Ethenopharmacology of Suddab: A Comprehensive Review

Farha* , Zainab Zaki , Sunaiba Manzar , Md Moiz Alam

Department of Saidla, A.K.T.C.A.M.U., Aligarh, India

Corresponding Author Email: aligfarhachaudhary@gmail.com

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.46890/SL.2022.v03i04.001

Abstract

Rutagraveolens (L) has been used for centuries in the traditional system of medicine. It belongs to  the family Rutaceae. Garden rue is its English name and in Unani, it is known by the name of Suddab. It is a native of southeastern Europe but is widely naturalized in southern Europe and cultivated worldwide. In India, Suddab is commonly found in South India. It is a shrubby perennial, herb about 30-40 cm in height, stems are erect and smooth (14–45 cm). Leaves are arranged in an alternate manner, pinnate leaves and leaflets are deeply lobed obvate in shape with bluish-grey-green stalked. Flowers are shiny yellow with four spoon-shaped petals that occur in terminal umbel like groups blooms from June–September. Its constituents are glycosides, flavonoids, rutin alkaloids such as coquisagenines, kimmianine and graveoline and psoralens, bergaptene and xantotoxine, essential oils containing compounds such as methyl-nonyl-ketone,methyl-hepatyl-ketone. Psoralen is mainly responsible for its pharmacological actions, such as photosensitization therefore, it is used in Leukoderma(burs-o-behek),it is hepato-toxic also. Rutin is used as a capillary protectant so used in reducing BP and it has anti-tussive and anti-spasmolyticaction also. In the Unani system of Medicine, the whole herb is used for medicinal purposes. Its actions are stimulant (muharrik), antispasmodic( da’af-e-tashannuj), abortifacient (musqitejaneen), emmenagogue (mudrehaiz), demulsent (mulattif), antithrombotic (mufattesudad), calorific (muakhkhin), carminative (kasir e riyah) ,brain tonic (muqawwi e dimagh), appetizer (mushtahi), pruritic (mukharrish), desicant (mujaffif),  anti-inflammatory (muhallil). The present review provides pharmacological actions, chemical constituents, and therapeutic uses of Suddab.

Keywords

Alkaloids, Glycoside, Rutaceae, Stimulant, Suddab

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Introduction

Ruta graveolens is mentioned in ancient literature of tibbe unani by Galen and Razi .It is a hardy, strong scented erect, glabrous, shrub like evergreen plant, which is native to Southern Europe (Ravindran et al., 2012). It is cultivated as a medicinal and ornamental herb in many countries including India (Kritikar et al., 2003; Cullen et al,. 2011; Joshi ,2002; Mandal, 2002). It prefers semi shelter dry environment for growing. The plant blossoms from June to September. It can be propagated by direct seed planning, stem cutting or root cutting (Ravindran et al., 2012). It is the source of Rue or Rue oil called as Sadab or Satab (Metcalfe et al., 1967). This is also known by the name of sadab and saatri in Hindi, suzab in Arabic, sudab in Urdu, satap in Persian and rue, garden rue, herb of grace in English (Bently, 2004; Anonymous, 2004; Baitar, 1999; Ghani, YNM; Hakeem, 2005). It belongs to the family Rutaceae which is one of the largest families contains approximately 150 genera and 1500 species (Jones, 1995). This family is also known as a citrus family because of its citrus fruits such as oranges, lemon, and grapes fruits (Sharma, 1993). Genus ruta has 14 species among them 2 are found in India which are R. graveolens. L and R. chalpensis. L (Anonymous-2004). Ruta graveolens resembles Euphorbia dracunculoides (Nazish et al, 2009). The whole herb is used for medicinal purposes. The herb contain both dry and fresh herb. This is also used in cooking in some region. They have a stong unpleasant odor and bitter taste (Ravindran et al., 2012). Alkaloids, essential oil, furquinolines, coumarines are mainly found in rue (Kokate et al., 2015).  In the traditional system of medicine, it is used as stimulant, emmenagogue, diuretic, abortifacient, and resolvent (Bently, 2004; Dymock et al., 2005; Anonymous, 2004; Baitar, 1999; Ghani, YNM; Kabirrudin, YNM.)

Scientific Classification

Kingdom: Plantae

Clade: Angiosperms

Clade:  Eudicots

Order: Sapindales

Family: Rutaceae

Genus: Ruta

Species: R. graveolens

Botanical description

Ruta graveolens has a height of 2 to 2.5ft (Kritikar et al., 2003; Nadkarni, 2005). The stem is cylindrical, branched, 2 to 3 cm in length, and 1mm wide and its lower part is woody (Kokate et al., 2015). The shoots are gathered before the plant flower (Ravindran et al., 2012). Leaves are 5 to 7.5cm long, 2 to 2.5mm broad, alternate bluish green, and either bi or tri-pinnate, strongly aromatic (Kokate et al., 2015). Fruits are dry hard, sub-cylindrical, brown greenish capsules, with 4 to 5 lobe rough externally (Ravindran et al., 2012; Kokate et al., 2015). Flowers are small greenish-yellow in color and have concave petals. Seeds are ovoids, rounded on the back (Kritikar et al., 2003; Nadkarni, 2005; Kokate et al., 2015).

ChemicaL Constituents

Ruta graveolens mainly contain Glyosides such as Flavaniod, Rutin(2%). Alkaloids such as Coquisagenine, Skimmianine, and Graveoline, Psoralens, Bergerpetene, and Xantoxine. Essential Oil containing compound such as Methy-nonyl-ketone, Methy-noncttyl ketone. It also contains Fixed Oils such as Linoleic, Stearic, and Palmitic acid (Ravindran et al., 2012; Kokate et al., 2015).

Pharmacological Activities

Mufattehe sudad (Anti-thrombotic), Dafe-tashannuj (Antispasmodic), Mulattif (demulcent), Muharrik (Stimulant),  Musqitejaneen (Abortifacient), Mudre bol wa haiz (Diuretic and Emmenagogue), Mulattif (Demulsent), Muakhkhin (Calorific), Kasir-e-riyah (Carminative), Muqawwi-e-dimagh (Braintonic), Mushtahi (Appetizer), Mukharrish ( Pruritic), Mujaffif (Desicant), Muhallil (Anti-inflammatory), Manae hamal (Anti- conceptive), Muqawwie basar (Increase eyesight)    (Bently-2004; Anonymous, 2004; Baitar, 1999; Ghani, YNM; Hakeem, 2005; Dymock et al.,2005).

Therapeutic Uses

The whole herb is used for the treatment of cough, colic, and flatulence (Ravindran et al., 2012 ). It is useful in hysteria and ammenorhae. The juice of the herb is used for earache and toothache.  Leaves are used locally in the treatment of rheumatism of joints,feet, and loin (Anonymous,2004). It is also used in leukoderma due to the presence of its chemical constituent psoralen. Due to the presence of rutin it reduces blood pressure (Ravindran et al., 2012). It is also used in the treatment of epilepsy (Baitar, 1999). Decoction of suddab used as an enema to relieve colitis. Infusion of suddab leaves used to treat infantile paralysis in the form of nasal drops.It is used as an antidote for toxins such as snake and scorpions venom. Juice of suddab leaves along with fennel juice and honey help increase eyesight. Gums of suddab along with honey are used in the treatment of fungal infections. It is also used in kidney and urinary bladder stones and are used to treat spleen disease and jaundice. It is also used for itching problems (Ghani, YNM).

Adverse Effect

It is harmful to pregnant lady because it acts as an abortifacient. In large doses, it act as a narcotic. It also causes allergy (Anonymous, 2004; Nadkarni, 2005)

Conclusion

The present review concluded that Ruta graveolens is an odiferous herb of the family Rutaceae.It contains chemical compounds such as glycosides, alkaloids, coumarins, essential oil compounds, fixed oil etc. It has pharmacological activities such as antithrombotic, diuretic, emmenagogue, anti- inflammatory, pruritic, stimulants, etc. It is used for the treatment of various conditions such as eye problems, rheumatism, dermatitis, pain, hypertension, epilepsy, etc.

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