Peganum harmala
Peganum harmala
Peganum harmala, commonly known as Syrian rue or harmal, is a plant native to arid and semi-arid regions of the Mediterranean, Middle East, and North Africa. Traditionally, its use has not been extensively documented in any specific medical practices. However, studies have shown that environmental factors such as enclosure and rainfall can influence its growth, impacting the soil seed bank dynamics and vegetation recovery in degraded desert steppe areas. The plant's essential oils from different maturation stages of seeds exhibit moderate antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, indicating potential applications in these areas. Additionally, research has identified new bacterial species associated with Peganum harmala, which showed beneficial effects on durum wheat growth and alleviating lead phytotoxicity in contaminated soils. No significant safety concerns or known drug interactions have been recorded for this plant.
- Best evidence
- D
- Cautions
- —
Informational only. Traditional use does not mean proven effectiveness. Evidence and safety vary — check the cited sources.
What the science says
- The study found that fenced enclosure and increased rainfall altered the soil seed bank, increasing the density of Eragrostis minor while reducing Peganum harmala, facilitating vegetation recovery in degraded desert steppe.
- The study characterized the chemical composition and found moderate antioxidant and antimicrobial activities in essential oils from Peganum harmala seeds at different maturation stages.
- Three new species of Achromobacter were identified from Peganum harmala and Citrullus colocynthis, expanding the known diversity of these bacteria.
- Indigenous bacterial consortia from Peganum harmala showed significant improvements in durum wheat growth and alleviation of lead phytotoxicity in contaminated soils.
- The study found that silver and zinc oxide nanoparticles, when used with antibiotics, showed synergistic or additive antimicrobial activity against clinical isolates of Cutibacterium acnes.
Frequently asked questions
What is Peganum harmala?
Peganum harmala (Peganum harmala) is a plant documented in FolkKB's traditional-medicine reference, drawn from sourced literature and cross-checked against the evidence.
What does the scientific evidence say about Peganum harmala?
5 sourced findings are recorded for Peganum harmala; the strongest carries evidence grade D. For example: The study found that fenced enclosure and increased rainfall altered the soil seed bank, increasing the density of Eragrostis minor while reducing Peganum harmala, facilitating vegetation recovery in degraded desert steppe.
How strong is the evidence for Peganum harmala?
The strongest finding for Peganum harmala carries evidence grade D — preliminary or traditional. Grades run A (strongest) to D (preliminary or traditional).
Is Peganum harmala safe? What are the side effects?
No major safety issues are recorded for Peganum harmala in our sources, but the data may be incomplete. Consult a qualified professional before use.
Does Peganum harmala interact with medications?
No drug interactions are recorded for Peganum harmala in our sources. This does not rule them out — check with a pharmacist.
What are the common names of Peganum harmala?
Peganum harmala is also known as: Гармала обыкновенная.
Is Peganum harmala a proven treatment?
No. FolkKB is informational only. Traditional use and early findings are not proof of efficacy or safety — consult a qualified professional and never self-treat.
Sources
- T2 Genome-Resolved Delineation of Three Novel Endophytic Achromobacter Species from Desert Medicinal Plants. literature abstract metadata
- T2 Fenced enclosure and increased rainfall facilitate recovery of degraded desert steppe by restructuring soil seed bank dynamics. literature abstract metadata
- T2 First investigation on the chemical composition, antioxidant, antimicrobial and molecular docking studies of the essential oil obtained from Peganum harmala L. seeds at different stages of maturation. literature abstract metadata
- T2 Antimicrobial synergism of silver and zinc oxide nanoparticles with antibiotics against clinical isolate of Cutibacterium acnes. literature abstract metadata
- T2 Endophytic and rhizospheric bacterial consortia from Peganum harmala alleviate lead phytotoxicity and enhance durum wheat growth in heavy metal-contaminated soils. literature abstract metadata