Indian Rhubarb/himalayan Rhubarb

Botanical Name - Rheum emodi

Category - Medicinal

Form - Dry

Part Used - Roots, Rhizomes

General Information - Rheum emodi or Himalayan rhubarb is a perennial herb belongs to family Polygonaceae. It has been used in various traditional systems as laxative, tonic, diuretic and to treat fever, cough, indigestion, menstrual disorder since antiquity. This paper consists of literature of Rheum emodi regarding its ethno botany, folkloric uses, chemical properties and pharmacological studies.

Phytochemicals - The most common constituents of Rheum emodi are anthraquinone (rhein, chrysophanol, aloe-emodin, emodin, physcion, and their glycosides) and stilbene (picetannol, resveratrol and their glycosides). Studies have shown that Rheum emodi possess anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antifungal, antidyslipidemic, ant platelet, ant diabetic, antiulcer, hepatoprotective, immunoenhancing and nephroprotective activities. These studies raised the therapeutic efficacy of rhubarb in diverse ailments.