Rhaza stricta is an important medicinal plant used in indigenous medicinal herbal drugs to cure various diseases in south Asia and the Middle East.
The plant is also prescribed in Saudi Arabia and U. A. E. in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, skin infections and stomach disorders (Ageel et al., 1987; Mossa et al., 1987), inflammatory conditions, and helminthiasis (Ageel et al., 1987; Mossa et al., 1987; El Ghonemi, 1993; Bashir et al., 1994a; Tanira et al., 1996a).
In Oman, the leaves are cooked in mater, which is then administered to patients as an antipyretic (Miller and Morris, 1988).
The fruits and leaves are used in Pakistan to cure sore throat and skin diseases (Ahmad et al., 2004).
The roots, leaves and branches are used to cure tooth diseases, diabetes, constipation and intestinal diseases (Ahmad et al., 2005b).
Among the Selimani tribes in Kerman (Iran) the plant is used to cure wounds (Khaksari, 2000).
In Unani medicines, R. stricta is used to cure urinary tract diseases (Hassan, 2006; Gilani et al., 2007).
The leaves are also used in India to treat tumours (Jewers, 1980).
The juice of its leaves is given with milk to children for eruptions.
Its leaves can be used in the form of infusions for the cure of sore-throat, low-fevers, general debility, old joint problems, chronic rheumatism and pains of various kinds.
The dried leaves are used as infusion for the treatment of syphilis in all stages. The fruits and leaves are used against eruptions and boils, while the dried fruits alone can be used for coagulating milk.
Extracts of R. stricta have showed marked leucopenic effects (Chopra et al.,1956; Kirtikar and Basu, 1984; Ageel et al., 1987; Mossa et al, 1987; Ahmed et al.,1983; Abbas, 1995).
Arabian communities use Rhazya stricta is used to cure diabetes. In Saudi Arabia, the leaves of R. stricta are used as a vermifuge and purgative as well as a treatment for mange (Al-Yahia et al., 1990).
In addition, R. stricta is used for the treatment of helminthiasis in camels (Abbas et al., 2002).
There are several reviews on the traditional uses, biological activities and toxicity of R. stricta (e.g. Ali et al., 2000a; Marwat et al., 2012).

The extracts of roots of R. stricta exhibited various biological activities, particularly antimicrobial, antimitotic, antifungal and hypotensive activities (Zaman, 1990). (+)-Vincadifformine has shown hypotensive activity.
A dose of 2 mg/kg had the same effect in anesthetized cats as 1 mg/kg reserpine (Racz-Kotilla, 1975) while (-) vincadifformine exhibited no hypotensive effect in anesthetised cats (Van Beek et al., 1984).