著者

荒金,眞佐子

出版者

日本生薬学会

雑誌

生薬學雜誌 : shoyakugaku zasshi : the Japanese journal of pharmacognosy

巻号頁・発行日

vol.62, no.2, 2008-08-20

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This study identified that the plant origin of Harmala seeds was Peganum harmala L. by cultivation of seeds in the package. Peganum harmara was glabrous, perennial herbaceous 30-60 cm. Hairless. Leaves were alternate, deeply and irregulary pinnatisect, with widths of 1.5-3 mm, and a disagreeable odor when rumpled. Opposite to leaves were solitary white flowers with green veins. Capsules 7-10 mm. Angular brownish seeds bearing alveolate structure on surface and the longer axis x the minor axis : 2.9-3.3 mm x 1.5-1.8 mm. Peganum harmala contained harmine and harmaline, members of the beta-carboline chemical class; both are potent reversible inhibitors of the enzyme monoamine oxidase (MAO). Harmine ranged 27.2-105.9 mg/g while harmaline ranged 55.8-119.2 mg/g in the seeds, and harmine ranged 27.5-34.4 mg/g while harmaline range 0.4-0.5 mg/g in the roots. When we judge the Harmala seeds used as abuse drugs, it is necessary to confirm the following: the dimensions of the longer axis and the minor axis, the brown to blackish brown color, the triangular shape, the small concave structure appearance observable with a substance microscope or a scanning electron microscope, and harmine and harmaline analysis by TLC or HPLC.