Harmel

At a glance

Origin / distribution: India, Iraq, French, Kurdistan, Europe, German, ", Iran

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Abortifacient, Alterative, Aphrodisiac, Asthma

Science studied: ASH, DEOXYPEGANINE, DEOXYVASICINONE, DIPEGENE

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Zygophyllaceae

Scientific name: Peganum harmala

Common names: Harmel, Syrian Rue, African Rue, African rue, African-rue, Harmal, Harmal peganum, Harmalkraute, Hermelrude, Pegano, Péganum de Syrie, Harmal, Rue de Syrie, Rue de Syrie, Steppenraute, Syrian rue, Syrian-rue

POWO: 774545-1 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in Elsewhere, India, Iraq, French, Kurdistan, Europe, German, " and 11 additional places.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Abortifacient
• Alterative
• Aphrodisiac
• Asthma
• Calculus
• Cancer(Uterus)
• Colic
• Diuretic

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• Elsewhere
• India
• Iraq
• French
• Kurdistan
• Europe
• German
• "
• Iran
• Arabic
• Mexico
• USSR

Documented cultural uses

• Abortifacient
• Alterative
• Aphrodisiac
• Asthma
• Calculus
• Cancer(Uterus)
• Colic
• Diuretic
• Dysmenorrhea
• Emetic
• Emmenagogue
• Eye

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Abortifacient · Elsewhere · "
• Abortifacient · India · "
• Alterative · Iraq · "
• Alterative · French · "
• Aphrodisiac · India · "
• Aphrodisiac · Kurdistan · "
• Asthma · Elsewhere · "
• Asthma · India · "
• Calculus · Elsewhere · "
• Cancer(Uterus) · Europe · "
• Colic · Elsewhere · "
• Diuretic · India · "
• Dysmenorrhea · Elsewhere · "
• Emetic · Elsewhere · "
• Emmenagogue · Iraq · "
• Emmenagogue · India · "
• Emmenagogue · German · "
• Eye · " · "
• Eyesight · Elsewhere · "
• Fever · India · "
• Fumigant · Elsewhere · "
• Lactogogue · Iraq · "
• Lactogogue · Iran · "
• Lactogogue · India · "

41 additional documented entries remain in the source record.

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• Assembly of the Peganum harmala microbiome across plant compartments and growing seasons · 2026 source ↗
• <i>Peganum harmala</i> L.: Essential Oil Composition, Extraction Technologies, Biological Activities and Emerging Applications. · 2026 source ↗
• Harmine Hydrochloride from <i>Peganum harmala</i> L. Targets NFAT1 for Proteasomal Degradation to Suppress Ovarian Cancer Progression. · 2026 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• ASH
• DEOXYPEGANINE
• DEOXYVASICINONE
• DIPEGENE
• FAT
• FIBER
• HARMALOL
• HARMAN
• HARMINE
• PEGAMINE
• PEGANINE
• PHOSPHORUS
• PROTEIN
• VASICINONE
• PEGANOL
• RUINE

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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