Now grown as Galega officinalis L. f. alba

Earlier name is Ruta capraria

Turner, William (1568) Herball. Collen, Arnold Birckman part 3, page 32

Family name changed from Papilionaceae to Fabaceae. Name reverted back from Galega officinalis f. alba.

http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/ http://plantsoftheworldonline.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:495681-1

Galega officinalis L. Goat's Rue. Distribution: Central and Southern Europe, Asia Minor. Goat’s Rue – C & S Europe, Asia Minor. Culpeper (1650) writes that it ‘... resists poison, kills worms, resists the falling sickness [epilepsy], resisteth the pestilence.’ Galega officinalis contains guanidine which reduces blood sugar by decreasing insulin resistance and inhibiting hepatic gluconeogenesis.. Metformin and Phenformin are drugs for type II diabetes that rely on this group of chemicals, known as biguanidines. Its name gala, meaning milk plus ega meaning 'to bring on', refers to its alleged property of increasing milk yield, and has been used in France to increase milk yield in cows. 'Officinalis' refers to its use in the offices of the monks, and is a common specific name for medicinal plants before 1600 and adopted by Linnaeus (1753). The fresh plant tastes of pea pods.

Oakeley, Dr. Henry F. (2013). Wellcome Library notes. Link

Parkinson (1640) says it is effectual against the bites of venomous snakes, and all infections from plague to small pox both as a preventative and a cure and to treat intestinal worms. Chickens which eat it get fat and lay more eggs.

Parkinson, John (1640) 'Theatrum Botanicum' London, Thomas Cotes page 418

Lyte (1578) adds that children are given the juice to drink as an antidote to epilepsy ('against the falling sickness').

Lyte, Henry. (1578). Nievve Herball or Historie of Plantes. page 491

Prescription only medicine: Metformin

Culpeper: ‘... resists poison, kills worms, resists the falling sickness, resisteth the pestilence.’

Culpeper, Nicholas. (1650). A Physical Directory . London, Peter Cole.

"Galegine was isolated as an active anti-hypoglycaemic agent [from this plant] ... provided the template for the synthesis of metformin" This is an important medicine in the management of Type 2 diabetes.

Fabricant, D S and Farnsworth, N R. (2001) 'The value of drugs used in Traditional Medicine for Drug Discovery'. Environmental Health Perspectives 109:suppl 1: 69-75

Africa, Northern Africa, Algeria

Africa, Northern Africa, Morocco

Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Turkey

Asia-Tropical, Indian Subcontinent, Pakistan

Europe, Middle Europe, Austria

Europe, Middle Europe, Germany

Europe, Middle Europe, Hungary

Europe, Middle Europe, Poland

Europe, Southeastern Europe, Albania

Europe, Southeastern Europe, Bulgaria

Europe, Southeastern Europe, Czech Republic

Europe, Southeastern Europe, Greece

Europe, Southeastern Europe, Italy

Europe, Southeastern Europe, Romania

Europe, Southeastern Europe, Yugoslavia

Europe, Southwestern Europe, France

Europe, Southwestern Europe, Spain