Ruta graveolens

The present study was undertaken to identify the active principles in leaf, Stem and Root extracts of Ruta graveolens L. using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The plant material was extracted in methanol by using Soxhlet apparatus for 24 hours and the extracts were analyzed using GC-MS. The mass spectra of the compounds observed were matched with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) library. The results revealed the presence of 17, 12 and 6 chemical compounds in leaf, stem and root extracts respectively. The major chemical constituents were kokusaginine (39.9%), Bergaptene (25%),2-Undecanone (14.97%),1-(1,3-Benzodioxol-5-ylmethyl)-3-Nitro-1(12.69%),Pyrrole-3-carboxaldehyde,1-(4- methoxyph(9.36%).Some of these compounds have been reported to possess various bioactivities such as anti-microbial, anti-viral, anti-oxidative, anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumour,etc. The study is a base to understand the richness of bioactive components in methanolic extracts from different parts of Ruta graveolens L. Their isolation would have potential applications in drug designing as well as in the medicine and healthcare industries.

The family of Rutaceae contains extremely wide variety of aromatic plants, mainly in tropical regions. Among them the rich is the genus Ruta. It is now cultivated in many parts of the world. This plant is considered indigenous in South Europe and North Africa and it grows on waste stony ground. Rue (Ruta graveolens) has been used for centuries as a medical preparation and has a variety of roles, probably because of its varied chemical composition. This plant is commonly cultivated in India and is commonly called as sudab or sadab. In traditional system of medicine it is used as stimulant, emmenagogue, diuretic, abortefacient, and resolvent. Detailed and comparative studies from its traditional use especially with reference to Unani system of Medicine, to the modern scientific reports have been evaluated in this paper. Keywords: Sudab; Ruta graveolens; Unani system of Medicine; Flavonoid.