A Candidate for Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Treatment: Common Rue (Ruta graveolens L.), an Important Medicinal Plant in Traditional Medicine

Background: Ruta graveolens L. belongs to Rutaceae; it is a semi-wood perennial or a small evergreen sub-shrub, which is native to Southern Europe, West Asia and Northern Africa. Objective: The goal of this manuscript was to outline the most notable traditional and modern advantages and pharmaceutical benefits of common rue. Methods: The manuscript covers review articles, randomized control experiments, analytical studies and observations, which have been gathered from different sources, such as Google Scholar, Scopus, Science Direct and PubMed. A review of the literature was carried out using the keywords rutin, Ruta graveolens L., rue, common rune, coumarin, natural products and pharmaceutical benefits. Results: Rue contains quinoline alkaloids, such as graveoline and graveolinine, acridone alkaloids, such as furacridone and gravacridone, furanoquinoline dictamnine, coumarins, such as gravelliferone, isorutarin, rutacultin, rutaretin, and suberenone, and the furanocoumarins 5-methoxypsoralen (bergapten) and 8-methoxypsoralen (xanthotoxine). Most of its aromatic and medicinal properties are due to the presence of rutin and its essential oil. It has been used in folk medicine as a stimulant, for its antiinflammatory and analgesic properties, anti-androgenic activity, anti-hyperglycemic effects, antihyperlipidemic effects, xanthine oxidase inhibition activity, and anticancer properties. Conclusion: According to pharmacological and phytochemical advantages, pennyroyal shows its importance as a medicinal plant in both modern medicinal science and traditional medicine.