Ruta graveolens, commonly known as rue, is a strongly scented evergreen shrub native to the Mediterranean region. The leaves are bipinnate or tripinnate and green to blue-green in color. The yellow flowers are about 1 cm in diameter and borne in cymes. Rue was used in ancient times by Hippocrates and Greeks as an antidote for poison and remedy for indigestion. It grows well in sandy loamy soil with pH between 6.0-8.0 and tolerates hot, dry conditions. Rue is commercially propagated through seeds and stem cuttings for uses as an antispasmodic, abortifacient, sedative, and treatment
2. Ruta (commonly known as rue) is a genus of strongly
scented evergreen subshrubs, 20–60 cm tall, in the
family Rutacea, native to the Mediterranean
region, Macaronesia and southwest Asia. The most well-
known species is Ruta graveolens (rue or common rue).
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Introduction
3. The leaves are bipinnate or tripinnate, with a
feathery appearance, and green to strongly
glaucous blue-green in colour.
The flowers are yellow, with 4–5 petals, about
1 cm diameter, and borne in cymes.
The fruit is a 4–5-lobed capsule, containing
numerous seeds.
4.
5. Ruta was first mentioned by Turner in 1562.
Hippocrates specially commended it,and it
constituted a chief ingredient of the famous
antidote to poison
The Greeks regarded it as an antimagical herb,
because it serves as remedy for indigestion.
In the Middle ages and later, it was considered-in
many parts of europe –a powerful defence against
witches.
Pliny- reported ruta to be effective for the
preservation of eyesight.
6.
7. Grows well in sandy loamy soils with medium
fertility
Soils with well decomposed FYM found best
for germination and better survival of
seedling and productivity
Soil pH: 6.0 to 8.0
8. It requires mild, cold and tropical climates.
It tolerates hot and dry conditions and prefers
open spaces under bright sunlight .
Optimum Temprature: 15-28 degree Celsius
Relative humidity: 60-75%
9. Commonly by- Seeds and Stems cuttings
Commercialy- Seeds, Viable 2-3 years
Seeds Rate- 250-300g/ha
10. Bed Preparation
Bed height : 10-15 cm
Width of bed: Raised nursery bed of 1m width
and convenient length.
Season: April-May
Sowing : Bold and healthy seeds, Depth of 1.5-2.0cm,
covered with soil, seeds germinate in 20-30days
Transplanting: Seedling of 20-25 cm in height and 50-
55days old, Spacing – 40*40cm
11. Internally as an antispasmodic, as a treatment for
menstrual problems,as an abortifacient and as a
sedative.
Antihelmintic,antidote,emetic,expectorants,haemos
tatic,opthalmic,strongly stimulant.
An essential oil extract of it is used in food
flavouring industry (Anon 1972)
Cures several skin diseases like Psoriasis and
Vitiligo (Massot,2000)
Extracts of Rue used as an antidote for toxins of
snakes and scorpion venoms (Sallal,1996)
12. The oil acts as a stimulant for uterine and
nervous systems
The fresh leaves are used for rheumatalgia
The juice obtained from the leaves is given to
children for helminthic infections and is good
for odontalgia and otalgia
The dried leaves,powdered and combined
with aromatics,are given as a remedy for
dyspesia and with the fresh leaves a tincture
is made which is used as an external remedy
in the first stages of paralysis