Spices & Medicinal herbs

HERBS	Angelica :: Aloe Vera :: Basil :: Chamomile :: Chives :: Coriander :: Dill :: Lemon Balm :: Musli :: Oregano :: Stevia
SPICES	Ajwain :: Allspice :: Bay Leaf :: Black Cardamon :: Green Cardamon :: Cinnamon :: Cloves :: Cumin :: Cayenne Pepper
VEGETABLES	Amaranth :: Breadfruit :: Brocolli :: Cauliflower :: Cucumber :: Drumstick :: Hijiki :: Garlic

Herbs Classifical of Herbs Herbs by Common Name Herbs by Property List of Herbs Alfalfa Allspice Aloe Vera Angelica Anise Annatto Arugula Agrimony Apple mint Asafoetida Avens Barberry Basil Bistort Boneset Bog Labrador Tea Borage Boldo Candle nut Capsicum Coriander Caraway Calamus Chamomile Chickweed Chives Cleavers Dill Echinacea Flax Fennel Lavender Kali Musli Lemon Balm Musli Oregano Stevia Spices Vegetables

Herb : African rue

(Botanical name: Peganum Harmala)

Classification

• Kingdom- Plantae
• (Unranked)- Angiosperms
• (Unranked)- Eudicots
• (Unranked)- Rosids
• Order- Sapindales
• Family- Nitrariaceae
• Genus- Peganum
• Species- P. harmalas

History

It is a small herbaceous perennial shrub from the family of nitrariaceae.

African rue as it is called is a native of eastern Mediterranean region east to India.

African rue is valued for its medicinal uses and properties.

Plant Description

Peganum grows to a height of 0.8 cm approximately. The roots of this plant reach the depth of 6.1 m on condition when the soil is dry.

The flowers are white in colour and about 2-3 cm in diameter. The fruit is small in size of about 1-1.5 cm in diameter containing around 50 seeds.

Cultivation

Peganum thrives in dry steeps where grazing is extensive and at dry places. It widely grows in waste lands as weed.

It can grow in saline soil but prefers acidic, neutral, alkaline, light and well drained soils. Since it grows on the waste lands sunlight is most important for its growth.

The seeds get ripe in September and the flowers are considered to be hermaphrodite.

It widely grows in USA and spread to Arizona, California, Montana, Nevada, oregano and Texas.

Parts Used

Peganum seeds capsules and root are used.

Constituents

Harmala seeds contain many alkaloids like harmane, harmine, harmaline, harmalol, tetrahydroharmine, vasicine and vasicinone.

Uses

• Peganum harmala is used for its invasive medicinal properties. It is considered as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent.
• In some countries African rue is known to treat depression and stimulates central nervous system.
• The smoke from the seeds can vanish insects, algae, bacteria's and intestinal parasites.
• It is also used as anthelmintic agent to expel parasitic worms, tapeworms and to treat fever.
• Peganum harmala is an abortefacient herb to induce abortions. It reduces the spermatogenesis in males as well as in rats.
• Peganum is also used against protozoa and malaria.
• Reports have shown that peganum is found to have anti-oxidant and anti-mutagenic properties.

Names

• African rue
• Esphand
• Harmal peganum
• Harmal shrub
• Harmel
• Isband
• Ozallaik
• Peganum
• Steppenraute
• Syrian rue
• Yüzerlik, üzerlik (Turkish)