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.
The flowers are white and are about 2.5â3.8 cm in diameter. The round seed capsules measure about 1â1.5 cm in diameter, have three chambers and carry more than 50 seeds. Peganum harmala was first planted in the United States in 1928 in New Mexico by a farmer wanting to manufacture the dye Iranian red from its seeds.eganum harmala has been used as an emmenagogue and abortifacient agent. The root is applied to kill lice  and when burned, the seeds kill insects and inhibit the reproduction of the Tribolium castaneum beetle.