RUE

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Scientific name: Ruta graveolens L.
Malay name: Ingu



Facts:
  • Ruta graveolens is native to southern Europe and northern Africa.  It is now found in temperate and tropical parts of the world including South America and North America where it was introduced from Europe in the 1500’s.
  • R. graveolens has been reported to contain glycosides, quinoline alkaloids, acridone alkaloids, furanocoumarins including psoralen, bergapten, xanthotoxin, isopimpinellin, imperatorin; tannins, sterols, alcohols including methyl-ethyl-carbinol, pinene, limenenes.


Traditional Use:

  • When used as a compound, both internally and externally, R. graveolens has been used to relieve muscle spasm. Though the usage of concentrated R. graveolens, externally, can result in burn-like blisters, the plant has been used by Native American medical practitioners, as a poultice, in order to treat gangrenous wounds.
  • The R. graveolens leaves have been used as a sedative to ease epilepsy and hysterics. A decoction, or syrup made from boiled leaves has been used to eliminate gastrointestinal worms. Aside from expelling worms, it has been used to treat various gastrointestinal discomforts. Though it can cause stomach discomfort in high doses, it has been used in low does to relieve the pain of colic and various abdominal pain. Leaf infusions and decoctions have been used in order to promote respiratory health. Alcoholic infusions have been used as well as leaf infusions in order to treat respiratory maladies. Similar alcoholic infusions have been used to ease symptoms of poor cardiac health. In cases of fever and hysterical fever, either a leaf decoction or a decoction of leaves and stem is drunk. Fresh leaves can bruised and placed directly on the affected area for earache or toothache.
  • The fruits can be crushed and applied as poultice for swelling.



Pharmacological and Medicinal uses :

  • Mutagenic activity

Various extracts of R. graveolens and/or the active constituents have demonstrated mutagenic activity. One study examining the mutagenic activity against Salmonella typhimurium strain TA98 determined that there were various mechanisms involved including but not limited to the furoquinolines. The additional examination of activity against strains of S. typhimurium demonstrated that the alkaloid rutacridone is metabolized by rat liver enzymes into rutacridone epoxide, which exhibits stronger mutagenic action. The additional animal models have examined both a Ruta extract and a homeopathic preparation and found that administration of both resulted in chromosomal aberrations in bone marrow cells.
  • Anti-inflammatory activity

The traditional use of as an anti-inflammatory has been verified in animal models.  In adjuvant arthritis in rats, a dose of 20 mg/kg demonstrated a reduction in oedema within a three week period and comparable to indomethacin.  This model also demonstrated an increase in measured anti-oxidant status in rats receiving the methanol extract of R. graveolens demonstrated by an increase in activity of Vitamins C and E and reduce glutathione. R. graveolens also contains some antioxidants. Another investigation into the anti-inflammatory properties of R. graveolens found that a methanol extract of the whole plant at 50% concentration was found to inhibit the expression of iNOS and the COX-2 gene in a lipopolysaccharide induced inflammatory cell model.
  • Antimicrobial acitivity

Antimicrobial activity of various preparations including the essential oil of R. graveolens has been demonstrated in several studies. In one of these studies, a chemical constituent of R. graveolens, rutacridone epoxides, was found to be more effective than ethacridine lactate. Other studies have demonstrated activity against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria, fungi and Trichomonas vaginalis.
  • Antiarrhythmic activity

A study result indicated a potential antiarrhythmic effect of R. graveolens in treating supra ventricular tachyarrhythmia. Both the total plant extract and the alkaloid fraction of R. graveolens had a similar trend of action on nodal conduction time and refractoriness. Increased atrioventricular conduction time (83+/-4 to 108+/-5) msec and functional refractory period (157.6+/-3 to 163.7+/-4 msec) at a maximum concentration of 3.75 x 10(-6) % W/V were observed.
  • Cytotoxic activity

The cytotoxicity of the drugs assayed was evaluated in vitro by means of the dye test using cells of the Yoshida ascites sarcoma. The petroleum ether extract of R. graveolens showed a quite significant cytotoxic effect.
  • Antiandrogenic activity

The aqueous extracts of R. graveolens might have adverse effects on territorial aggression and sexual behaviour. A pre-clinical study of R. graveolens was done on the reproductive system and fertility using adult male albino rats with special emphasis on the aggressive behaviour and sex behavior. The aqueous extract of R. graveolens solution was fed orally to male albino rats at a dose of 500 mg/kg body weight for 60 days. This dose induced a significant decrease in the weight of reproductive organs (p<0.01) when compared to controls. The sperm motility and density in cauda epidydimides and testicular ducts were significantly decreased (p<0.01). A significant decreased (p<0.001) in spermatogenesis activity is observed in somniferous tubule. Treated rats testicular cell population showed a decrease in number of spermatocytes and spermatids (P<0.001) when compared to controls. Serum hormonal assay indicated a decrease in testosterone and follicular stimulating hormone levels in treated rats. A decrease in number of female rats impregnated by males receiving treatment was observed and demonstrated by a decrease in the implantation sites and viable fetuses number (p<0.01). The ingested extract also suppresses the sexual behaviour in adult male rats expressed by a prolongation of first mount time, increase in intromission latency, decrease in intromissions number, and prolongation of the post-ejaculatory interval. This led to reduction of the ejaculation time and increase of the post ejaculatory intervals. Ingestion of R. graveolens markedly abolished aggressive behaviour parameters in adult male treated rats namely, suppression in lateralization, boxing bouts and ventral presenting postures.
  • Anti-nociceptive activity

R. graveolens possess an anti-nociceptive effect against both acetic acid-induced writhing and hot plate-induced thermal stimulation. The anti-inflammatory effect of plant was determined by xylene-induced ear oedema in mice and cotton pellet granuloma test in rats. The anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects were dose dependent and can be used for painful and inflammatory conditions.



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