Rheum
palmatum or R. tanguticum, Rheum rhabarbarum
Turkey rhubarb, Chinese rhubarb, English
rhubarb
Family: Polygonaceae
Most rhubarb is cultivated. The young leaf stalks of English rhubarb are used
for food. PART USED:Peeled root ACTIONS GROUP: Digestion- Laxatives
and Purgatives
1. Astringent.[1,2]
2. Cathartic,[1] in large doses.[2]
3. Hepatic.[1]
4. Aperient.[2] Tonic.[2]
Stomachic.[2] INDICATIONS
1. Diarrhea due to infection, irritation or nervous/emotional causes- small
doses. Constipation including constipation of infants.[1]
2. Liver disorders.[1] PREPARATIONS
Dried root 0.2-0.4 g- astringent 0.5-0.8 g- laxative.[1]
Fluid extract (S) 0.2-0.4 ml astringent. 0.5-0.8 ml laxative.[1]
Compound rhubarb tincture BP up to 15 ml daily in divided doses.[2]
Chinese rhubarb:Rhubarb dry extgract BPC 1954 120-500 mg.[2]
Compound rhubarb pills BPC 1963 1-2 pills.[2]
Compound rhubarb powder BPC 0.5-5 g.[2] DESCRIPTION
Chinese rhubarb comes in different grades and sizes; the older rhizome
is larger and occurs in peeled flats or rounds, often with circular holes made
for handing by a string during the drying process. The cut surface has a bright
yellow, marbled or reticulate appearance tue to the reddish-brown medullary rays;
when freshly cut it is pinkish. Poorer quality grades are paler and less carefuly
peeled. English rhubard, not normally round in commerce, is unpeeled, in smaller
pieces and has red veins.
[1] Herbal Materia Medica Course Notes
For Diploma of Naturopathy and Diploma of Herbalism Students by Lydia Mottram.
[2] Potter's New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations R.C.
Wren Revised by Elizabeth M. Williamson and Fred J Evans. First published in
Great Britain in 1988 and reprinted in 1989 and 1994 by the C. W. Daniel Company
Limited. 1 Church Path, Saffron Walden Essex. Published 1988 Printed and bound
by Biddles, Guildford ISBN 085207 1973.
Inner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from
the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant
medicinally. Constituents.
Resins. Cathartic principles.[1]
Anthraquinone derivatives: Chinese rhubarb contains chrysophanic acid (chrysophanol),
emodin (rheum emodin), aloe-emodin, rhein and physcion, with their 0-glygosides
(mainly) monoglucosides such as glucorhein, chysophanenin, glucoemodin; lesser
amounts of the sennosides A-E, reidin C.[2,3,4,5,6,7]
Both Indian and Japanese rhubars contain similar anthraquinones,[2,5,8]
but English rhubarb contain only chrysophanic acid and some of its glycosides.[9]
Tannins,[1] in Chinese rhubarb: d-catechin
and epicatechin gallate, wtih various cinnamoyl and coumaroyl galloyl glucosides
and fructoses.[9,10,11]
Stilbene derivatives; in English rhubarb rhaponticin (rhapontin) is present,
with related stilvene glycosides present in other types.[3,10]
Volatile oi, contain diisobutyl phthalate, cinnamic and ferulic acids; rutin,
fatty acids, calcium oxalate.[3] R. tanguticum; Derivatives of athraquinone glycosides including chrysophanol,
emodin, aloe-emodin, rhein, and physcion, as swell as rheum tannic acids, gallic
acid, catechin, tetrarin, glucogallin, cinnamic acid, rheosmin, fatty acids,
calcium oxalate, glucose, fructose, sennoside A, B. and C.[12] References
[1] Herbal Materia Medica Course Notes For Diploma of Naturopathy and Diploma
of Herbalism Students by Lydia Mottram.
[2] Pharmacognosy, 12th Ed. Trease, G.E. and Evans, W.C. Pub. Bailliere Tindall
(1983) UK
[3] Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients used in Food Drugs and Cosmetics,
Albert Y. Leung. Pub. John Wiley & Sons Inc. (1980) NY
[4] Awaving, J.H. (1972) Planta Med. 21, 254
[5] Zwaving, J.H. (1974) Pharm. Weekbl. 109, 1169
[6] Oshio, H. et al. (1974) Chem. Pharm. Bull. 22, 823
[7] Van Os, F.H. L. (1976) Pharmacol. 14 (Suppl.1) 7
[8] Konopa, J. et al. in Advances in Antimicrobial and Antineoplastic
Chemotherapy Vol.2, Ed. M. Semonsky, Pub. Avicenna Press (1972) Prague
[9] Zwaving, J.H. (1972) Planta Med. 21, 254
[10] Nonaka, G. et al. (1977) Chem. Pharm. Bull. 25, 2300
[11] Freidrich, H. and Holhe, J. (1966) Arch. Pharm 299, 857
[12] Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica- Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble- Eastland
Press 1986 Seattle Washington ISBN 0-939616-15-7
Research.
English rhubarb is similar but milder in action. It has been shown to have both
astringent and cathartic properties.[1]
The anthraquinones are laxative and the tannins astringent.[2]
In Chinese medicine rhubarb is also very highly regarded; it is used for jaundice,
abdominal pains, indigestion, ammenorrhea, carbuncles, scalds and burns. It was
shown to have cholinergic action in rodents, to enhance peristalsis and increase
the water content of stools. In low does it increased gastric secretion and therefore
acted as an appetite stimulant, and increased the secretion of bile. Emodin was
shown to be a powerful antispasmodic in isolated rat intestine. The antiinflammatory
and antiseptic action was also demonstrated.[3] References
[1] Fairbairn, J. W. (1976) Pharmacol. 14 (Suppl.1), 48
[2] Potter's New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations R.C. Wren
Revised by Elizabeth M. Williamson and Fred J Evans. First published in Great
Britain in 1988 and reprinted in 1989 and 1994 by the C. W. Daniel Company Limited.
1 Church Path, Saffron Walden Essex. Published 1988 Printed and bound by Biddles,
Guildford ISBN 085207 1973.
[3] Pharmacology and Applications of Chinese Materia Medcia Vol 1, Ed. H. Chan
and P. But, Pub. World Scientific (1986) Singapore
The inhibitory effect of Rheum palmatum against coxsackievirus B3 in vitro
and in vivo.
Xiong HR, Shen YY, Lu L, Hou W, Luo F, Xiao H, Yang ZQ. Abstract
Coxsackievirus B(3)(CVB(3)) infection is the major cause of viral myocarditis,
as well as dilated cardiomypathy. Rhubarb is one of the oldest and best-known
traditional Chinese medicines. We initiated this study to determine the antiviral
effect of an ethanol extract from the roots and rhizoma of Rheum palmatum (R.
palmatum, one of the Chinese Rhubarbs), against CVB(3) in tissue culture cells
and in a mouse model. The ethanol extract from R. palmatum showed significant
inhibitory activity against CVB(3) on HEp-2 cells when added after infection,
with IC(50) of 4 µg/ml, TI of 10. The medicated mouse serum still contained the
pharmaceutical compound 24 h after intraperitoneal injection, and exhibited an
antiviral effect on CVB(3)-infected cells, especially in the 0.3 and 0.5 g/kg/day
treatment groups. Furthermore, the CVB(3)-infected mice were treated with the
extract solution with dosages of 0.3 g/kg/day beginning 24 h post-CVB(3) exposures.
The ethanol extract treated mice showed alleviated clinical signs, better survival
rate, prolonged MTD and decreased viral titers compared to the virus control group.
Our results indicate that the ethanol extract from R. palmatum has the anti-CVB(3)
activity in vitro and in vivo and thus provides a re-evaluation of this old remedy
with a broad therapeutic potential.
PMID: 22809033 DOI: 10.1142/S0192415X12500607 Am J Chin Med. 2012;40(4):801-12.
doi: 10.1142/S0192415X12500607. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Anti-metastatic effects of Rheum Palmatum L. extract in human MDA-MB-231
breast cancer cells.
Nho KJ, Chun JM, Lee AY, Kim HK. Abstract
Rheum palmatum L. (RP) has been widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment
of various diseases in Asian countries. The molecular mechanism of its anti-metastasis
effect remains elusive. The present study assessed the effect of RP ethanol extract
(RPE) on the highly metastatic human MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells in vitro.
At a non-toxic concentration, RPE inhibited migration, motility and invasion in
a concentration-dependent manner. To investigate the mechanisms involved, real-time
PCR and Western blot analyses were performed. Results showed that RPE down-regulated
the levels of extracellular matrix degradation-associated proteins, including
MMP-2/-9, uPA and uPAR, and up-regulated PAI-1. In addition, RPE affected NF-?B
by degrading IkBa, and affected the mitogen-activated protein kinase signal transduction
pathway by depressing the activation of p38, ERK and Akt. These results suggest
that RPE has potential anti-metastatic activity and warrants further investigation.
PMID: 26056975 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2015.05.006 Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2015
Jul;40(1):30-8. doi: 10.1016/j.etap.2015.05.006. Epub 2015 May 16. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
The Effects of Rheum Tanguticum Polysaccharide on the Polarization of
Th1 and Th2 Cells in TNBS-Induced Colitis in Murine.
Liu L, Mei QB, Wang ZP, Zhou YM, Zhang H, Long Y, Liu JY. Abstract
Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are chronic inflammatory intestinal disorders
that are characterized by thickened colon walls, colon ulcerations, including
two forms of ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). UC and CD share
some similar clinico-pathological characteristics but their causes are opposite.
The imbalance in cytokinesis produced by Th1 and Th2 cells, the subunit of CD4(+)
T cells, plays a key role in the development of IBDs. Although traditional treatment
for IBDs is effective to some patients, it has numerous adverse-effects such as
immuno-depression. In our previous study we found some therapeutic effects of
Rheum tanguticum polysaccharide (RTP) on CD. Our present investigation focuses
on the comparison of the effects of RTP (200 mg·kg(-1), once a day for five days)
on UC induced by trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)/ethanol in BALB/c mice and
CD induced by TNBS in SD rats. The mechanism of RTP was investigated by using
immuno-histochemistry, Elisa assay, flow cytometry and western-blot analysis.
Our results showed that RTP had significant therapeutic effects on both UC and
CD. The ulcerative index and colon weight were significantly attenuated after
RTP treatment while MPO activity in RTP-treated animals was markedly lower than
that in the animals of TNBS administration (P<0.05, P<0.01). RTP also showed
significant inhibitory effects on the expansion of CD4+T cells simultaneously
improving the imbalance of Th1 and Th2 polarization (P<0.01). In conclusion,
RTP appears to poses all the pre-requisites to be applied in therapeutic intervention,
thus, offering a hope for effective treatment for IBDs.
PMID: 23674951 PMCID: PMC3614577 Int J Biomed Sci. 2005 Jun;1(1):23-32. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
The beneficial effect of Rheum tanguticum polysaccharide on protecting
against diarrhea, colonic inflammation and ulceration in rats with TNBS-induced
colitis: the role of macrophage mannose receptor in inflammation and immune response.
Liu L, Guo Z, Lv Z, Sun Y, Cao W, Zhang R, Liu Z, Li C, Cao S, Mei Q. Abstract
Rhubarb has been used as a folk remedy for gastrointestinal disease in China for
over two thousand years. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of Rheum
tanguticum polysaccharide (RTP), a water soluble fraction extracted from rhubarb,
on protection from inflammation and colonic damage in 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic
acid (TNBS)-induced colitis in rats. RTP protected against diarrhea, colon weight
increase, and ulceration induced by TNBS. It was at least as effective as dexamethasone
(DEX). RTP significantly decreased myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in the colonic
mucosa. Oral administration of RTP was as effective as intraperitoneal (i.p.)
injection on toxicity protection and MPO activity. To further investigate the
possible underlying mechanism, we studied the role of mannose receptor (MR) in
cytokine secretion, ligand binding and endocytosis of macrophages. The secretion
of IFN-gamma was dramatically increased while IL-4 decreased in colitis compared
to the control (normal rats), and RTP restored the condition similar to the control
in vivo. The secretion of IFN-gamma by macrophages was induced by RTP and lipoarabinomannan
(LAM) but not mannose in vitro. Mannose completely inhibited the effect of RTP,
while RTP and LAM affected each other on IFN-gamma secretion. The MR-mediated
ligand binding and endocytosis of macrophages were markedly decreased in colitis
and RTP restored their function to near normal condition. The results indicated
that RTP targeted MR and down-regulation of Th1-polarized immune response may
be the possible mechanism for its attenuation of intestinal inflammation and damage.
RTP may be useful for treatment of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
PMID: 18790466 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2008.04.013 Int Immunopharmacol. 2008 Nov;8(11):1481-92.
doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2008.04.013. Epub 2008 May 28. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Anti-proliferative effects of estrogen receptor-modulating compounds isolated
from Rheum palmatum.
Kang SC1, Lee CM, Choung ES, Bak JP, Bae JJ, Yoo HS, Kwak JH, Zee OP. Abstract
The Rheum palmatum L., a traditional medicine in Korea, was screened for their
estrogenic activity in a recombinant yeast system with a human estrogen receptor
(ER) expression plasmid and a reporter plasmid used in a previous study. The EC50
values of the n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and water fractions
of the methanolic extract of R. palmatum in the yeast-based estrogenicity assay
system were 0.145, 0.093, 0.125, 1.459, 2.853 microg/mL, respectively, with marked
estrogenic activity in the dichloromethane fraction. Using an activity-guided
fractionation approach, five known anthraquinones, chrysophanol (1), physcion
(2), emodin (3), aloe-emodin (4) and rhein (5), were isolated from the dichloromethane
fraction. Compound 3 had the highest estrogenic relative potency (RP, 17bestradiol
= 1.00) (6.3 x 10(-2)), followed by compound 4 (3.8 x 10(-3)), compound 5 (2.6
x 10(-4)), a compound 1 (2.1 x 10(-4)). Also, compound 3 and fraction 3 (which
contained compound 3) of the dichloromethane fraction of R. palmatum showed strong
cytotoxicity in both ER-positive (MCF-7) and-negative (MDA-MB-231) breast cancer
cell lines.
PMID: 18563353 DOI: 10.1007/s12272-001-1218-1 Arch Pharm Res. 2008 Jun;31(6):722-6.
doi: 10.1007/s12272-001-1218-1. Epub 2008 Jun 19. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Combined Therapy with Rheum tanguticum Polysaccharide and Low-dose 5-ASA
Ameliorates TNBS-Induced Colitis in Rats by Suppression of NF-?B.
Liu L, Liu Z, Zhang T, Shi L, Zhang W, Zhang Y. Abstract
The most common conventional therapy for inflammatory bowel disease in clinical
practice involves the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as 5-amino
salicylic acid. However, a high dose of 5-amino salicylic acid may bring about
severe side effects. Chinese people have used Rheum tanguticum as a folk remedy
for gastrointestinal disease for two thousand years. Our group has isolated R.
tanguticum polysaccharide 1 from R. tanguticum and verified that it can attenuate
2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitis in murines/rats. The present
study aims to evaluate whether the addition of R. tanguticum polysaccharide 1
can improve efficacy and limit subsequent side effects of conventional treatment
(5-amino salicylic acid) in rats with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced
colitis. Sixty Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomized into five groups and treated
with (1) saline (saline, 0.2?mL/day ×?5, p.?o.), (2) 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic
acid alone (saline, 0.2?mL/day ×?5, p.?o.), (3) 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic
acid +?5-amino salicylic acid (5-amino salicylic acid, 75?mg/kg/day ×?5, p.o),
(4) 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid + R. tanguticum polysaccharide 1 (R. tanguticum
polysaccharide 1, 200?mg/kg/day ×?5, p.?o.), and (5) 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic
acid +?5-amino salicylic acid + R. tanguticum polysaccharide 1 (5-amino salicylic
acid, 25?mg/kg/day ×?5, p.o; R. tanguticum polysaccharide 1, 200?mg/kg/day ×?5,
p.?o.). All the rats were sacrificed on the 6th day after treatment using an overdose
of anesthesia. A histological assessment was performed using semiquantitative
scores; nuclear factor-kappa B and tumor necrosis factor-a were measured with
Western blot, cyclooxygenase 1 and cyclooxygenase 2 protein expressions were investigated
by RT-polymerase chain reaction, and prostoglandin E2 and inducible nitric oxide
synthase productions were investigated by ELISA. The extent and severity of histological
signs were attenuated significantly in the 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid
+?5-amino salicylic acid + R. tanguticum polysaccharide 1 group. Treatment with
R. tanguticum polysaccharide 1 plus 5-amino salicylic acid markedly decreased
nuclear factor-kappa Bp65 and tumor necrosis factor-a protein expressions. R.
tanguticum polysaccharide 1 and 5-amino salicylic acid had no effect on cyclooxygenase
1 protein expression, but inhibited the overexpression of the cyclooxygenase 2
protein. After treatment with 5-amino salicylic acid and R. tanguticum polysaccharide
1, the prostoglandin E2 level increased significantly and the inducible nitric
oxide synthase level decreased considerably in the 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic
acid +?5-amino salicylic acid + R. tanguticum polysaccharide 1 group compared
with the 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid alone group. These results demonstrate
that combined therapy with R. tanguticum polysaccharide 1 and low-dose 5-amino
salicylic acid had more favorable effects on 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced
colitis in rats, and its effects may be associated with inhibiting nuclear factor-kappa
Bp65 protein expression and tumor necrosis factor-a production, resulting in a
decrease of cyclooxygenase 2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase protein expressions.
PMID: 26069953 DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1545945
Planta Med. 2015 Jun;81(9):705-12. doi: 10.1055/s-0035-1545945. Epub 2015 Jun
12. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
The effect of emodin, an anthraquinone derivative extracted from the roots
of Rheum tanguticum, against herpes simplex virus in vitro and in vivo.
Xiong HR, Luo J, Hou W, Xiao H, Yang ZQ. Abstract
AIM OF THE STUDY:
Herpes simplex viruses (HSV-1 and -2) are important pathogens for humans and the
discovery of novel anti-HSV drugs with low toxicity deserves great efforts. Rhubarb
is one of the oldest and best-known traditional Chinese medicines. We initiated
this study to test if emodin is the active ingredients from Rheum tanguticum (R.
tanguticum, one of the Chinese Rhubarb) against HSV infection and to investigate
its antiviral activity on HSV infection in tissue culture cells and in a mouse
model.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Emodin (3-methyl-1,6,8-trihydroxyanthraquinone) was extracted and purified from
R. tanguticum (cultivated at high mountainous area in Qinghai) and the purity
was determined by high performance liquid chromatography. The antiviral experiments
of emodin against HSV infection were performed in vitro and in vivo. In vivo,
the HSV-infected mice were orally administered with emodin beginning at 24 h post-HSV
exposures with dosages of 3.3 g/kg/day, 6.7 g/kg/day, and 11.3 g/kg/day, respectively,
for 7 days.
RESULTS:
Emodin was found to inhibit the replication of HSV-1 and HSV-2 in cell culture
at the concentration of 50 µg/ml with antiviral index of 2.07 and 3.53, respectively.
The emodin treatment increased the survival rate of HSV-infected mice, prolonged
survival time and showed higher efficacy of HSV elimination from brain, heart,
liver and ganglion, compared to the viral controls. In addition, the antiviral
activity of emodin was found to be equivalent to that of acyclovir in vivo.
CONCLUSIONS:
Our results indicate that emodin has the anti-HSV activity in vitro and in vivo
and is thus a promising agent in the clinical therapy of HSV infection.
PMID: 21050882 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2010.10.059 J Ethnopharmacol. 2011 Jan 27;133(2):718-23.
doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2010.10.059. Epub 2010 Nov 2. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Immunomodulation of Rheum tanguticum polysaccharide (RTP) on the immunosuppressive
effects of dexamethasone (DEX) on the treatment of colitis in rats induced by
2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid.
Liu L, Yuan S, Long Y, Guo Z, Sun Y, Li Y, Niu Y, Li C, Mei Q. Abstract
Dexamethasone (DEX) is still the main choice for colitis, although the immunosuppressive
side effects are still the troublesome problems to overcome. In our previous study,
Rheum tanguticum polysaccharide (RTP), extracted from traditional Chinese medicine
rhubarb, targeted mannose receptor, showed immunoregulatory effect on the balance
of Th1 and Th2 polarization in colitis rats. For the present study, we hypothesized
that RTP could regulate the immunosuppressive effects of DEX. Taking advantage
of the colon delivery ability of the polysaccharide, we prepared the double emulsion
of RTP microsphere containing DEX to investigate the potential immunoregulatory
effects of RTP on DEX immunosuppression in TNBS-induced colitis in rats. As expected,
DEX-RTP microsphere showed not only significant immunomodulatory effects, but
also strong anti-inflammation. The microsphere balanced enteric bacteria disorder,
decreased TLR4 activation and promoted the balance of Th1 and Th2 polarization,
inhibited NF-kappaB activity. Especially, DEX-RTP showed significant colon injury
reparation. DEX alone exhibited a strong anti-inflammatory effect by suppressing
MPO activity, down-regulate NF-kappaB activity and Th1 cytokines production. However,
DEX showed severe immunosuppressive effects. It aggravated the intestinal commensal
bacteria disorder, induced thymus atrophy and the further imbalance of Th1/Th1
cytokine polarization. RTP showed significant immunoregulatory effects. A significant
protection on the intestinal bacterial balance, TLR4 and NF-kappaB activation
decreased, and Th1/Th2 cytokine production balance were showed in RTP. In conclusion,
DEX-RTP microsphere delivered DEX directly to the colon avoiding the absorption
at the upper intestinal tract and showed synergistic effects on colitis both from
the strong anti-inflammatory effects of DEX and from the immunoregulation of RTP.
PMID: 19788936 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2009.09.013 Int Immunopharmacol. 2009 Dec;9(13-14):1568-77.
doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2009.09.013. Epub 2009 Sep 27. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Inhibition of endosomal fusion activity of influenza virus by Rheum tanguticum
(da-huang).
Lin TJ, Lin CF, Chiu CH, Lee MC, Horng JT. Abstract
Rhubarb (Rheum tanguticum; da-huang in Chinese medicine) is a herbal medicine
that has been used widely for managing fever and removing toxicity. In this study,
we investigated how rhubarb inhibits influenza virus during the early stage of
the infectious cycle using different functional assays. A non-toxic ethanolic
extract of rhubarb (Rex) inhibited several H1N1 subtypes of influenza A viruses
in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells, including strains that are clinically resistant
to oseltamivir. Time course analysis of Rex addition showed that viral entry was
one of the steps that was inhibited by Rex. We also confirmed that Rex effectively
inhibited viral attachment and penetration into the host cells. The inhibition
of red blood cell haemolysis and cell-cell fusion by Rex suggests that Rex may
block haemagglutinin-mediated fusion (virus-endosome fusion) during the fusion/uncoating
step. Rex has the capacity to inhibit influenza viruses by blocking viral endocytosis.
Thus, rhubarb might provide an alternative therapeutic approach when resistant
viruses become more prevalent.
PMID: 27302738 PMCID: PMC4908592 DOI: 10.1038/srep27768 Sci Rep. 2016 Jun 15;6:27768.
doi: 10.1038/srep27768. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Crude extract of Rheum palmatum L. Induces cell cycle arrest S phase and
apoptosis through mitochondrial-dependent pathways in U-2 OS human osteosarcoma
cells. Lin CC, Lee MH, Lin JH, Lin ML, Chueh FS, Yu CC7 Lin JP, Chou YC, Hsu
SC, Chung JG. Abstract
Cancer is the second cause of death in children. Osteosarcoma is the most common
primary malignancy of solid bone cancer primarily affecting adolescents and young
adults. In the Chinese population, the crude extract of Rheum palmatum L. (CERP)
has been used for treating different diseases, including SARS, rheumatoid arthritis,
coxsackievirus B3, and human colon cancer cell, pancreatic cancer. There are no
reports on CERP and human osteosarcoma cells. The present study examined effects
of CERP on cytotoxicity including cell cycle distribution and cell death (apoptosis)
in U-2 OS human osteosarcoma cells. CERP significantly induced S phase arrest
in U-2 OS cells in a dose-dependent. CERP produced DNA damage and DNA condensation.
Other effects of CERP were stimulation of ROS and Ca(2+) , mitochondria impairment,
and activation of caspase-3, -8, and -9. CERP increased the levels of Bax, Bak,
Bad, cyclin B, Fas, PARP, GRP78, GADD153, AIF, Endo G, Calpain-2, p21, and p27,
but decreased the levels of Bcl-2, BCL-X, XIAP, Akt, CDC25A, CDK2, Cyclin A, and
Cyclin E of U-2 OS cells. It was also observed that CERP promoted the expression
of AIF, Endo G, GADD153, and cytochrome c. These results indicate that CERP has
anticancer effects in vitro and provide the foundation for in vivo studies of
animal models of osteosarcoma. Environ Toxicol 31: 957-969, 2016.
PMID: 25689151 DOI: 10.1002/tox.22105 Environ Toxicol. 2016 Aug;31(8):957-69.
doi: 10.1002/tox.22105. Epub 2015 Feb 17. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Rheum
palmatum or R. tanguticum, Rheum rhabarbarum
Turkey rhubarb, Chinese rhubarb, English
rhubarb
Family: Polygonaceae
