar levels and may interact with medications that affect blood sugar.
Peganum harmala may cause low or high blood pressure and may interact with drugs that affect blood pressure.
Peganum harmala may interfere with the way the body processes certain drugs using the liver's cytochrome P450 enzyme system. As a result, the levels of these drugs may be increased in the blood and may cause increased effects or potentially serious adverse reactions.
Peganum harmala may also interact with agents that activate or deactivate dopamine receptors, agents that affect acetylcholine, agents that affect the heart (such as those that affect heart rate and heart muscle contraction), agents that affect blood vessel width, agents that are toxic to the liver, agents that deactivate serotonin receptors, agents that affect the immune system, agents that treat Parkinson's disease, agents that treat protozoan infections, alcohol, amphetamine, antiadrenergics (including clonidine and beta-blockers), antianxiety agents, antibiotics, anticancer agents, antidepressants (including monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and tricyclic antidepressants), antifungals, antihistamines, antipsychotic agents, antiseizure agents, antivirals, apomorphine, aprotinin, baclofen, benzodiazepines, caffeine, carbenoxolone, chlormethiazole, chlorpromazine, cyproheptadine, epinephrine, flumazenil, gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), lacosamide, levodopa, lidocaine, lithium, mefloquine, muscimol, painkillers (including N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists), pentobarbital, photosensitizers, quipazine, reserpine, and tetrabenazine (not approved in the United States).

Attribution

This information is based on a systematic review of scientific literature edited and peer-reviewed by contributors to the Natural Standard Research Collaboration (www.naturalstandard.com).

Bibliography

Ahmad, A., Khan, K. A., Sultana, S., et al. Study of the in vitro antimicrobial activity of harmine, harmaline and their derivatives. J.Ethnopharmacol. 1992;35(3):289-294.
Al-Shamma, A., Drake, S., Flynn, D. L., et al. T. Antimicrobial agents from higher plants. Antimicrobial agents from Peganum harmala seeds. J.Nat.Prod. 1981;44(6):745-747.
Astulla, A., Zaima, K., Matsuno, Y., et al. Alkaloids from the seeds of Peganum harmala showing antiplasmodial and vasorelaxant activities. J.Nat.Med. 2008;62(4):470-472.
Balaban, C. D. Central neurotoxic effects of intraperitoneally administered 3-acetylpyridine, harmaline and niacinamide in Sprague-Dawley and Long-Evans rats: a critical review of central 3-acetylpyridine neurotoxicity. Brain Res. 1985;356(1):21-42.
Deecher, D. C., Teitler, M., Soderlund, D. M., et al. Mechanisms of action of ibogaine and harmaline congeners based on radioligand binding studies. Brain Res. 2-7-1992;571(2):242-247.
Emboden, W. A. Narcotic Plants. New York,NY: MacMillan Publishing Co.;1980.
Han, J. and An, L. Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in Peganum harmala (Peganaceae), an important resist-drought and medicinal plant. Conserv.Genet. 2009;10(6):1899-1901.
Hudson, J. B., Graham, E. A., and Towers, G. H. Antiviral effect of harmine, a photoactive beta-carboline alkaloid. Photochem.Photobiol. 1986;43(1):21-26.
Kim, D. H., Jang, Y. Y., Han, E. S., et al. Protective effect of harmaline and harmalol against dopamine- and 6-hydroxydopamine-induced oxidative damage of brain mitochondria and synaptosomes, and viability loss of PC12 cells. Eur.J.Neurosci. 2001;13(10):1861-1872.
Lala, S., Pramanick, S., Mukhopadhyay, S., et al. Harmine: evaluation of its antileishmanial properties in various vesicular delivery systems. J.Drug Target 2004;12(3):165-175.
Lamchouri, F., Settaf, A., Cherrah, Y., et al. Antitumour principles from Peganum harmala seeds. Therapie 1999;54(6):753-758.
Moura, D. J., Richter, M. F., Boeira, J. M., et al. Antioxidant properties of beta-carboline alkaloids are related to their antimutagenic and antigenotoxic activities. Mutagenesis 2007;22(4):293-302.
Shapira, Z., Terkel, J., Egozi, Y., et al. Abortifacient potential for the epigeal parts of Peganum harmala. J.Ethnopharmacol. 1989;27(3):319-325.
Yonezawa, T., Lee, J. W., Hibino, A., et al. Harmine promotes osteoblast differentiation through bone morphogenetic protein signaling. Biochem.Biophys.Res.Commun. 6-3-2011;409(2):260-265.
Zheng, X. Y., Zhang, Z. J., Chou, G. X., et al. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitive activity-guided isolation of two new alkaloids from seeds of Peganum nigellastrum Bunge by an in vitro TLC- bioautographic assay. Arch.Pharm.Res. 2009;32(9):1245-1251.