Ruta montana
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID6440000618d6e713455062 |
| Scientific name | Ruta montana |
| Authority | Mill. |
| First published in | Amoen. Acad. 3: 52 (1756) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Among the Mapuche of southern Chile, aerial parts of Ruta montana are taken as a warm infusion for abdominal pain and colic (Hernández-Bolio et al., 2021). In classical Greek practice, the leaves are infused in hot water as a tea to relieve flatulence and colicky indigestion; Dioscorides notes this remedy, and later pharmacognostic surveys repeat it for Ruta species, including R. montana (Dioscorides, De Materia Medica; Vallès, 2004; Pignatti, 2003). Moroccan communities have used a poultice of fresh aerial parts applied to bruises and superficial wounds (Ben Sassi et al., 2008). On the Canary Islands, whole‑herb infusions are prepared for intestinal cramps and dyspepsia, a use recorded in regional ethnobotanical inventories (MAPA, 1990; Pérez de Paz & Mederos, 2003). In Tunisia and Algeria, infusions of leaves and stems are taken as a bitter tea to stimulate digestion and reduce spasms (Triqui, 1991; Vallès, 2004).
Mild tea for flatulence and intestinal cramps: Place 1–2 g of dried aerial parts (a handful of fresh whole herb is roughly equivalent by bulk) in a teapot, pour 250 ml just‑boiled water, cover, and steep 10–15 minutes. Strain and sip a cup after meals. Due to Ruta’s phototoxic furanocoumarins, avoid strong sun exposure for several hours after use; do not exceed 1–2 cups daily, and do not use during pregnancy or with known photosensitizing drug therapy.
The activity aligns with a characteristic profile for Ruta species: furanocoumarins such as bergapten (5‑methoxypsoralen) and xanthotoxin (8‑methoxypsoralen) in the leaves, bitter alkaloids like rutaecarpine, and essential oils rich in 2‑undecanone, nonanone, and alkyl ketones (Stahl-Biskup & Saez, 2003; Vallès, 2004). These compounds are well documented in Ruta montana and provide a plausible basis for the antispasmodic, digestive, and rubefacient actions described in the traditions above.
Research continues on the phytochemistry and bioactivity of Ruta montana’s furanocoumarins, flavonoids, and essential oils, and dried aerial parts or standardized extracts are available in niche ethnobotanical commerce; in the areas noted, the plant remains in active folk use (Hernández-Bolio et al., 2021; Stahl-Biskup & Saez, 2003; MAPA, 1990).
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
- Live ornamental plants: “mountain rue” (Ruta montana) is cultivated and sold by commercial nurseries as container-grown or field‑grown specimens. The plant is marketed for use in rock gardens, Mediterranean‑style landscapes, xeriscapes, and as a low‑growing accent in herbaceous borders. Growers offer selections that vary in leaf colour (grey‑green to silvery) and habit (compact mounds vs. spreading forms).
- Cut foliage: harvested stems bearing the aromatic, finely divided leaves are supplied to florists for use as scented filler in mixed bouquets and arrangements, providing textural contrast and a distinctive bitter scent.
Properties relevant to use:
- Morphology and habit: an evergreen, woody‑based shrub typically reaching 0.5–1.2 m in height and 0.6–1.0 m in spread; growth is mound‑forming with multiple stems arising from a woody base.
- Leaf characteristics: leaves are grey‑green, bipinnately divided, and persist year‑round, offering constant visual texture. The foliage contains volatile terpenes such as 2‑undecanone, limonene, and α‑pinene, which impart a strong, bitter aroma that remains detectable in dried material.
- Environmental tolerance: once established the plant tolerates drought, prefers well‑drained, neutral to mildly alkaline soils (pH 6.5–8.0), and is hardy in USDA zones 7–9. It thrives in full sun to light shade and tolerates poor, rocky substrates.
- Propagation: cuttings root readily under mist or in a well‑aerated substrate, allowing rapid nursery production; seed germination is also viable but slower.
- Landscape value: low water requirements and resistance to common pests make it suitable for low‑maintenance planting schemes; the evergreen foliage provides winter interest.
Sustainability and sourcing:
- Origin and cultivation: native to the Mediterranean region, commercial production is based entirely on cultivated nursery stock propagated vegetatively by cuttings or by seed, eliminating the need for wild‑harvest.
- Resource efficiency: after establishment the plant requires minimal irrigation, reducing water use, and generally needs no synthetic growth regulators or intensive pesticide regimes.
- Invasive risk: no significant invasive traits have been reported; the species is regarded as non‑invasive in temperate horticultural contexts.
- Sustainable practices: growers often use peat‑free growing media, implement integrated pest management (IPM) with low‑impact biocontrols, and source propagative material locally to limit transport emissions.
- Market footprint: because production is regional and the plant is relatively compact, transportation distances are short, contributing to a low carbon footprint for landscaping projects in Europe and North America.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Ruta tenuifolia | Vill. | Prosp. Hist. Pl. Dauphiné : 47 (1779) |
| Ruta sylvestris | Mill. | Gard. Dict. ed. 8 : n.º 3 (1768) |
| Ruta legitima | All. | Fl. Pedem. 1: 280 (1785) |
| Ruta graveolens var. montana | L. | Sp. Pl. 383 1753 |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| Spanish | ruda silvestre española |
| Spanish | ruta graveolens var. montana |
| Spanish | ruta sylvestris |
| Spanish | ruda montesina |
| Spanish | ruda montés |
| Spanish | ruda montes |
| Spanish | ruda montana |
| Spanish | ruda de sardonedo |
| Spanish | ruda de los montes |
| Spanish | ruda agreste |
| Spanish | mala lanua |
| Spanish | hierba de la pesadilla |
| Arabic | سذاب البر |
| Arabic | سذاب |
| Arabic | فيجن |
| Arabic | الذفراء |
| Arabic | سذاب جبلي |
| Catalan | ruda de muntanya |
| Galician | ruda de montaña |
| Chinese | 山地芸香 |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!
No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
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Africa click to expand
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Northern Africa
- Algeria
- Morocco
- Tunisia
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Northern Africa
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Asia-temperate click to expand
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Western Asia
- East Aegean Islands
- Turkey
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Western Asia
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Europe click to expand
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Southeastern Europe
- Greece
- Italy
- Turkey-in-Europe
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Southwestern Europe
- Baleares
- France
- Portugal
- Spain
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Southeastern Europe
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000463742 |
| Tropicos | 28101586 |
| INPN | 119722 |
| Flora of Italy | 2986 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:775119-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-2527405 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 397678 |
| Observations.org | 134762 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 266085 |
| NBN Atlas | NBNSYS0200003048 |
| IPNI | 775119-1 |
| iNaturalist | 82850 |
| GBIF | 3832369 |
| EPPO | RUAMO |
| Elurikkus | 637140 |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
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If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Lignans, neolignans and related compounds / Furanoid lignans | |||||
| Sesamin | 72307 | Click to see C1C2C(COC2C3=CC4=C(C=C3)OCO4)C(O1)C5=CC6=C(C=C5)OCO6 | 354.40 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50067A034 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(99)00486-0 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives | |||||
| 17-(5-ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl)-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol | 86821 | Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C)C(C)C | 414.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(99)00486-0 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbonyl compounds / Ketones | |||||
| 2-Undecanone | 8163 | Click to see | 170.29 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(99)00486-0 |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Quinolines and derivatives | |||||
| 3-Hydroxyquinoline | 11376 | Click to see C1=CC=C2C(=C1)C=C(C=N2)O | 145.16 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2008-1074910 |
| 4-Methoxy-2-methylquinoline | 15560678 | Click to see | 173.21 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2008-1074910 |
| 9-(4-Methoxyquinolin-2-yl)nonan-2-one | 162849530 | Click to see CC(=O)CCCCCCCC1=NC2=CC=CC=C2C(=C1)OC | 299.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(99)00486-0 |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Quinolines and derivatives / Furanoquinolines | |||||
| Dictamnine | 68085 | Click to see | 199.20 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50067A034 |
| Evolitrine | 196980 | Click to see | 229.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(99)00486-0 |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Quinolines and derivatives / Quinolones and derivatives / Hydroquinolones | |||||
| 1-Methyl-2-(8-oxononyl)quinolin-4-one | 101020993 | Click to see | 299.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(99)00486-0 |
| 1-Methyl-2-(9-oxodecyl)quinolin-4-one | 101020994 | Click to see | 313.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(99)00486-0 |
| 2-(8-oxononyl)-1H-quinolin-4-one | 23757217 | Click to see CC(=O)CCCCCCCC1=CC(=O)C2=CC=CC=C2N1 | 285.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(99)00486-0 |
| 4-methoxy-N-methyl-2-quinolone | 182073 | Click to see | 189.21 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(99)00486-0 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives | |||||
| Daphnoretin methyl ether | 5318544 | Click to see COC1=C(C=C2C(=C1)C=C(C(=O)O2)OC3=CC4=C(C=C3)C=CC(=O)O4)OC | 366.30 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(99)00486-0 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2008-1074910 https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50067A034 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Furanocoumarins / Psoralens | |||||
| (-)-Heraclenol | 40429858 | Click to see | 304.29 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0367-326X(02)00313-1 |
| 9-(2,3-Dihydroxy-3-methylbutoxy)furo(3,2-g)chromen-7-one | 328236 | Click to see | 304.29 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0367-326X(02)00313-1 |
| Chalepensin | 128834 | Click to see CC(C)(C=C)C1=CC2=C(C=C3C(=C2)C=CO3)OC1=O | 254.28 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(99)00486-0 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2008-1074910 https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50067A034 |
| Chalepin | 119066 | Click to see | 314.40 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50067A034 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(99)00486-0 |
| Clausindine | 170935 | Click to see CC1(CC1C2=CC3=C(C=C4C(=C3)C=CO4)OC2=O)C | 254.28 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(99)00486-0 |
| Heraclenol | 73253 | Click to see CC(C)(C(COC1=C2C(=CC3=C1OC=C3)C=CC(=O)O2)O)O | 304.29 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0367-326X(02)00313-1 |
| Rutamarin | 26948 | Click to see | 356.40 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50067A034 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(99)00486-0 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Furanocoumarins / Psoralens / 5-hydroxypsoralens | |||||
| Bergaptol | 5280371 | Click to see | 202.16 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50067A034 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Furanocoumarins / Psoralens / 5-methoxypsoralens | |||||
| Bergapten | 2355 | Click to see COC1=C2C=CC(=O)OC2=CC3=C1C=CO3 | 216.19 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(99)00486-0 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2008-1074910 https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50067A034 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Furanocoumarins / Psoralens / 8-methoxypsoralens | |||||
| 8-Methoxypsoralen | 4114 | Click to see | 216.19 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50067A034 https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2008-1074910 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(99)00486-0 |
| Isopimpinellin | 68079 | Click to see COC1=C2C=COC2=C(C3=C1C=CC(=O)O3)OC | 246.21 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0367-326X(02)00313-1 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Hydroxycoumarins | |||||
| [2-Ethenyl-5-(6-hydroxy-7-methoxy-2-oxochromen-3-yl)oxyphenyl] formate | 162917903 | Click to see COC1=C(C=C2C=C(C(=O)OC2=C1)OC3=CC(=C(C=C3)C=C)OC=O)O | 354.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0367-326X(02)00313-1 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Hydroxycoumarins / 7-hydroxycoumarins | |||||
| Daphnoretin | 5281406 | Click to see | 352.30 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(99)00486-0 https://doi.org/10.1021/NP50067A034 |
| Scopoletin | 5280460 | Click to see | 192.17 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2008-1074910 |
| Umbelliferone | 5281426 | Click to see C1=CC(=CC2=C1C=CC(=O)O2)O | 162.14 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(99)00486-0 |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |