Syrian rue

Syrian rue

(sēr′ē-ăn roo) The common name for the plant, Peganum harmala, whose seeds are brewed in some cultures to make a tea with hallucinogenic properties. Its seeds contain harmaline alkaloids (harmine, harmaline and tetrahydroharmine) which are members of the class of chemicals known as beta-carboline alkaloids. They increase levels of serotonin in the central and peripheral nervous systems.