Zygophillaceae 

Common names: Harmel, Syrian rue, wild rue (English); hermala, harmel, rue sauvage (French); Gemeine syrische raute, wilde raute (German); ruta selvatica, ruta di Siria (Italian); harmal (Arabic).

Description

Perennial, woody at base, green, glabrous, leafy, 30-50 cm. Leaves 5-10 cm, sessile. Inflorescences terminal, cymose. Flowers large.

Flowering

March, April.

Habitat

Roadsides and ruderal sides in desert and steppes.

Distribution

Irano-Turanian and Saharo-Arabian, with extensions into Mediterranean and S. Euro-Siberian territories. This plant is very common in the whole Syrian badia. Sometimes, in dry years, harmal is the only visible plant in the steppe, with its strong green colour, due to its toxicity and non-palatability for animals.

Use

In the badia: Al-Khatīb: leg inflammation (mixed with grapes, Nigella sativa, halawet), nervous giddiness.

Field data: toothache (fumigations or boiled seeds on the teeth), wounds (irrigation), rheumatism (boiled seeds to drink or boiled plant to wash; in this last case, fumigations carried out with the vapour of the boiling plant before the irrigation), antibiotic (natural cortisone; information from a traditional doctor in Salamiyeh), diabetes (crushed seeds with water).

In literature: diuretic, lithotriptic, emetic, anti-rheumatic, stimulant of intestinal functions, cholagogue, arterial pressure regulator (seeds: bezer harmal); antispasmodic, rubefacient, laxative, treatment for itches and allergic rashes, hilarant, anthelmintic, hypnotic, abortifacient, lactogogue, aphrodisiac, smoked or burned seeds are used for fumigations, specialists use roots for venereal diseases and arthritis; seeds fried in oil for: icterus, cold, haemorrhoids, intestinal pain, heart diseases, women's sterility, uterus diseases, mixed with Artemisia herba-alba as anthelmintic; seeds: emmenagogue, diuretic, emetic. The two indolic alkaloids (harmin, harmalin), especially in the seeds, youngest leaves and roots, are considered as narcotic and hallucinogen. In women the toxicity of this plant gives serious problems when it is used as an abortifacient, due to overdose. Sometimes an overdose of this plant occurs in composed medicines, and the results are dangerous for children. However, the use of harmal is very popular and was recommended by the Prophet against misfortune.

Its use as forage has not been scientifically investigated.

Chemical Data

Harmin, harmalin, fixed oil, alkaloid (seeds); peganin (vasicin), harmalol.

References

Bedevian, A. K. 1936. Illustrated Polyglottic Dictionary of Plant names. Cairo, Argus D Papazian Presses.

Ozenda, P. 1991. Flore et végétation du Sahara. Paris, Ed. du CNRS.

Edited by: F. Guiso Gallisai
Information taken from: Sincich, F. 2002. Bedouin Traditional Medicine in the Syrian Steppe. Rome, FAO. 114-115.

All pictures and drawings belong to the author.

The presentation of material in this profile do not imply the expression of any opinion on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and has been taken from interviews with the traditional Bedouin doctor, Al-Khatīb and from data collected directly from Bedouins informants.