Counter-illumination is a method of active camouflage seen in marine animals such as firefly squid and midshipman fish, and in military prototypes, producing light to match their backgrounds in both brightness and wavelength. Marine animals of the mesopelagic (mid-water) zone tend to appear dark against the bright water surface when seen from below.
Peganum harmala contains beta-carboline alkaloids (harmine, harmaline, harmalol) that are toxic to both humans and animals. These alkaloids are used in alcoholic beverages, well-cooked foods, and tobacco smoke, and they have known hallucinogenic and strong monoamine oxidase inhibitory (MAOI) activity.Harmala alkaloids, harmaline and harmine, are known to cause tremors.When consumed by farm animals, Peganum harmala may have either a sedative or stimulant effect. In humans, the seeds are known to primarily cause a stimulant and hallucinogenic effect.eganum harmala may interfere with the way the body processes certain drugs using the liver's cytochrome P450 enzyme system. As a result, the levels of these drugs may be increased in the blood and may cause increased effects or potentially serious adverse reactions.
Medication. 1  Reynolds T. Hemlock alkaloids from Socrates to poison aloes. Phytochemistry. 2  Water hemlock (Cicuta douglasii). United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. 3  Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum). United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service.  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).