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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 Cao  1 , Zong-Jin Pu  1 , Yu-Ping Tang  1   2 , Juan Shen  1 , Yan-Yan Chen  2 , An Kang  1 , Gui-Sheng Zhou  1 , Jin-Ao Duan  1
Affiliations
Review

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

Yu-Jie Cao et al. Chin Med. .

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
Fig. 1
Main structures of rhubarb anthraquinones
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Main structures of rhubarb anthrones and dianthrones
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Main structures of rhubarb stilbenes, tannins, butyrophenones and chromones
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Relationship between ingredients and efficacy of rhubarb
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Active constituents and mechanism of rhubarb exerting purgative activity
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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