Advances in bio-active constituents, pharmacology and clinical applications of rhubarb

doi:10.1186/s13020-017-0158-5

Review

. 2017 Dec 28:12:36.

doi: 10.1186/s13020-017-0158-5. eCollection 2017.

Advances in bio-active constituents, pharmacology and clinical applications of rhubarb

Yu-Jie Cao¹, Zong-Jin Pu¹, Yu-Ping Tang^{1

2}, Juan Shen¹, Yan-Yan Chen², An Kang¹, Gui-Sheng Zhou¹, Jin-Ao Duan¹

Affiliations

¹ Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for High Technology Research of TCM Formulae, and National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023 Jiangsu China.
² College of Pharmacy and Shaanxi Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, 712046 China.

PMID: 29299052
PMCID: PMC5745730
DOI: 10.1186/s13020-017-0158-5

Review

Advances in bio-active constituents, pharmacology and clinical applications of rhubarb

Yu-Jie Cao et al. Chin Med. 2017.

. 2017 Dec 28:12:36.

doi: 10.1186/s13020-017-0158-5. eCollection 2017.

Authors

Yu-Jie Cao¹, Zong-Jin Pu¹, Yu-Ping Tang^{1

2}, Juan Shen¹, Yan-Yan Chen², An Kang¹, Gui-Sheng Zhou¹, Jin-Ao Duan¹

Affiliations

¹ Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, and Jiangsu Key Laboratory for High Technology Research of TCM Formulae, and National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023 Jiangsu China.
² College of Pharmacy and Shaanxi Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, 712046 China.

PMID: 29299052
PMCID: PMC5745730
DOI: 10.1186/s13020-017-0158-5

Abstract

Rhubarb is one of the most ancient, commonly used and important herbs in Chinese medicine. The modern researches of rhubarb clarified the efficacies, ingredients and mechanisms in a more scientific and rigorous way. The main chemical compositions of rhubarb include anthraquinones, anthrones, stilbenes, tannins, polysaccharides etc. These compositions show extensive pharmacological activities including regulating gastrointestinal, anticancer, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, protecting cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and so on. This paper reviews the recent studies on the active ingredients, pharmacological effects, clinical application and functional mechanism.

Keywords: Clinical application; Functional mechanism; Ingredients; Pharmacological activities; Rhubarb.

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Figures

**Fig. 1**
Main structures of rhubarb anthraquinones

**Fig. 2**
Main structures of rhubarb anthrones and dianthrones

**Fig. 3**
Main structures of rhubarb stilbenes, tannins, butyrophenones and chromones

**Fig. 4**
Relationship between ingredients and efficacy of rhubarb

**Fig. 5**
Active constituents and mechanism of rhubarb exerting purgative activity

See this image and copyright information in PMC

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References

1. Hu YP, Wang L, Li Y. Application of molecular techniques in the research of germplasm resources of Rheum. Biotech Bull. 2010;12:64–68.
1. Barceloux DG. Rhubarb and oxalosis (Rheum species) Dis Mon. 2009;55:403–411. doi: 10.1016/j.disamonth.2009.03.011. - DOI - PubMed
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1. Wang L, Pan S. Adjuvant treatment with crude rhubarb for patients with acute organophosphorus pesticide poisoning: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Complement Ther Med. 2015;23:794–801. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2015.09.001. - DOI - PubMed
1. Lu L, Li HQ, Fu DL, Zheng GQ, Fan JP. Rhubarb root and rhizome-based Chinese herbal prescriptions for acute ischemic stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Complement Ther Med. 2014;22:1060–1070. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2014.10.002. - DOI - PubMed

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[1] Hu YP, Wang L, Li Y. Application of molecular techniques in the research of germplasm resources of Rheum. Biotech Bull. 2010;12:64–68.

[2] Hu YP, Wang L, Li Y. Application of molecular techniques in the research of germplasm resources of Rheum. Biotech Bull. 2010;12:64–68.

[3] Barceloux DG. Rhubarb and oxalosis (Rheum species) Dis Mon. 2009;55:403–411. doi: 10.1016/j.disamonth.2009.03.011. - DOI - PubMed

[4] Barceloux DG. Rhubarb and oxalosis (Rheum species) Dis Mon. 2009;55:403–411. doi: 10.1016/j.disamonth.2009.03.011. - DOI - PubMed

[5] Jiao D, Du SJ. Study on rhubarb. Shanghai: Shanghai Science and Technology Press; 2000. pp. 273–307.

[6] Jiao D, Du SJ. Study on rhubarb. Shanghai: Shanghai Science and Technology Press; 2000. pp. 273–307.

[7] Wang L, Pan S. Adjuvant treatment with crude rhubarb for patients with acute organophosphorus pesticide poisoning: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Complement Ther Med. 2015;23:794–801. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2015.09.001. - DOI - PubMed

[8] Wang L, Pan S. Adjuvant treatment with crude rhubarb for patients with acute organophosphorus pesticide poisoning: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Complement Ther Med. 2015;23:794–801. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2015.09.001. - DOI - PubMed

[9] Lu L, Li HQ, Fu DL, Zheng GQ, Fan JP. Rhubarb root and rhizome-based Chinese herbal prescriptions for acute ischemic stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Complement Ther Med. 2014;22:1060–1070. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2014.10.002. - DOI - PubMed

[10] Lu L, Li HQ, Fu DL, Zheng GQ, Fan JP. Rhubarb root and rhizome-based Chinese herbal prescriptions for acute ischemic stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Complement Ther Med. 2014;22:1060–1070. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2014.10.002. - DOI - PubMed

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Advances in bio-active constituents, pharmacology and clinical applications of rhubarb

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Advances in bio-active constituents, pharmacology and clinical applications of rhubarb

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