The plant gave an essential oil which contains chiefly methyl heptyl ketone (while Ruta graveolens contains 80— 90% methyl nonyl ketone and methyl heptyl ketone in small amounts). Rutin is the most important active principle
566 Ruta graveolens Linn.
of the plant, responsible for its anti- inflammatory and tumour-inhibiting effect.
Ruta graveolens Linn.
Family Rutaceae.
Habitat Native to Mediterranean region; cultivated all over India.
English Garden Rue.
Unani Sudaab, Suddaab.
Siddha/Tamil Aruvada.
Action Herb—stimulating, an tispasmodic stomachic; irritant,
abortifacient. Used as an emme nagogue in hysterical conditions,
cough and croupy affections, colic
and flatulence. Leaf—used in atonic
amenorrhoea, menorrhoea and
colic. Externally, used for sciatica,
headache, muscular chest pain,
bronchitis and arthritic conditions.
(Fresh juice of leaves, internally,
_______ can lead to painful irritations of
R) the stomach and intestines). Oil— antispasmodic, antiepileptic, emmenagogue, rubefacient. (Toxic in large doses.)
Ruta graveolens has been included among unapproved herbs by German Commission E.
The herb contains a volatile oil, with 2-undecanone (30.73) 2-nona- none (18.06), 2-nonyl acetate (11.03), psoralen (1.28) and bergapten and xanthotoxin (7.24%); rutin (about 2%). The flavonoids include quercetin; coumarins include bergapten, daphnoretin, isoimperatorin, naphthoherniarin, psoralen, pangelin, rutamarin, rutarin, scop oletin and umbelliferone. Tissue culture of the plant gave furacridone alkaloids. Tissue culture of the root gave gravacridondiol and its glucoside.
The spasmolytic activity of the herb is attributed to the presence of bergapten, xanthotoxin and the essential oil. Anti-inflammatory and antitumour activity is due to rutin. The furocoumarins are responsible for the herb’s phototoxicity.
