Syrian rue
Peganum harmalaNitrariaceae // seeds · aerial parts
Also known as: harmal, esfand, isband
Preparation
Overview
Plant parts
seeds, aerial parts
Known constituents
harmine, harmaline, tetrahydroharmine, vasicine
Research corpus coverage
Chemistry notes
- Principal reported constituents include harmine, harmaline, tetrahydroharmine, vasicine; broad class: beta-carboline MAO inhibition; quinazoline alkaloids.
Uses & Evidence
Traditional / historical use
Documented traditional use — not a claim of established efficacy.
No traditional-use records in this corpus.
Modern evidence
Common name 'rue' is misleading; unrelated to Ruta graveolens.
MODERATE · Peganum harmala intoxication, a case report - PMC
Identity/attribution caution.
Safety
Human
- High risk
Safety severity is HIGH: poisonings include neurologic, cardiovascular, hepatic and gastrointestinal effects; pregnancy risk is serious
Intrinsic toxicity · HIGH · Peganum harmala intoxication, a case report - PMC
Additional safety notes (general, unstructured)
Free-text safety notes carried from their source — not broken out by species, route, or hazard type, and not equivalent to the structured records above. Each note names the kind of source it came from.
Safety severity is HIGH: poisonings include neurologic, cardiovascular, hepatic and gastrointestinal effects; pregnancy risk is serious
HIGH · Peganum harmala intoxication, a case report - PMC
Preparation × species risk matrix
Unknown means insufficient evidence was located — not that a form is safe.
Cats
- tinctureCaution
- concentrated extractUnknown
- essential oilUnknown
- glyceriteUnknown
- infused oilUnknown
- salveUnknown
- smoke/combustionUnknown
- tea/infusionUnknown
- whole herbUnknown
Dogs
- tinctureCaution
- concentrated extractUnknown
- essential oilUnknown
- glyceriteUnknown
- infused oilUnknown
- salveUnknown
- smoke/combustionUnknown
- tea/infusionUnknown
- whole herbUnknown
Identity
- Synonym
GBIF lists Harmala multifida All. as a taxonomic synonym of Peganum harmala.
HIGH · GBIF Species Synonyms API
Common name
harmal, esfand, isband
Traditions
West and Central Asian, North African, Middle Eastern folk and ceremonial traditions
Mediterranean to Central Asia // ancient/medieval references and living folk practice // living tradition; some modern reinterpretation
Ethnobotanical
Syrian rue is documented in West and Central Asian, North African, Middle Eastern folk and ceremonial traditions in Mediterranean to Central Asia for fumigation, apotropaic and healing rites; entheogenic framing is often modern.
HIGH · Peganum harmala intoxication, a case report - PMC
Ritual
Documented functions include protective, healing, divinatory; these functions are tradition-specific and should not be generalized across cultures.
HIGH · Peganum harmala intoxication, a case report - PMC
Legal
Legal status changes over time and by jurisdiction — this is a dated snapshot, not current law.
International · Checked 2026-08-09
Varies substantially by country; constituent controls and plant-specific controls are not uniform.
State / municipal · Checked 2026-08-09
Material state and municipal variation may apply; verify jurisdiction at time of use.
US Federal · Checked 2026-08-09
Plant is not federally scheduled; controlled-constituent and analogue issues may arise depending on preparation and intent.
Sources
Research records are source-linked but may not yet be editorially reviewed.
peer-reviewed article
government/regulatory source
- GBIF Species Synonyms API1 claim
authoritative taxonomic database