Ruta graveolens plant: A plant with a range of high therapeutic effect called cardiac plant

Belonging to the family Rutaceae, Rue or Ruta graveolens L. (RG) is an evergreen shrub herb and is distributed all
around the world. From the ancient times, the herb is applied for various types of disorders [1]. In Iran, RG is known
as Pim or Sodab and generally grows in the northern parts as Gilan province and Rasht city [2]. Concurrent with
other traditional systems of medicine, RG has been administered for numerous types of diseases in Traditional
Persian Medicine (TPM). Avicenna, the outstanding Persian physician, believed that RG have antispasmodic, anti
inflammatory, analgesic and antihelmintic effects and also exhibit aphrodisiac activity. In addition, this natural
medicament has been administered in gastrointestinal, pulmonary and genecology disorders [3]. Later Persian
scholars have recommended the herb as a vasodilator, antiflatulent, diuretic and a herb to treat amenorrhea and
dysmenorrhea. Moreover, leaves of RG have been applied as an appetizer, a medicament for skin disorders,
sciatalgia, chill and fever, kidney stones, toxins and poisons, neurological disorders and also a flavor to control the
taste and odor of syrup dosage forms [4].
The herb is also widely used in other medical systems. Chinese and Indian traditional physicians applied the herb for
syncope, neuralgia, rheumatalgia and ascites. However the application has been contraindicated in abortions and
pregnancies [5]. Traditional healers in some Latin America countries such as Uruguay and Mexico applied the herb
for abortion and GI disorders and cardiovascular system [6-7]. The abortive effect, menstruation function and
management of dyspepsia in veterinary medicines are also other applications of RG in some countries or states such
as Trinidad, Tobago and British Colombia of Canada [8]. Furthermore, African traditional practitioners have used
RG dry leaves for urinary ailments, diabetes, headache, and GI disorders and cardiovascular system [9]. British and
Denmark traditional medicines report the antirheumatic, tranquilizing and memory enhancing effects and
cardiovascular disorders of the herb [10-11].
With reference to current knowledge, RG showed antitumor activity against Dalton's lymphoma ascites (DLA),
Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) and L929 cells (IC100 = 16 mg/ml) which may be related to prooxidant and
hydroxyl radicals scavenging activities of the extract [12]. The extract has also evaluated in some neurological
disorders such as multiple sclerosis which was found effective [13]. Additionally, the genus, Ruta has shown