[[File:Peganum harmala.jpeg|thumb|Alt=Peganum harmala|300px|left|Peganum harmala]]
Other Names : Peganum harmala, Wild rue, African rue, esfand, espand, harmel, rue sauvage, alharma, gamarza, སེ པན Sepan Marathi: Harmala, Harmal, Isband, Isband Lahouri, eeme goranti; haramala, soma, simaiyalavinai, simaiyaravandi, cimai alavanam, shima-goranti-vittulu, Ispand, Aspand, Tukhm kunch hi maing, 骆驼 蓬 luo tuo peng, Luo Tuo Peng Zi, 骆驼蓬子, Seed Of Common Peganum,
==Special Precautions of Syrian Rue==
* In addition to all therapeutic effects of P. harmala, there have been several reports of human[79] and animal[68] intoxications induced by this plant. There are also experimental studies indicating P. harmala toxicity.[6,7] In an in vitro study, intrapretoneal administration of three different extracts of P. harmala at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight induced sympthoms such as: Abdominal writhing, body tremors and slight decrease in locomotor activity,[21] while oral administration of these extracts showed no toxicity. There have been also the same symptoms reported in different human cases[2,6,80] following ingestions of P. haramala seed extract or infusion including: Neuro-sensorial symptoms, visual hallucination, slight elevation of body temperature, cardio-vascular disorder such as bradycardia and low blood pressure, psychomotor agitation, diffuse tremors, ataxia and vomiting. Despite animal intoxications in almost all of human cases, P. harmala poisonings were relieved in a few hours.[6] P. harmala extract is toxic at high-doses[7,77,81,82] and can cause paralysis, liver degeneration, spongiform changes in the central nervous system,[83] euphoria, convulsions, digestive problems (nausea, vomiting), hypothermia and bradycardia.[2,6,68,80] However, therapeutic doses have been reported to be safe in a rodent model.[54] * MAO inhibition activity of P. harmala components are the main cause for the toxicological effects after ingestion of the plant.[7] Moreover, the intercalation of P. harmala alkaloids into DNA has led to its mutagenic property which causes genotoxic effects.[84] P. harmala methanolic extract has showed teratogenic effects in female rats.[68] The extract prolonged diestrus phase, reduced number of living pups, and decreased the number of resorption. It also dose-dependantly decreased litter size.[8] These data all together suggest that care should be taken while using P. harmala and its derivatives as therapeutic agents in order to prevent probable intoxications. Go to:* DRUG INTERACTION: P. harmala is shown to interact with drug metabolism due to its significant effects on the expression of cytochrome P450s (CYP), the most important superfamily of drug metabolizing enzymes. Seeds of this plant dose-dependently increase the expression of CYP1A2, 2C19, and 3A4 whereas decrease the expression of CYP2B6, 2D6 and 2E1. Harmine and harmaline are the main contents involved. These data all together suggest that care should be taken when P. harmala is co-administered with other drugs.[3]
==Health Benefits and Uses of Syrian Rue==
* CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECTS : P. harmala is one of the most frequently used medicinal plants to treat hypertension and cardiac disease worldwide.[9,85] It has also been shown in various pharmacological studies that P. harmala extract or its main active alkaloids, harmine, harmaline, Harman and harmalol, have different cardiovascular effects such as bradycardia, decreasing systemic arterial blood pressure and total peripheral vascular resistance, increasing pulse pressure, peak aortic flow and cardiac contractile force,[10] Vasorelaxant[11,12] and angiogenic inhibitory effects.[13]