PDR for Herbal Medicines

648/RUBUS FRUTFCOSUS

Rubus fruticosus

See Blackberry

Rubus idaeus

See Raspberry

Rue

Ruta graveolens'^.

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are oil extracted from

the herb, the herbal parts of the plant harvested after

flowering, the fresh aerial parts of the plant collected at the

beginning of the flowering season and the whole plant.

Flower and Fruit: The yellow flowers are in cymes, which

are on twining branches with entire or 3-lobed bracts. The

calyx has 4 or 5 segments. The 4 to 5 petals are spoon-like

concave.-ovate and end suddenly in the" stem. The 8 to 10

stamens are in 2 circles. The single short, broadly ovate

ovary has 4 to 5 grooves and is covered with hemispherical

glands. The fruit is a globular, 4 to 5 valvular, many-seeded

capsule. The seeds are angular and have a bumpy brown

skin.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant is a sturdy shrub 30 to 80

cm high with a woody root and a crooked, branched

rhizome. The shoots are glabrous, pale green and more or

less covered in oil glands. The stems are erect, rigid, round,

lightly branched and woody from below. The leaves are 4 to

11 cm long and 3 to 7 cm wide, odd-pinate, with 1 to 3

pinnatesect pinna. The terminal segments are spatulate to

lanceolate. The front leaves are very finely crenate or serrate,

somewhat fleshy, pale yellowish or bluish green.

Characteristics: The odor is tangy and the taste is hot,

somewhat bitter and can cause skin irritation.

Habitat: The plant grows in the Balkans as far as Siebenge-

birge, upper Italy and central Italy and is cultivated

elsewhere. Rue is completely naturalized in the southern

Alps, southern France and Spain.

Production: Rue leaves consist of the dried leaves of Ruta

graveolens. Rue herb consists of the dried above-ground

parts of Ruta graveolens. Both are dried in the shade at a

maximum of 35° C.

Not to be Confused With: Confusion can arise with other
Ruta species.

PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

Other Names: Herb-of-Grace, Herbygrass

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Alkaloids (0.4-0.4%): furoquinoline alkaloids including

among others, skimmianin, gamma-fagarine, dictamnin,

kokusaginine, ptelein

Acridine alkaloids: including arborinine- 2-arylquinoline

Quinazoline alkaloids: including among others, arborine

Quinoline alkaloids: including graveoline, graveolineine

Volatile oil (0.2-0.4%): chief components are nonan-2-one

(50%), nonan-2-ylacetate, undecan-2-one, undec-2-ylacetate

further including, among others, linalyl acetate, 1,8-cineole,

menthol

Flavonoids: chief component is rutin (2-5%)

Hydroxycoumarins: umbelliferone, herniarin, gravelliferon,

rutacultin

Furocoumarins: bergapten, psoralen, xanthotoxin, chalepen-

sin, isopimpinellin, isoimperatorin, rutarin, rutaretine

Pyranocoumarins: including among others, xanthyletine

Lignans: savinin, helioxanthine

EFFECTS

The alkaloids in the drug are anti-exudative. Chalepensin

inhibits fertility, and the coumarin derivatives and alkaloids

are spasmolytic. In addition, the drug is antimicrobial,

abortifacient and photosensitizing.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: Preparations of rue herb and/or leaves are

used for menstrual disorders, as an effective uterine remedy

and as an abortive agent. In folk medicine, Rue is used for

menstrual complaints, as a contraceptive and as an abortive

agent. The herb is also used for inflammation of the skin,

oral and pharyngeal cavities, earache, toothache, for feverish

infectious diseases, for cramps, as an obstetric remedy,

hepatitis, dyspepsia, diarrhea and intestinal worm

infestations.

Homeopathic Uses: Among uses in homeopathy are contu-

sions, sprains, bruising, varicose veins and rheumatism

(especially of the spine).

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Rue is not to be used during pregnancy.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

General: No health hazards are known in conjunction with

the proper administration of designated therapeutic dosages.

The drug can lead to photosensitization, due to its furocou-

marine and furoquinoline content; photodermatoses have