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Peganum harmala (zygophyllacea); commonly known as Harmala, grows widely in almost all regions of Iran. Harmala alkaloids were used the traditional system of medicine in Iran. Harmala alkaloids are also reported to be hallucinogenic. Furthermore, their neurological effects hypertensive activities are of interest.
Since 1841 in view of the therapeutic importance of the P.harmala, its different parts have been subjected to chemical and biological studies by many researchers. Unfortunately these plants, which are growing in Iran, have not been studied seriously. Thus, the seeds of P. harmala from the central region of Iran (a cold and dry region, Arak) were collected in autumn Extraction was done by ethanol 96%, and, four alkaloids were isolated by C.C. and T.L.C. the major components were harmine and harmaline and the minor components, harman and harmalidine.
The chemical structures of these compounds were confirmed by spectroscopic, as well as other methods. The conversion of harmine to its N- substituted derivatives was studied. On the basis of the, U.V,I.R 1H-NMR and mass spectral analyses the structure of these derivatives were identified