Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research

  • Abbreviation: J. Med. Plants Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0875
  • DOI: 10.5897/JMPR
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 3839

Full Length Research Paper

Phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of Ruta graveolens L.

Jinous Asgarpanah* and Roghaieh Khoshkam
Department of Pharmacognosy, Pharmaceutical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University (IAU), Tehran, Iran.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 22 May 2012
  •  Published: 21 June 2012

Abstract

Ruta graveolens is known as Rue. R. graveolens extracts and essential oil are important areas in drug development with numerous pharmacological activities in many countries. For a long time R. graveolens has been used in traditional medicines for the relief of pain, eye problems, rheumatism and dermatitis. R. graveolens has recently been shown to have antibacterial, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and insecticidal activities. Rutin, quercetin, psoralen, methoxypsoralen, rutacridone, rutacridone epoxide and gravacridondiol are phytochemical compounds which are reported from this plant. α-Pinene, limonene and 1,8-cineole were identified as the main monoterpene constituents for R. graveolensessential oil. Due to the easy collection of the plant and being widespread and also remarkable biological activities, this plant has become medicine in many countries especially in Mediterranean region. This article presents comprehensive analyzed information on the botanical, chemical and pharmacological aspects of R. graveolens.

 

Key words: Ruta graveolens, Rutaceae, pharmacology, phytochemistry.