# Ruta

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{{Short description|Genus of shrubs}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| image = Ruta chalepensis11.jpg
| image_caption = ''[Ruta chalepensis](/source/Ruta_chalepensis)'', fringed rue
| taxon = Ruta
| authority = [L.](/source/Carl_Linnaeus)
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = See text.
}}
[[File:Ruta angustifolia MHNT.BOT.2008.1.4.jpg|thumb|''Ruta angustifolia'' – [MHNT](/source/MHNT)]]

'''''Ruta''''' (commonly known as '''rue''') is a genus of strongly scented [evergreen](/source/evergreen) [subshrub](/source/subshrub)s, {{cvt|20|–|60|cm|in|0}} tall, in the family [Rutaceae](/source/Rutaceae), native to the [Mediterranean](/source/Mediterranean) region, [Macaronesia](/source/Macaronesia) and southwest [Asia](/source/Asia). About ten species are accepted in the genus. The most well-known species is ''[Ruta graveolens](/source/Ruta_graveolens)'' ('''rue''' or '''common rue''').

The [leaves](/source/leaf) are bipinnate or tripinnate, with a feathery appearance, and green to strongly glaucous blue-green in colour. The [flower](/source/flower)s are yellow, with 4–5 [petal](/source/petal)s, about {{cvt|1|cm|in|frac=4}} across, and borne in cymes. The [fruit](/source/fruit) is a 4–5-lobed capsule, containing numerous [seed](/source/seed)s.

==Species==
{{As of|2021|September}}, [Plants of the World Online](/source/Plants_of_the_World_Online) accepted ten species:<ref name="POWO_35941-1">{{cite web |title=''Ruta'' L&period; |work=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew|url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:35941-1 |access-date=2021-09-15 }}</ref>
*''[Ruta angustifolia](/source/Ruta_angustifolia)'' <small>Pers.</small>
*''[Ruta chalepensis](/source/Ruta_chalepensis)'' <small>L.</small>
*''[Ruta corsica](/source/Ruta_corsica)'' <small>DC.</small>
*''[Ruta graveolens](/source/Ruta_graveolens)'' <small>L.</small>
*''[Ruta lamarmorae](/source/Ruta_lamarmorae)'' <small>Bacch., Brullo & Giusso</small>
*''[Ruta lindsayi](/source/Ruta_lindsayi)'' <small>Turrill</small>
*''[Ruta microcarpa](/source/Ruta_microcarpa)'' <small>Svent.</small>
*''[Ruta montana](/source/Ruta_montana)'' <small>(L.) L.</small>
*''[Ruta oreojasme](/source/Ruta_oreojasme)'' <small>Webb</small>
*''[Ruta pinnata](/source/Ruta_pinnata)'' <small>L.f.</small>

==Medicinal uses==
Extracts from rue have been used to treat [eyestrain](/source/eyestrain), [sore eyes](/source/sore_eyes), and as [insect repellent](/source/insect_repellent).<ref name="VaughanJudd2006">{{cite book | author1=J. G. Vaughan | author2=P. A. Judd | title=The Oxford Book of Health Foods | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WX7bHY98LAQC | year=2006 | publisher=Oxford University Press  |isbn=978-0-19-280680-2}}</ref>{{medrs|date=September 2012}} Rue has been used internally as an [antispasmodic](/source/antispasmodic), as a treatment for [menstrual](/source/menstrual) problems, as an [abortifacient](/source/abortifacient), and as a [sedative](/source/sedative).<ref name="oxford">{{cite book | author1=J. G. Vaughan | author2=P. A. Judd | title=The Oxford Book of Health Foods|publisher=Oxford University Press |page = [https://archive.org/details/oxfordbookofheal0000vaug/page/137 137] | year = 2003 | url = https://archive.org/details/oxfordbookofheal0000vaug | url-access=registration | isbn = 0-19-850459-4}}</ref>{{medrs|date=September 2012}}
''Ruta graveolens'' and ''Ruta chalepensis'' are often confused in scientific literature.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Kannan R, Babu UV |title=Identity and pharmacognosy of Ruta graveolens Linn |journal=Anc Sci Life |volume=32 |issue=1 |pages=16–9 |date=July 2012  |pmid=23929988 |pmc=3733200 |doi=10.4103/0257-7941.113792 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

==Traditional uses==

Ruta is the national flower of Lithuania, many poems and songs have been written about it. Ruta is depicted in songs as a universal symbol – virgins wear it while expecting a baby boy, and a sprig of rue adorns weddings and engagements. In addition, the female name Rūta is quite popular in Lithuania. This perennial plant is also grown in America, Western Europe, Asia and Africa. In the wild, it grows from the Canary Islands to the Mediterranean Sea. In general, rue has been known for many centuries. Even the ancient Greeks used it to treat many ailments.

Tena'Adam (''Ruta chalepensis''), meaning "Health of Adam" in Amharic, is an aromatic, shrubby herb widely used in Ethiopian culture. Known for its pungent, citrus-like scent, it is commonly added to coffee and tea to enhance flavour, used in spices like Berbere, and treated in traditional medicine for ailments like stomach issues and headaches.<ref>{{Citation |title=Ruta chalepensis |date=2025-07-12 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ruta_chalepensis&oldid=1300128272 |access-date=2026-03-24 |language=en}}</ref><ref>https://zehabesha.com/tenaadam/</ref>

Since medieval times, rue has been used as an additive to wines (both white and red) to enhance its flavour and its keeping properties. The Dutch name ''wijnruit'', translates as wine rue. In Italy, rue is added to [grappa](/source/grappa) to produce Grappa alla Ruta. Rue's toxicity has long been known but since it appears to be slight it has been used as an additive in wine for a long time.

In Brazil the plant is called ''arruda,'' in [Portuguese](/source/Portuguese_language) – is claimed to protect against the [evil eye](/source/evil_eye).<ref>{{Cite web |last=altoastral |title=Faça 5 simpatias com arruda para abrir caminhos e proteção |url=https://www.terra.com.br/vida-e-estilo/horoscopo/esoterico/faca-5-simpatias-com-arruda-para-abrir-caminhos-e-protecao,77d6be358d385690ff9767f581b1f99dn25iyfi9.html |access-date=2023-10-28 |website=Terra |language=pt-BR}}</ref>  Sephardic Jews also use the herb for protection against evil eye.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kaf HaChayim on Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim 301:135 |url=https://www.sefaria.org/Kaf_HaChayim_on_Shulchan_Arukh,_Orach_Chayim.301.135?lang=bi |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=www.sefaria.org}}</ref>

Traditionally, it has various health benefits including, digestive aid as it helps in stimulating digestion and alleviating stomach issues. Its anti-inflammatory properties help in curing joints pain and arthritis. It is used to regulate menstrual cycle and helps in relieve menstrual cramps. It also helps in reducing muscle spasms and cramps.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hamzi |date=2024-06-03 |title=Ruda: The Herb of Protection and Healing |url=https://hdmovieplug.com/ruda-the-herb-of-protection-and-healing/ |access-date=2024-06-13 |website=HDMOVIEPLUG |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Precautions==
thumb|Effect of common rue on skin in hot weather
Caution should be taken with using rue topically. Applied to the skin [with sun exposure](/source/Phototoxicity), the oil and leaves can cause blistering.<ref name="pmid17303046">{{cite journal |first1=Kimberly |last1=Eickhorst |first2=Vincent |last2=DeLeo |first3= Joan |last3=Csaposs |year=2007 |title=Rue the herb: ''Ruta graveolens''-associated phytophototoxicity |journal=[Dermatitis](/source/Dermatitis_(journal)) |volume=18 |issue=1 |pages=52–55 |pmid=17303046 |doi=10.2310/6620.2007.06033}}</ref> Some people are much more sensitive than others. Exposure to common rue, or herbal preparations derived from it, can cause severe [phytophotodermatitis](/source/phytophotodermatitis), which results in burn-like blisters on the skin.<ref>{{cite journal | pmid = 19671699 | year = 2009 | last1 = Arias-Santiago | first1 = SA | last2 = Fernández-Pugnaire | first2 = MA | last3 = Almazán-Fernández | first3 = FM | last4 = Serrano-Falcón | first4 = C | last5 = Serrano-Ortega | first5 = S | title = Phytophotodermatitis due to Ruta graveolens prescribed for fibromyalgia | volume = 48 | issue = 11 | pages = 1401 | doi = 10.1093/rheumatology/kep234 | journal = Rheumatology| doi-access = free }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | pmid = 17667834 | year = 2007 | last1 = Furniss | first1 = D | last2 = Adams | first2 = T | title = Herb of grace: An unusual cause of phytophotodermatitis mimicking burn injury | volume = 28 | issue = 5 | pages = 767–769 | doi = 10.1097/BCR.0B013E318148CB82 | journal = Journal of Burn Care & Research}}</ref><ref name="pmid17303046"/><ref>{{cite journal | pmid = 10515113 | year = 1999 | last1 = Wessner | first1 = D | last2 = Hofmann | first2 = H | last3 = Ring | first3 = J | title = Phytophotodermatitis due to Ruta graveolens applied as protection against evil spells | volume = 41 | issue = 4 | page = 232 | journal = Contact Dermatitis | doi = 10.1111/j.1600-0536.1999.tb06145.x| s2cid = 45280728 }}</ref> The mechanism of action is currently unknown.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Naghibi Harat |first1=Z. |last2=Kamalinejad |first2=M. |last3=Sadeghi |first3=M. R. |last4=Sadeghipour |first4=H. R. |last5=Eshraghian |first5=M. R. |date=2009-05-10 |title=A Review on Ruta graveolens L. Its Usage in Traditional Medicine and Modern Research Data |url=http://jmp.ir/article-1-360-en.html |journal=Journal of Medicinal Plants |language=en |volume=8 |issue=30 |pages=1–19}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q165250}}
{{Authority control}}

Category:Ruta
Category:Rutaceae genera
Category:Herbs
Category:Medicinal plants

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ruta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruta) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruta?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.