Pharmacological and therapeutic effects of Peganum harmala and its main alkaloids
Pharmacognosy Reviews/Bioinformatics Trends/Pharmacognosy review January 1, 2013 Milad Moloudizargari, Peyman Mikaili, Shahin Aghajanshakeri et al. 381 citations
Wild Syrian rue (Peganum harmala) has a long history in Iranian folk medicine, with its seeds, bark, and root used for various ailments. Recent research demonstrates diverse pharmacological and therapeutic effects of the plant and its active alkaloids, particularly harmine and harmaline. The plant's key chemical constituents are beta-carboline alkaloids such as harmalol, harmaline, and harmine, with harmine being the most studied. These beta-carbolines also occur in other plants like Banisteria caapi and are employed to treat different diseases. This article reviews traditional uses and pharmacological effects of the total extract and individual active alkaloids of P. harmala.