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Rue

This image of Rue comes the first edition of De historia stirpium commentarii insignes, produced by Leonhart Fuchs in 1542. This book was one of the most celebrated herbals of the sixteenth century, and features over 500 woodcut illustrations, each hand colored. This book is available in the John R. Martin Rare Book Room in Hardin Library.  

Rue (Ruta graveolens)

Ruta graveolens, an evergreen subshrub in the Citrus family, is native to southern Europe but can be found in other regions around the world (Wessner, Hofmann, & Ring, 1999). While Rue’s blue-green leaves have a bitter taste and a pungent odor, its flowers, stems, and leaves have long been used for their medicinal properties (Eickhorst, DeLeo, & Csaposs, 2007; Hale, Meepagala, Oliva, Aliotta, & Duke, 2004). Ruta graveolens has been used as an anti-inflammatory to treat cramps, external ulcers, rheumatism, eczema, and systemic infections; as an antidote for scorpion and snake venom; as an insect repellent; and as an herbal decoction for warding off evil spirits (Gawkrodger & Savin, 1983; Heskel, Amon, Storrs, & White, 1983; Sallal, 1996; Wessner et al., 1999).

Warning: Ruta graveolens is known to cause reddening, burning, itching and photodermatisis (sun poisoning rash) when rubbed on skin that has been exposed to sunlight (Gawkrodger & Savin, 1983).

Historical Use

Rembert Dodoen’s A Nievve Herball, written in 1578, provides historical information on the use of Rue. This excerpt states that mixing R. graveolens with certain foods provides protection “against the bitings of vipers and serpentes,” and its juice protects “against the bitings and stingings of Scorpions, Bees, Waspes, Hornettes and madde [dogs].”

This image comes the first edition of De historia stirpium commentarii insignes, produced by Leonhart Fuchs in 1542. This book is available in the John R. Martin Rare Book Room in Hardin Library.  

Latest Research

References

Eickhorst, K., DeLeo, V., & Csaposs, J. (2007). Rue the herb: Ruta graveolens–associated phytophototoxicity. Dermatitis, 18(1), 52-55. doi:10.2310/6620.2007.06033

Gawkrodger, D. J., & Savin, J. A. (1983). Phytophotodermatitis due to common rue (Ruta graveolens). Contact Dermatitis, 9(3), 224. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0536.1983.tb04364.x

Hale, A. L., Meepagala, K. M., Oliva, A., Aliotta, G., & Duke, S. O. (2004). Phytotoxins from the leaves of Ruta graveolens. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 52(11), 3345-3349. doi:10.1021/jf0497298

Heskel, N. S., Amon, R. B., Storrs, F. J., & White, C. R., Jr. (1983). Phytophotodermatitis due to Ruta graveolens. Contact Dermatitis, 9(4), 278-280. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0536.1983.tb04390.x

Sallal, A., Alkofahi A. (1996). Inhibition of the hemolytic activities of snake and scorpion venoms in vitro with plant extacts. Biomed Lett, 53, 211-215.

Wessner, D., Hofmann, H., & Ring, J. (1999). Phytophotodermatitis due to Ruta graveolens applied as protection against evil spells. Contact Dermatitis, 41(4), 232. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0536.1999.tb06145.x