Herbs & Botanicals · Poisonous traditional garden herb

Rue

Ruta graveolens · also called Common rue, herb of grace, ruda

Rue is a strong-smelling garden herb used in folk medicine for period problems, pain and the heart. Touching it and then going in the sun can cause severe burns. Swallowed, it has caused liver and kidney harm and deaths, and it is unsafe in pregnancy. We found no human trials showing it works.

General information, not medical advice. Last substantive update October 25, 2026 · Not medically reviewed. A named clinician has not signed off on this page. How this page is made

About Rue

Rue is a garden herb with a long folk-medicine history and well-documented dangers. Human evidence of benefit is almost absent.

Safety first

Skin: touching fresh rue and then being in the sun or a tanning bed can cause blistering burns. Reports include a 2-year-old, a man's hand, and a woman with burns over about 85% of her body. Wash the skin and stay out of the sun after any contact, and get medical care for blisters.

Pregnancy: do not use. Rue is named among herbal abortifacients that have caused serious illness and death.

Swallowed: case reports describe liver, kidney, heart and clotting problems, and a Hong Kong poison atlas lists multi-organ failure and death in severe cases.

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What it is

Rue is Ruta graveolens, a perennial in the citrus family. It contains psoralen-type furanocoumarins (bergapten, xanthotoxin), the flavonoid rutin, alkaloids such as graveoline, and an essential oil rich in the ketone 2-undecanone (methyl nonyl ketone).

It is not Syrian rue (Peganum harmala), not goat's rue and not Ruta chalepensis, a separate species. Reports from Latin America often say 'ruda' without separating the two Ruta species.

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What the research shows

We found no human treatment trial of rue as a herb. Uses are traditional or based on lab work. A 2026 review calls for standardised extracts and clinical studies, and says safe doses are not defined.

Lab findings on microbes and cancer cells do not show benefit in people. Trials of homeopathic Ruta dilutions exist but are not the herb and were not reviewed.

^{19 10 14}

Regulatory status

United States: rue is listed as generally recognised as safe only as a food flavouring at no more than 2 parts per million. That is not approval as a medicine.

We could not verify positions of the EMA (no herbal monograph found), NCCIH, LiverTox, LactMed or Health Canada.

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At a glance

Traditional uses history, not proof

Irregular periods
Fever, headache, toothache
Bruises and sprains
Heart complaints (belief)
Infant eczema

Studied for research

Irregular periods: insufficient
Pain and fibromyalgia: insufficient
Heart protection: against (harm reported)
Germ-killing and cancer cells: lab only
Insect repellent: against (burns)

Main compounds

Bergapten
Xanthotoxin
Rutin
Graveoline
2-Undecanone

Common forms

Fresh garden plant
Tea or decoction
Plant extract
Essential oil

Research links: Eickhorst 2007: rue and sun reaction (PubMed) · Pérez-Camelo 2022: tanning bed burns (PubMed) · Seak 2007: rue poisoning (PubMed) · Serhiienko 2026: rue review (PubMed) · Research Library · Genes & Biomarkers Library

The plant and its history

Accepted scientific name: Ruta graveolens L.
Naming authority: GBIF species match API, read 2026-10-25: ACCEPTED, key 3190382, family Rutaceae. NCBI Taxonomy search returned ID 37565.
Common names: Rue, common rue, herb-of-grace (English); Ruda (Spanish); 芸香 (yún xiāng) (Chinese)
Botanical family: Rutaceae (citrus family)
Classification: Plantae > Rutaceae > Ruta > Ruta graveolens
Native range: Not verified in the sources read. Reviews describe Ruta as mostly Mediterranean.
Habitat: Common garden herb; found in rural settings in the United States (2007 case report).
What the plant looks like: Roots: Not verified.; Stems: Perennial herb up to about 1 m tall (Hong Kong atlas).; Leaves: Bipinnate to tripinnate, greyish or bluish green, 6 to 12 cm (Hong Kong atlas).; Flowers: Golden yellow, about 2 cm, four petals (Hong Kong atlas).; Fruit: 6 to 10 mm capsule with glands (Hong Kong atlas).
Cultivation: Not covered.
Harvest and processing: Not covered.
Look-alikes and adulterants: Name: Ruta chalepensis L. (fringed rue); Note: A separate accepted species in GBIF (key 3190381). Reports often say 'ruda' without separating the two.; Name: Syrian rue (Peganum harmala); Note: A different plant in a different family (GBIF: Tetradiclidaceae); not covered on this page.; Name: Goat's rue (Galega officinalis); Note: A different plant (a legume) with a different use; not rue.
Sustainability and conservation: Not covered.

Traditional use and history history, not clinical proof

Tradition or era	Documented use	Source
Traditional Chinese medicine	Fever from colds, toothache, headache, bruises and sprains, irregular menstruation, infant eczema.	p39758226
European, Asian, African and South American traditional medicine	Digestive, nervous, heart, breathing and reproductive complaints.	p42680583
Taiwan	Believed to protect the heart; a decoction led to poisoning.	p17364636
Colombia (cultural belief)	Used in an elixir for bad luck, envy and anguish; risks unknown.	p35169530
Ruta in general	Abortifacient and emmenagogue, lung disease, infections.	p34443352

Traditional use shows how a plant was used. It does not show that a supplement works or is safe today.

What is inside, and how it may work

What the plant contains and how those compounds act in cells and animals. Laboratory and animal mechanisms are not proven effects in people.

Main compounds

Compound	Family	Where it is concentrated	Activity studied	Level of evidence
Bergapten (5-methoxypsoralen) PubChem 2355	furanocoumarin (psoralen)	Aerial parts (per reviews)	Psoralens react with UV light on skin. ^{3 7 12}	Case report
Xanthotoxin (8-methoxypsoralen) PubChem 4114	furanocoumarin (psoralen)	Aerial parts (per reviews)	Photosensitising psoralen. ^{7 12}	Case report
Rutin PubChem 5280805	flavonoid glycoside	Aerial parts	Antioxidant in the lab; also found in many other plants. ^{19 12}	Laboratory research
Graveoline PubChem 353825	quinolone alkaloid	Aerial parts	Alkaloids are blamed with furanocoumarins for toxic effects (2026 review). ^{19 12}	Laboratory research
2-Undecanone (methyl nonyl ketone) PubChem 8163	aliphatic ketone	Essential oil	Main ketone in Ruta oils; listed by the Hong Kong atlas as a toxic volatile oil. ^{13 8 12}	Laboratory research
2-Nonanone PubChem 13187	aliphatic ketone	Essential oil	Second main ketone in Ruta oils. ^{13 12}	Laboratory research
Chalepensin PubChem 128834	furanocoumarin	Several Rutaceae plants	Inhibited Cyp2a and induced Cyp2b in mice. ^{9 12}	Animal research
Rutamarin PubChem 26948	furanocoumarin	Not verified	Listed for identity only; no source on activity read. ¹²	Laboratory research
Skimmianine PubChem 6760	furoquinoline alkaloid	Whole plant	Listed by the Hong Kong atlas; inhibited serotonin-induced blood-pressure rises in an animal study. ^{8 12}	Animal research

Mechanisms, receptors and pathways

Target or pathway	Gene or receptor	What was found	Level
Phototoxic skin reaction	Not applicable	Psoralens from rue plus UVA cause a non-allergic photoirritant reaction. ^{3 7}	Human data
Organ toxicity	Not identified	Mechanism for liver, kidney and other toxic features is unknown; coumarins are suspected. ^{8 4}	Human data
Liver enzymes	Cyp2a, Cyp2b (mouse), CAR	Chalepensin lowered Cyp2a and raised Cyp2b activity in mice. ⁹	Animal research
Cancer cell survival	Akt (cell study)	Extract blocked Akt activation in cancer cells (summary-only). ¹⁴	Laboratory research

Absorption, metabolism and elimination

Absorption: Not covered in the sources read.
Distribution: Not covered.
Metabolism: Not covered for people; a mouse study covers chalepensin and enzymes.
Elimination: Not covered.
Bioavailability: Not covered.

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Isolated compounds versus whole extracts

Whole-plant contact and decoctions caused the harms in case reports. Isolated compounds (chalepensin, psoralens) were used in mechanism work. We cannot say which compound causes which harm.

Nutritional composition

Not a nutrient. Use as a bitter garden herb or flavouring is regulated in the US at 2 ppm (food additive rule).

7benefits and uses looked at

20studies and sources checked

Not enough evidencebest evidence rating found

0lab markers tracked in trials

5 not enough evidence2 evidence against

What is Rue good for?

The traditional and studied uses and how strong the evidence is. None are shown to work in people, and several are linked to harm.

Irregular periods (traditional)Not enough evidenceUsed in traditional Chinese medicine. No human trial. The same traditional use is tied to pregnancy harm. Pain and fibromyalgia (traditional)Not enough evidenceOnly a report of a skin reaction after rue was prescribed for fibromyalgia. No benefit shown. Heart protection (belief)Evidence againstThe one human report describes a slow heartbeat and kidney failure after a rue decoction. Fever, headache, toothache, infant eczema (traditional)Not enough evidenceTraditional Chinese medicine uses. No human studies found. Germ-killing activity in the labNot enough evidenceLab tests only. Effects on cancer cells in dishesNot enough evidenceCell studies only; nothing in people. Insect repellentEvidence againstA skin specialist report advises against it because of burns.

Benefits, one by one

Each card is a research question, not a promise. Tap a goal to filter. Open a card to see the studies, doses and limits.

Irregular periods (traditional use)

Not enough evidence

Rue has been used in traditional medicine for irregular periods. We found no human trial. The same traditional use is linked to harm in pregnancy.

3 studiesNot applicable.

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

No trials in people were found in the sources read.

Results

None.

Effect sizes as reported

None.

Why this rating

Traditional use only; no human trial found. Safety risks are well documented.

Form and dose studied

Not applicable.

Who was studied

Not applicable.

Limits

Traditional use does not show that it works.

Why researchers looked

Traditional Chinese medicine lists irregular menstruation among its uses; Ruta oils have long been used as emmenagogue and abortifacient.

Traditional use

Listed in traditional Chinese medicine for irregular menstruation (2024 review).

Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory

Not tested in people. Furanocoumarins and alkaloids are blamed for the uterine and toxic effects in reviews.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Rue can burn the skin with sunlight, can harm the liver and kidneys, and is unsafe in pregnancy. See the Safety tab first.

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Pain and fibromyalgia (traditional prescribing)

Not enough evidence

In one report a rue product was prescribed for fibromyalgia and the patient got a sun-triggered skin reaction. No benefit was shown.

2 studiesUnknown.

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

No trial. The only human report we found is a case of skin injury after rue was prescribed for fibromyalgia (title only was available).

Results

Skin reaction in the report; no pain result.

Effect sizes as reported

None.

Why this rating

Only a case report of harm; traditional claims.

Form and dose studied

Unknown.

Who was studied

One patient.

Limits

Title-only record; no benefit data.

Why researchers looked

Rue is used in folk and traditional medicine for bruises, sprains and aches.

Traditional use

Traditional Chinese medicine uses it for bruises, sprains, headache and toothache (2024 review).

Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory

Not tested.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Rue can burn the skin with sunlight, can harm the liver and kidneys, and is unsafe in pregnancy. See the Safety tab first.

^{1 10}

Heart protection and palpitations (traditional belief)

Evidence against

Rue is wrongly believed in some places to protect the heart. In the one case we found, a woman who drank a rue decoction for palpitations became seriously ill.

2 studiesA decoction of the plant (details in the Safety tab).

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

No trial. A case report describes slow heartbeat, kidney failure and a clotting problem after three days of a rue decoction.

Results

Harm, not benefit.

Effect sizes as reported

None.

Why this rating

The only human report describes harm.

Form and dose studied

A decoction of the plant (details in the Safety tab).

Who was studied

78-year-old woman.

Limits

One case.

Why researchers looked

Used in Taiwan and elsewhere for heart protection.

Traditional use

Described as a medicinal herb used for heart protection in Taiwan.

Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory

Not tested.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Rue can burn the skin with sunlight, can harm the liver and kidneys, and is unsafe in pregnancy. See the Safety tab first.

^{18 8}

Fever, headache, toothache and infant eczema (traditional Chinese medicine)

Not enough evidence

Traditional Chinese medicine lists these uses. No human studies were found. Do not use fresh rue on a child's skin.

2 studiesNot applicable.

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

No human trial found.

Results

None.

Effect sizes as reported

None.

Why this rating

Traditional use only.

Form and dose studied

Not applicable.

Who was studied

Not applicable.

Limits

A child touched rue and had a burn with systemic upset in one report.

Why researchers looked

Listed uses of Ruta graveolens in Chinese materia medica.

Traditional use

Fever from colds, wind-fire toothache, headache, bruises and sprains, irregular menstruation and infantile eczema.

Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory

Not tested in people.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Rue can burn the skin with sunlight, can harm the liver and kidneys, and is unsafe in pregnancy. See the Safety tab first.

^{10 5}

Germ-killing activity in the lab

Not enough evidence

Rue extracts and oils slowed some microbes in laboratory tests. This has not been tested as a treatment in people.

2 studiesOils and extracts in the lab.

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

None in people.

Results

Activity reported in lab tests (no numbers read).

Effect sizes as reported

None.

Why this rating

Test-tube evidence only.

Form and dose studied

Oils and extracts in the lab.

Who was studied

Not applicable.

Limits

Lab activity often does not carry over to people.

Why researchers looked

Essential oil and extracts are tested against microbes.

Traditional use

Ruta species are used traditionally for infections.

Proposed mechanism Laboratory research

Ketones such as 2-undecanone in the oil and other compounds act on microbes in test conditions.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Rue can burn the skin with sunlight, can harm the liver and kidneys, and is unsafe in pregnancy. See the Safety tab first.

^{13 19}

Effects on cancer cells in dishes

Not enough evidence

An extract reduced the survival of cancer cells in a dish. Nothing is known about people.

2 studiesExtract in cell culture.

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

None in people.

Results

Cell survival reduced in cell culture.

Effect sizes as reported

None.

Why this rating

Cell studies only; summary-only.

Form and dose studied

Extract in cell culture.

Who was studied

Cell lines.

Limits

The same compounds that harm skin and organs may be responsible.

Why researchers looked

Cell studies look for anticancer compounds in plants.

Traditional use

Not a traditional anticancer herb in the sources read.

Proposed mechanism Laboratory research

Reported to cause DNA damage pathways and block Akt activation in cells (summary only).

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Rue can burn the skin with sunlight, can harm the liver and kidneys, and is unsafe in pregnancy. See the Safety tab first.

^{14 19}

Use as an insect repellent (not advised)

Evidence against

Rue has been used against insects. A skin specialist report says it should not be used this way because of the burns it can cause.

1 studiesFresh plant on skin.

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

No trial. One case report links rue to a sun-triggered skin reaction and advises against using it as a repellent.

Results

Harm reported.

Effect sizes as reported

None.

Why this rating

Documented skin harm.

Form and dose studied

Fresh plant on skin.

Who was studied

Adult case.

Limits

One case.

Why researchers looked

Folk use in gardens.

Traditional use

Garden and folk use.

Proposed mechanism Pharmacological theory

Strong smelling oils.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Rue can burn the skin with sunlight, can harm the liver and kidneys, and is unsafe in pregnancy. See the Safety tab first.

Connections to the rest of health

How Rue connects to the rest of our health knowledge graph. Every link says what kind of connection it is. A safety link (for example to the liver) is a warning, not a benefit. A study that merely mentions a topic never creates a benefit link.

Explore every connection: goals, body systems, organs, symptoms, genes

Kind of connection Connected to Search

A. Wellness goals

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Womens Wellness	Traditional use	Not enough evidence	Irregular periods (traditional use): Rue has been used in traditional medicine for irregular periods. We found no human trial. The same traditional use is linked to harm in pregnancy.	^{10 13 19}
Heart Health	Adverse effect or risk	Evidence against	Heart protection and palpitations (traditional belief): Rue is wrongly believed in some places to protect the heart. In the one case we found, a woman who drank a rue decoction for palpitations became seriously ill.	^{18 8}
Immune Support	Preliminary mechanism	Not enough evidence	Germ-killing activity in the lab: Rue extracts and oils slowed some microbes in laboratory tests. This has not been tested as a treatment in people.	^{13 19}

B. Body systems

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Reproductive system	Contraindication	Documented	Organ failure and deaths in a poison-centre series. Preparation or compound: Infusions	^{2 4}
Reproductive System	Biological association	Not enough evidence	Studied for: Irregular periods (traditional use)	^{10 13 19}
Musculoskeletal System	Biological association	Not enough evidence	Studied for: Pain and fibromyalgia (traditional prescribing)	^{1 10}
Cardiovascular System	Biological association	Evidence against	Studied for: Heart protection and palpitations (traditional belief)	^{18 8}
Integumentary System	Biological association	Not enough evidence	Studied for: Fever, headache, toothache and infant eczema (traditional Chinese medicine) Studied for: Use as an insect repellent (not advised)	^{10 5 3}
Immune System	Biological association	Not enough evidence	Studied for: Germ-killing activity in the lab Studied for: Effects on cancer cells in dishes	^{13 19 14}

C. Body parts and organs

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Skin	Adverse effect or risk	Documented	Phytophotodermatitis and burns in several case reports. Preparation or compound: Fresh plant contact with psoralens and UV light	^{15 3 5 17}
Liver	Adverse effect or risk	Documented	Toxic hepatitis and liver impairment in case reports. Preparation or compound: Swallowed decoctions and herbal medicine	^{16 8}
Kidneys	Adverse effect or risk	Documented	Acute kidney failure in the Taiwan case. Preparation or compound: Decoction	¹⁸

J. Genes, receptors and enzymes

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
CYP2A (mouse Cyp2a5), CYP2B, CAR	Preliminary mechanism	Animal	Affected by chalepensin in mice.	⁹

L. Active compounds

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Bergapten (5-methoxypsoralen)	Biological association	Case report	Psoralens react with UV light on skin. Preparation or compound: Aerial parts (per reviews)	^{3 7 12}
Xanthotoxin (8-methoxypsoralen)	Biological association	Case report	Photosensitising psoralen. Preparation or compound: Aerial parts (per reviews)	^{7 12}
Rutin	Biological association	In vitro	Antioxidant in the lab; also found in many other plants. Preparation or compound: Aerial parts	^{19 12}
Graveoline	Biological association	In vitro	Alkaloids are blamed with furanocoumarins for toxic effects (2026 review). Preparation or compound: Aerial parts	^{19 12}
2-Undecanone (methyl nonyl ketone)	Biological association	In vitro	Main ketone in Ruta oils; listed by the Hong Kong atlas as a toxic volatile oil. Preparation or compound: Essential oil	^{13 8 12}
2-Nonanone	Biological association	In vitro	Second main ketone in Ruta oils. Preparation or compound: Essential oil	^{13 12}
Chalepensin	Biological association	Animal	Inhibited Cyp2a and induced Cyp2b in mice. Preparation or compound: Several Rutaceae plants	^{9 12}
Rutamarin	Biological association	In vitro	Listed for identity only; no source on activity read. Preparation or compound: Not verified	¹²
Skimmianine	Biological association	Animal	Listed by the Hong Kong atlas; inhibited serotonin-induced blood-pressure rises in an animal study. Preparation or compound: Whole plant	^{8 12}

Each connection is stored with the ingredient, the connected record, the kind of connection, the evidence status, the supporting studies, the preparation or compound involved, and a review date (last reviewed October 25, 2026).

The evidence

The research centre for Rue. Every record here was checked against PubMed or the publisher's page; we never list a study we have not verified.

Evidence by outcome

Irregular periods (traditional use) 3 studies Not enough evidence Pain and fibromyalgia (traditional prescribing) 2 studies Not enough evidence Heart protection and palpitations (traditional belief) 2 studies Evidence against Fever, headache, toothache and infant eczema (traditional Chinese medicine) 2 studies Not enough evidence Germ-killing activity in the lab 2 studies Not enough evidence Effects on cancer cells in dishes 2 studies Not enough evidence Use as an insect repellent (not advised) 1 studies Evidence against

Bars show how many studies we found for each outcome, not how well it works. People are added up across trials only (reviews are not added, to avoid double counting).

How we rate evidence

High certainty

Several well-run trials or reviews agree; further research is unlikely to change the picture much.

Moderate certainty

Good trials point the same way, but some doubt remains.

Low certainty

Small, short or inconsistent trials. The finding could change with better research.

Very low certainty

Very little or very weak human data. Treat as a possibility only.

Mixed findings

Trials or reviews disagree with each other.

Not enough evidence

Not enough human research to say either way.

Evidence against

Good research found no benefit, or found harm.

We take the reviewers' own risk-of-bias and GRADE statements where they exist, and otherwise judge from study size, design, consistency, directness and whether a product matches what is sold. Many publications do not make evidence high. Method note: We read our existing herb summary, searched PubMed, read the abstract of each PubMed record cited (one is title-only), and checked names in GBIF and compounds in PubChem. Regulator pages that could not be opened are marked not verified.

Study library: every study we checked 20

Design Research type Plant part Year from Search

Study	Design	People	Product, dose, length	Result
Arias-Santiago 2009 Phytophotodermatitis due to Ruta graveolens prescribed for fibromyalgia Rheumatology (Oxford) · PMID 19671699 · DOI	Case report	1 Patient with fibromyalgia (Spain)	Ruta graveolens, prescribed unspecified Not relevant here Not given here	Title only was available: the title states that a rue product prescribed for fibromyalgia caused phytophotodermatitis. No abstract. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Skin reaction Limitations: Abstract not available; only the title and journal record were read. Read: title-only
Ciganda 2003 Herbal infusions used for induced abortion J Toxicol Clin Toxicol · PMID 12807304 · DOI	Case series	86 Calls to the Montevideo Poison Centre, 1986 to 1999, about herbal infusions drunk with abortive intent (86 cases, 30 plant species)	Herbal infusions; 'ruda' (Ruta chalepensis/graveolens) most often involved unspecified Not relevant here Not given here	Multiple organ failure occurred in people who drank ruda (alone or with parsley or fennel) and some other products. Four deaths followed ruda (2 alone, 2 with parsley and fennel). Some of those with organ failure had also tried instruments on themselves. Authors: results are not conclusive. 4 deaths after ruda in the series Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Organ failure, deaths Limitations: The report names the plant 'ruda (Ruta chalepensis/graveolens)', so it does not separate the two species. Retrospective phone-call survey; other factors involved. Read: abstract
Eickhorst 2007 Rue the herb: Ruta graveolens--associated phytophototoxicity Dermatitis · PMID 17303046 · DOI	Case report	1 Adult with skin reaction after contact with rue (USA)	Fresh rue plant (skin contact) then UVA light aerial parts Not relevant here Not given here	Impressive photoirritant reaction when psoralens from rue touched skin that was then exposed to UVA. Authors say rue should not be used as an insect repellent. Single case; no numbers in abstract. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Skin reaction Limitations: One case; full text not read. Read: abstract
Feng 2023 Toxicities of herbal abortifacients Am J Emerg Med · PMID 36924751 · DOI	Narrative review review	Review of self-managed abortion with herbs and their toxicities	Herbal abortifacients including rue unspecified Not given here Not given here	Rue is named with pennyroyal, blue cohosh and quinine as herbal abortifacients with significant illness and death. Liver, heart, kidney and blood toxicity need attention in people with significant exposure. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Organ toxicity Limitations: Narrative review; abstract read plus our earlier summary of the full text (summary-only for details). Funding and conflicts: No conflicts declared. Read: abstract
Furniss 2007 Herb of grace: an unusual cause of phytophotodermatitis mimicking burn injury J Burn Care Res · PMID 17667834 · DOI	Case report	1 2-year-old child (UK) after contact with rue	Fresh rue plant (skin contact) plus sunlight aerial parts Not relevant here Not given here	Acute phytophotodermatitis with systemic upset after contact with the herb. Authors urge publicity about the hazard of rue in gardens where children play. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Skin burn and systemic upset Limitations: One case. Read: abstract
GBIF 2026 GBIF species match: Ruta graveolens L. GBIF · Source	Authoritative guidance n/a		Ruta graveolens unspecified Not given here	API read 2026-10-25: Ruta graveolens L., ACCEPTED, key 3190382, family Rutaceae. Ruta chalepensis L. is a separate ACCEPTED species (key 3190381). Peganum harmala L. is ACCEPTED (key 3189912), family listed as Tetradiclidaceae. Methods, limits and funding Limitations: Name database record only. Read: full-text
Grosu Dumitrescu 2024 New Insights Concerning Phytophotodermatitis Induced by Phototoxic Plants Life (Basel) · PMID 39202761 · DOI	Narrative review review	Review of phytophotodermatitis	Phototoxic plants (furanocoumarins, psoralens) unspecified Not given here Not given here	Describes how plant furanocoumarins and psoralens plus UV light cause erythema, fluid blisters, oedema and later darkening of the skin; a non-immune reaction. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Mechanism of the reaction Limitations: Not specific to rue; there is an erratum (2025). Abstract only. Read: abstract
Hospital Authority (Hong Kong) 2018 Atlas of Poisonous Plants in Hong Kong: Ruta graveolens Hospital Authority (Hong Kong), Toxicology Reference Laboratory · Source	Authoritative guidance		Ruta graveolens unspecified Not given here	Whole plant is the poisonous part. Skin contact: irritant contact dermatitis. Swallowed: vomiting, abdominal pain, miscarriage, dizziness, convulsion, liver and kidney impairment; multi-organ failure and death in severe cases. Major toxins unidentified; volatile oils (2-undecanone, 2-undecanol, pinene, cineole) and skimmianine listed. 300 g over 3 days has been reported to cause toxicity. Management is supportive. Methods, limits and funding Limitations: Clinical toxicology atlas page; mechanism for the main toxic features is stated as unknown. Read: full-text
Lo 2012 A dual function of the furanocoumarin chalepensin in inhibiting Cyp2a and inducing Cyp2b in mice Arch Toxicol · PMID 22790670 · DOI	Animal research animal	Mice	Chalepensin (a furanocoumarin found in several Rutaceae plants) isolated compound Not given here Not given here	Seven days of chalepensin lowered Cyp2a and raised Cyp2b activity in mouse liver; Cyp1a, 2c, 2e1 and 3a were not affected. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Liver enzyme activity Limitations: Mouse study of one isolated compound; says 'several Rutaceae plants', not rue specifically. Read: abstract
Luo 2024 Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology and Toxicology of Ruta graveolens L.: A Critical Review and Future Perspectives Drug Des Devel Ther · PMID 39758226 · DOI	Narrative review review	Review of 113 publications	Ruta graveolens unspecified Not given here Not given here	Traditional Chinese medicine use for fever from colds, toothache, headache, bruises and sprains, irregular menstruation and infant eczema. The authors found no earlier systematic review. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Traditional uses overview Limitations: Abstract read only; no clinical data reported in the abstract. Funding and conflicts: No conflicts declared. Read: abstract
NCBI 2026 NCBI Taxonomy: Ruta graveolens NCBI · Source	Authoritative guidance n/a		Ruta graveolens unspecified Not given here	Taxonomy search returned one record, ID 37565 (read 2026-10-25). Methods, limits and funding Limitations: Search result only. Read: full-text
NCBI PubChem 2026 PubChem compound records (bergapten, xanthotoxin, rutin, graveoline, 2-undecanone, 2-nonanone, rutamarin, chalepensin, skimmianine) NCBI PubChem · Source	Authoritative guidance n/a		Ruta graveolens unspecified Not given here	CIDs matched by name through the PubChem API on 2026-10-25: bergapten 2355, xanthotoxin 4114 (listed as 8-methoxypsoralen), rutin 5280805, graveoline 353825, 2-undecanone 8163, 2-nonanone 13187, rutamarin 26948, chalepensin 128834, skimmianine 6760. Methods, limits and funding Limitations: Matched by name; whether each is present in a given product is not shown. Read: full-text
Nahar 2021 Ruta Essential Oils: Composition and Bioactivities Molecules · PMID 34443352 · DOI	Narrative review review	Review of essential oils of Ruta species	Ruta essential oils (R. chalepensis, R. graveolens, R. montana) aerial parts Not given here Not given here	Oils are rich in aliphatic ketones such as 2-undecanone (methyl nonyl ketone) and 2-nonanone and low in terpenes. Ruta species have been used as abortifacient and emmenagogue, and for lung disease and infections. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Composition Limitations: Covers three species together; abstract read only. Funding and conflicts: No conflicts declared. Read: abstract
Not read in full 2011 Ruta graveolens extract induces DNA damage pathways and blocks Akt activation to inhibit cancer cell proliferation and survival Journal not re-verified (Europe PMC record) · PMID 21273604	Laboratory research in-vitro	Cancer cell lines	Ruta graveolens extract unspecified Not given here Not given here	Extract reduced the survival of cancer cells in dishes. Taken from our earlier summary; not re-opened. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Cell survival Limitations: Cell study; no human data. Journal name not recorded. Read: summary-only
Pérez-Camelo 2022 Tanning Beds, Rue, and Major Burns: An Alarming Association Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open · PMID 35169530 · DOI	Case report	1 Adult in Colombia who used rue before a tanning bed	Rue (cultural use) then tanning bed UV unspecified Not relevant here Not given here	Second-degree burns over about 85% of the body surface; about two and a half months of debridement and bandaging before discharge; purple pigmentation a month later, mainly on the legs. About 85% total body surface area burned Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Burn area, healing Limitations: One case. Funding and conflicts: No financial interest declared. Read: abstract
Rabaev 2011 Toxic hepatitis due to the use of Ruta herbal medicine (Hebrew) Harefuah · PMID 21574354	Case report	1 Patient in Israel	Ruta herbal medicine unspecified Not relevant here Not given here	Case report of toxic hepatitis (liver inflammation) attributed to Ruta herbal medicine. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Liver Limitations: Hebrew-language report with a very short abstract; species and amount not stated; one case. Read: abstract
Radotra 2018 A Phytophototoxic Injury at a Burns Unit: The Ungraceful After-Effects of the Common Rue Plant J Burn Care Res · PMID 29931352 · DOI	Case report	1 50-year-old man (UK), hand injury 2 days after contact with common rue	Fresh rue plant (skin contact) plus sunlight aerial parts Not relevant here Not given here	Skin loss to the hand treated with dressings. Authors advise avoiding sun for 48 hours after injury and say injuries to hands, feet, face or genitals should go to a burns service. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Skin loss Limitations: One case; the authors call such injuries 'very rare' but give no frequency. Read: abstract
Seak 2007 Ruta Graveolens intoxication Clin Toxicol (Phila) · PMID 17364636 · DOI	Case report	1 78-year-old woman in Taiwan	Decoction of Ruta graveolens taken for 3 days for palpitations and 'heart protection' unspecified Not relevant here Not given here	Slow heartbeat (bradycardia), acute kidney failure with high potassium, and a clotting problem. Treated with haemodialysis; slow heartbeat and low blood pressure improved after three days. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Heart rate, kidney, clotting Limitations: One case. The authors say rue may cause multi-organ toxicity. Read: abstract
Serhiienko 2026 Ruta graveolens L. in Evidence-Based Phytotherapy: Pharmacological Activities, Bioactive Compounds and Safety Phytother Res · PMID 42680583 · DOI	Systematic review review	Review of ethnomedical, chemical, pharmacological and toxicological data	Ruta graveolens extracts unspecified Not given here Not given here	Over 160 compounds identified. Activity from antimicrobial to antitumor in the lab. Because of furanocoumarins and alkaloids, extracts have phototoxic, abortifacient, hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic effects. The authors call for standardised extracts, toxicology and clinical studies. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Overview Limitations: Narrative PRISMA-style search; abstract read only. Read: abstract
US Code of Federal Regulations (via Cornell Law School LII) 2026 21 CFR 184.1698 Rue (US food additive rule) US Code of Federal Regulations (via Cornell Law School LII) · Source	Authoritative guidance		Ruta graveolens unspecified Not given here	Lists Ruta montana, R. graveolens, R. bracteosa and R. calepensis under 'affirmed as generally recognized as safe' for use in food at concentrations not to exceed 2 parts per million. Methods, limits and funding Limitations: Read through a third-party mirror (Cornell LII) on 2026-10-25; this is a flavouring limit, not an approval of rue as a medicine or supplement. Read: full-text

What we do not know yet

No human treatment trial of rue as a herb.
No frequency data for harm.
No safe amount defined.
No human interaction studies.
EMA, NCCIH, LiverTox, LactMed and Health Canada not verified.

How new research is added

New studies are found by a saved PubMed search and placed in a review queue. A person reads each one before it changes any rating or safety wording.

Lab markers

What changed in blood or saliva tests during trials. A changed number is not the same as feeling or being healthier, and we give no "normal ranges".

Safety

What studies and official sources say about side effects, medicines and who should check first. Each point shows what kind of evidence it comes from.

Main points to know 4

Touching the fresh plant, then going in the sun, can cause severe burns. Psoralens in rue react with UV light. Case reports describe blistering burns in a 2-year-old child, a man's hand, and a woman with burns over about 85% of her body after using rue before a tanning bed. The reaction can show up a day or two later. Do not use rue on the skin as an insect repellent. Case report ^{3 15 5 17}
Do not use in pregnancy. Rue has been used as an abortifacient and is named among herbal abortifacients with serious illness and death. A Montevideo poison-centre series found multiple organ failure and four deaths after 'ruda'. It is unsafe for the pregnant person and the baby. Case series ^{2 4 19}
Swallowed rue can harm the liver, kidneys and heart. Case reports describe slow heartbeat, kidney failure and clotting problems after a three-day rue decoction, and toxic hepatitis after Ruta medicine. The Hong Kong poison atlas lists liver and kidney impairment, convulsions and death in severe cases. Treatment is supportive. Case report ^{18 16 8 19}
Almost no human evidence of benefit. We found no human treatment trial of rue as a herb. Uses are traditional or from lab work. Safe amounts have not been set, so the risk is unmanaged. Narrative review ^{19 10}

Side effects 5

Effect	How often	Severity and recovery	Evidence
Phytophotodermatitis: redness, blisters and burns where skin touched rue then met sun or a tanning bed, followed by darkened skin Frequency not given in the sources. One report calls rue injuries 'very rare' but gives no number. Sunlight should be avoided for 48 hours after injury, per one burns-unit report.	Not established	moderate to severe Burn healing took about two and a half months in the worst case; dark patches followed	Case report ^{15 3 5 17}
Irritant contact dermatitis from the plant's oils Separate from the sunlight reaction.	Not established	mild to moderate Not stated	Authoritative guidance ⁸
Vomiting, belly pain, dizziness and convulsions when swallowed Listed poisoning features.	Not established	moderate to severe Not stated	Authoritative guidance ⁸
Slow heartbeat, low blood pressure, kidney failure with high potassium, clotting problem One 78-year-old woman who drank a rue decoction for three days.	Not established	severe Improved after haemodialysis and intensive care in one case	Case report ^{18 8}
Toxic hepatitis (liver inflammation) Details of species and amount are not given in the abstract.	Not established	moderate to severe Not stated in the abstract	Case report ¹⁶

Liver

Liver harm is documented only in case reports and poison-centre material. A Hebrew case report attributes toxic hepatitis to Ruta herbal medicine, the Taiwan case had liver impairment, and the Hong Kong atlas lists liver impairment. A 2026 review says extracts have hepatotoxic effects. The cause is unknown; coumarin compounds are suspected. ^{16 8 19}

How often. No frequency data.

Monitoring. No agency monitoring advice found. LiverTox: no rue entry found (NOT verified).

p21574354. Toxic hepatitis attributed to Ruta herbal medicine, Israel (abstract only).
s-hk-atlas-rue. Taiwan case with liver impairment after a 3-day decoction.

This is a safety connection. It is not evidence that Rue supports liver health.

Medicines and supplements 5

With	Why it matters	Importance	Evidence	What to do
Tanning beds, sun, UV light treatment (PUVA) other	Psoralens plus UV light injure skin.	Documented in a case: burns over about 85% of the body after rue and a tanning bed.	Case report Low certainty ^{15 7}	Do not combine rue with UV exposure. Avoid sun after any contact.
Photosensitising medicines (for example some antibiotics) prescription	Additive light sensitivity is a theoretical concern with psoralens.	No study or case with rue found.	Pharmacological theory Not enough evidence ⁷	Ask a pharmacist before any contact with rue if you take a medicine that warns about sun sensitivity.
Medicines handled by liver enzymes prescription	Chalepensin, a furanocoumarin found in several Rutaceae plants, blocked Cyp2a and raised Cyp2b in mice.	Mouse study of one compound; no human interaction study with rue.	Animal research Not enough evidence ⁹	Ask a pharmacist.
Blood thinners and medicines for heart rate, blood pressure, kidney or liver prescription	A rue decoction was followed by clotting problem, slow heartbeat and kidney failure in one case; additive effects are possible.	One case, no controlled study.	Case report Not enough evidence ¹⁸	Do not take rue with these medicines; ask a doctor.
Other uterine-acting or toxic herbs (pennyroyal, blue cohosh, parsley and fennel in infusions) herb	Organ failure occurred in the Montevideo series after ruda alone or with parsley and fennel.	Mixed products; cannot separate effects.	Case series Not enough evidence ^{2 4}	Do not combine.

Who should check first 5

Situation	Advice	Evidence
Pregnancy and trying to conceive	Avoid completely. Rue is named among herbal abortifacients with serious illness and deaths.	Case series ^{2 4 19}
Breastfeeding	No data found; LactMed entry not found (NOT verified). Avoid.	Authoritative guidance
Children	A 2-year-old had a burn with systemic upset after contact. Keep children away from garden rue.	Case report ⁵
Liver disease, kidney disease, heart rhythm problems, bleeding disorders	Avoid; documented organ toxicity.	Case report ^{18 16}
Sunbathing, tanning beds, UV treatment	Do not use rue on the skin before UV exposure.	Case report ¹⁵

Overdose, product quality and regulators

Summary. Rue is a poisonous plant in the Hong Kong atlas. Major toxins are unidentified; furanocoumarins and alkaloids are blamed in reviews.

Animal. Not reviewed here; the 2026 review reports hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic effects of extracts.

Human doses studied. No safe dose exists. Reported poisoning amounts: a decoction made from 50 g of plant twice daily for 3 days (Taiwan case), and 300 g over 3 days (Hong Kong atlas). These are not advice.

High dose or long term signals. Kidney, liver, heart and clotting effects in cases.

Overdose response. Supportive treatment (Hong Kong atlas). Call a poison centre or doctor.

Genotoxicity. Bergapten-type furocoumarins are linked to skin cancer risk with long psoriasis treatment according to an EMA veterinary document found in search; not read, NOT verified.

Toxic plant parts. Whole plant (Hong Kong atlas). Fresh plant contact causes the skin reaction.

Name confusion is a real risk: 'ruda' in Latin America often means Ruta chalepensis or R. graveolens, and reports do not separate them. Syrian rue (Peganum harmala) and goat's rue (Galega officinalis) are different plants with different risks.

Species mix-up. The Montevideo series names the plant 'ruda (Ruta chalepensis/graveolens)'. GBIF treats the two Ruta species as separate accepted species. ^{2 6}

Body	Action	Date
US Food and Drug Administration (21 CFR 184.1698) (United States)	Rue (Ruta montana, graveolens, bracteosa, calepensis) is affirmed as generally recognised as safe as a food flavouring at no more than 2 parts per million. This is not approval as a medicine or supplement. source

When to get medical help

Blisters, severe pain or large red areas on skin after touching rue and being in the sun: seek medical care; keep out of the sun.
After swallowing rue: repeated vomiting, belly pain, confusion, convulsions, very slow heartbeat, fainting, passing little urine, bleeding, or yellow skin or eyes: go to emergency care or call your local poison centre (US: 1-800-222-1222).
Exposure during pregnancy, or bleeding or pain in pregnancy: see a doctor now.

Stop the supplement and contact a clinician or emergency service. In the US, Poison Control is 1-800-222-1222.

General information only, not medical advice. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before use, especially with medicines, in pregnancy or with a health condition. See the Natural Remedy Safety guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is rue?

Rue is Ruta graveolens, also called common rue or herb of grace, a garden herb in the citrus family used in folk medicine.

^{6 19}

Can rue burn your skin?

Yes. Psoralens in rue plus sunlight or a tanning bed can cause blistering burns, sometimes appearing a day or two later. Cases include a child and a woman with burns over about 85% of her body.

^{3 15 5 17}

Is rue safe in pregnancy?

No. Rue is named among herbal abortifacients with serious illness and death. A poison-centre series reported organ failure and four deaths after 'ruda'. See a doctor at once if you were exposed.

^{2 4}

Does rue harm the liver or kidneys?

Case reports describe toxic hepatitis and kidney failure, and a 2026 review says extracts have hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic effects. The cause is unknown.

^{16 18 19}

Is rue good for the heart?

No. It is believed to be in some places, but the one case we found describes slow heartbeat, kidney failure and a clotting problem after a rue decoction.

¹⁸

Does rue help period problems?

It is a traditional use, but no human trial was found. The same tradition is linked to harm in pregnancy.

^{10 13}

Is there human evidence that rue works?

We found almost none. Findings on microbes and cancer cells are from the lab only.

^{19 14}

Can I use rue as an insect repellent?

A skin specialist report says no, because of the burns it can cause.

What are the main compounds?

Furanocoumarins such as bergapten and xanthotoxin, the flavonoid rutin, alkaloids like graveoline, and an oil rich in 2-undecanone (methyl nonyl ketone).

^{19 13 12}

Is rue the same as Syrian rue or Ruta chalepensis?

No. Syrian rue (Peganum harmala) is a different plant. Ruta chalepensis is a separate species, though reports often mix them.

^{6 2}

Is rue legal in food?

In the US it is allowed as a flavouring at up to 2 parts per million. We could not verify EMA, NCCIH or Health Canada positions.

²⁰

What does the research not show?

Any treatment benefit in people, any safe amount, how often harm happens, or how it interacts with medicines. Ask a doctor or pharmacist about your own medicines.

^{19 9}

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Editorial transparency

Written by: AlternativeMed editorial team. Research compiled with AI assistance, then checked against PubMed records.
Medical review: None. This page has not been reviewed by a physician or pharmacist.
First published: 2026-10-25
Last substantive update: 2026-10-25
How we research: We read our existing herb summary, searched PubMed, read the abstract of each PubMed record cited (one is title-only), and checked names in GBIF and compounds in PubChem. Regulator pages that could not be opened are marked not verified.
How we rate evidence: See "How we rate evidence" in the Evidence tab.
Independence: No product is promoted on this page. No affiliate links are shown.

Sources 20

Each source was opened and checked. Where we read only the abstract, it says so. The small numbers in the text point here.

Arias-Santiago SA, Fernández-Pugnaire MA, Almazán-Fernández FM, et al.. Phytophotodermatitis due to Ruta graveolens prescribed for fibromyalgia. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2009. PMID 19671699. DOI 10.1093/rheumatology/kep234. (title-only)
Ciganda C, Laborde A. Herbal infusions used for induced abortion. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol. 2003. PMID 12807304. DOI 10.1081/clt-120021104. (abstract)
Eickhorst K, DeLeo V, Csaposs J. Rue the herb: Ruta graveolens--associated phytophototoxicity. Dermatitis. 2007. PMID 17303046. DOI 10.2310/6620.2007.06033. (abstract)
Feng C, Fay KE, Burns MM. Toxicities of herbal abortifacients. Am J Emerg Med. 2023. PMID 36924751. DOI 10.1016/j.ajem.2023.03.005. (abstract)
Furniss D, Adams T. Herb of grace: an unusual cause of phytophotodermatitis mimicking burn injury. J Burn Care Res. 2007. PMID 17667834. DOI 10.1097/BCR.0B013E318148CB82. (abstract)
GBIF. GBIF species match: Ruta graveolens L.. GBIF. 2026. (full-text)
Grosu Dumitrescu C, Jîjie AR, Manea HC, et al.. New Insights Concerning Phytophotodermatitis Induced by Phototoxic Plants. Life (Basel). 2024. PMID 39202761. DOI 10.3390/life14081019. (abstract)
Hospital Authority (Hong Kong), Toxicology Reference Laboratory. Atlas of Poisonous Plants in Hong Kong: Ruta graveolens. Hospital Authority (Hong Kong), Toxicology Reference Laboratory. 2018. (full-text)
Lo WS, Lim YP, Chen CC, et al.. A dual function of the furanocoumarin chalepensin in inhibiting Cyp2a and inducing Cyp2b in mice. Arch Toxicol. 2012. PMID 22790670. DOI 10.1007/s00204-012-0902-7. (abstract)
Luo P, Feng X, Liu S, Jiang Y. Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology and Toxicology of Ruta graveolens L.: A Critical Review and Future Perspectives. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2024. PMID 39758226. DOI 10.2147/DDDT.S494417. (abstract)
NCBI. NCBI Taxonomy: Ruta graveolens. NCBI. 2026. (full-text)
NCBI PubChem. PubChem compound records (bergapten, xanthotoxin, rutin, graveoline, 2-undecanone, 2-nonanone, rutamarin, chalepensin, skimmianine). NCBI PubChem. 2026. (full-text)
Nahar L, El-Seedi HR, Khalifa SAM, et al.. Ruta Essential Oils: Composition and Bioactivities. Molecules. 2021. PMID 34443352. DOI 10.3390/molecules26164766. (abstract)
Not read in full. Ruta graveolens extract induces DNA damage pathways and blocks Akt activation to inhibit cancer cell proliferation and survival. Journal not re-verified (Europe PMC record). 2011. PMID 21273604. (summary-only)
Pérez-Camelo JS, Barrios V, Gómez-Ortega V. Tanning Beds, Rue, and Major Burns: An Alarming Association. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2022. PMID 35169530. DOI 10.1097/GOX.0000000000004106. (abstract)
Rabaev E, Zeller L, Biton A, Barski L. Toxic hepatitis due to the use of Ruta herbal medicine (Hebrew). Harefuah. 2011. PMID 21574354. (abstract)
Radotra I, Gardiner S, Barnes D. A Phytophototoxic Injury at a Burns Unit: The Ungraceful After-Effects of the Common Rue Plant. J Burn Care Res. 2018. PMID 29931352. DOI 10.1093/jbcr/irx040. (abstract)
Seak CJ, Lin CC. Ruta Graveolens intoxication. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2007. PMID 17364636. DOI 10.1080/15563650600956667. (abstract)
Serhiienko T, Georgiyants V, Ivanauskas L, et al.. Ruta graveolens L. in Evidence-Based Phytotherapy: Pharmacological Activities, Bioactive Compounds and Safety. Phytother Res. 2026. PMID 42680583. DOI 10.1002/ptr.70434. (abstract)
US Code of Federal Regulations (via Cornell Law School LII). 21 CFR 184.1698 Rue (US food additive rule). US Code of Federal Regulations (via Cornell Law School LII). 2026. (full-text)

Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.