To explore the changes and the reaction mechanisms between soil microecological environment and the content of secon-dary metabolites of plants under water deficit, this study carried out a pot experiment on the 3-leaf stage seedlings of Rheum officinale to analyze their response mechanism under different drought gradients(normal water supply, mild, moderate, and severe drought). The results indicated that the content of flavonoids, phenols, terpenoids, and alkaloids in the root of R. officinale varied greatly under drought stresses. Under mild drought stress, the content of substances mentioned above was comparatively high, and the content of rutin, emodin, gallic acid, and(+)-catechin hydrate in the root significantly increased. The content of rutin, emodin, and gallic acid under severe drought stress was significantly lower than that under normal water supply. The number of species, Shannon diversity index, richness index, and Simpson index of bacteria in the rhizosphere soil were significantly higher than those in blank soil, and the number of microbial species and richness index decreased significantly with the aggravation of drought stresses. In the context of water deficit, Cyanophyta, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi, Gemmatimonadetes, Streptomyces, and Actinomyces were the dominant bacteria in the rhizosphere of R. officinale. The relative content of rutin and emodin in the root of R. officinale was positively correlated with the relative abundance of Cyanophyta and Firmicutes, and the relative content of(+)-catechin hydrate and(-)-epicatechin gallate was positively correlated with the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. In conclusion, appropriate drought stress can increase the content of secondary metabolites of R. officinale from physiological induction and the increase in the association with beneficial microbe.
Rhizosphere ; Rheum ; Droughts ; Soil ; Catechin ; Emodin ; Bacteria/metabolism* ; Water/metabolism* ; Firmicutes ; Soil Microbiology

This study aimed to explore the efficacy and mechanism of combined rhein and emodin in the treatment of ulcerative colitis(UC) from the aspects of network pharmacology, animal inflammation improvement and molecular mechanism. Network pharmacology predicted that combined rhein and emodin acted on 52 potential targets, mainly participating in signaling pathways such as cancer, PI3 K/AKT, microRNAs in cancer and apoptosis. PI3 K/AKT signaling pathway has been reported to be closely related to UC, and the optimal candidate pathway for combined therapy. The UC mice model was established by dextran sodium sulfate, and then the modeled mice were randomly divided into control group, model group, rhein group, emodin group, rhein+emodin group and sulfasalazine group. After administration, compared with the conditions in model group, body weight, disease activity index(DAI) score, colon length, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β and myeloperoxidase(MPO) of mice in rhein+emodin group were improved(P<0.01); colonic mucosal injury was significantly reduced; the expression of p-PI3 K/PI3 K and p-AKT/AKT proteins were down-regulated(P<0.01). All the above indices were better than those in the rhein/emodin group alone. The Jin's Q-values of the effect of combined rhein and emodin on colon length, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, MPO, p-PI3 K/PI3 K and p-AKT/AKT were all greater than 1.15, which indicated that there was obvious synergistic effect between rhein and emodin. In all, rhein and emodin have synergistic effect in the treatment of UC, and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of PI3 K/AKT signaling pathway and the down-regulation of proinflammatory factors. They are the new components in the treatment of UC, which is worthy of attention.
Animals ; Anthraquinones ; Colitis, Ulcerative/metabolism* ; Colon ; Disease Models, Animal ; Emodin/pharmacology* ; Interleukin-6/metabolism* ; Mice ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Rheum ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism*

Rhei Radix et Rhizoma was first recorded in Shennong Ben Cao Jing, with a wide range of pharmacological activities. Autoimmune disease is a kind of disease that damages the tissue structure and function of immune cells and their components due to the impairment of immune tolerance function, including atherosclerosis, multiple sclerosis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune thyroiditis, ulcerative colitis, type 1 diabetes and IgA nephropathy. In recent years, clinical and experimental studies show that Rhei Radix et Rhizoma has potential therapeutic effects on autoimmune diseases. Under the guidance of the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, this paper reviews therapeutic and intervening effects of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma and its main active ingredient anthraquinone on autoimmune diseases. It also puts forward new study directions in view of the existing problems in studies of rhubarb and its anthraquinone, with the aim to provide reference for clinical treatment and scientific studies of effect of Rhei Radix et Rhizomaon autoimmune diseases.
Animals ; Anthraquinones ; Autoimmune Diseases/drug therapy* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Rheum ; Rhizome

The color characteristic information of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma powder was obtained by spectrophotometer, the feasibility of rapid identification of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma origin based on chromaticity value was studied by statistical analysis. The results of rank correlation analysis showed that a~*(P<0.01), b~*(P<0.01) had significantly correlation with the origin of medicinal herbs, which could be used as two important parameters to distinguish the origin of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, the larger the a~* value, the more red the powder color,and the greater the b~* value, the more yellow the powder color. Meanwhile, through Fisher discriminant analysis, the linear discriminant functions of different genus Rhei Radix et Rhizoma were established, which was Rheum tanguticum=40.666a~*+0.019b~*-213.303, Rh. palmatum=34.121a~*+0.061b~*-151.770, Rh. officinale=28.071a~*+0.113b~*-104.604 3, the coincidence rate of cross-validation was over 95%, among them, the discriminant rate of Rh. tanguticum and Rh. officinale reached 100%;In addition, using the percentile method to analyze the 90% reference value range of three different origin of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, as a result, Rh. tanguticum a~*(10.236 5-10.604 7), b~*(32.294 8-34.841 7); Rh. palmatum a~*(8.602 7-8.770 0), b~*(27.534 8-28.968 6), and Rh. officinale a~*(6.825 7-7.464 3),b~*(21.001 6-27.716 4). According to this study, rank correlation analysis and Fisher discriminant analysis are feasible to distinguish the base of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma in a certain range, and provide some theoretical basis for the identification of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma. It also provides a new method and idea for the identification of other multi-base Chinese medicine.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Gastropoda ; Plant Roots ; Rheum ; Rhizome

Rhei Radix et Rhizoma is a kind of commonly used Chinese medicinal materials. Due to the overharvesting, the wild resource is endangering. Large market demand caused severely adulterant of commercial Rhei Radix et Rhizoma medicinal materials and decoction pieces. This manuscript reviewed the advances of the original species authentication in the industrial chain of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma during the latest decade, including characteristics and microscopic features, phytochemical analysis on anthraquinones, and molecular authentication based on DNA barcoding. Accordingly, an original species authentication route for the industrial chain of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma was summarized:(1)the identification of seeds and seedlings by DNA barcoding;(2) the selection of high variable sites based on the chloroplast genome;(3)biomonitoring of the Rhei Radix et Rhizoma medicinal materials and decoction pieces by two-dimensional DNA barcode;(4)traceability of Chinese patent medicines by third-generation sequencing. In conclusion, the combination of molecular identification and traditional identification methods provides a new idea for the identification of the original species of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma in the industrial chain and a essential guidance for the research of drug safety and efficacy of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma.
Animals ; Anthraquinones ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Plant Roots ; Rheum ; Rhizome

A combination of LC-MS technology and activity evaluation was used to identify the antipyretic ingredients in rhubarb. The rat model of fever was established with dried yeast and then was administered ethanol extract and different polar fractions of rhubarb. Next, the anal temperature of these rats was measured and recorded at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 h after administration, and the inhibition rate of each part on the rise of body temperature was calculated. The inhibition rate is higher and the antipyretic effect is better. The chemical composition of the effective fraction was analyzed with UPLC-ESI-Orbitrap-MS/MS technology. Compared with the model group, the increase of body temperature of ethanol extract group all reduced at each measurement time especially after 3 h, and the inhibition rate were 38.7%(P<0.05), 78.2%(P<0.01) and 72.4%(P<0.01) at 3 h, 4 h, and 5 h after administration, respectively. Both n-butanol and water fraction showed some antipyretic activity in the early stage, with the inhibition rate of 28.1%(P<0.01) and 24.9%(P<0.05) at 1 h after administration, respectively, while other fractions were not active. Thirty-three and twelve compounds were identified from n-butanol and water fraction by LC-MS/MS analysis, respectively, including ten tannins, fifteen anthraquinone glycosides, four anthrone glycosides, one phenolic glycoside, one naphthaline derivative, one anthraquinone and one sucrose. These results revealed that rhubarb had antipyretic activity on rats, and tannin and anthraquinone glycosides were the main active ingredients inside.
Animals ; Anthraquinones ; Antipyretics/pharmacology* ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Fever/drug therapy* ; Glycosides ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology* ; Plants, Medicinal/chemistry* ; Rats ; Rheum/chemistry* ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Tannins

The dose-toxicity-effect relationship between licorice combined with rhubarb in purgation was studied. A total of 108 ICR mice were divided into control group,model group,positive group,low,medium and high-dose rhubarb groups,and low,medium and high-dose rhubarb-liquorice decoction group. After 6 days of continuous administration of loperamide hydrochloride,the constipation model of mice was replicated,and each group was given lactulose,different doses of rhubarb and rhubarb-liquorice decoction for 14 days. After administration,the defecation characteristics,blood biochemistry,liver,kidney and colon pathological changes in each group were compared. Based on the objective weight given by factor analysis,the dose-toxicity-effect relationship was comprehensively analyzed by multi-index scoring method. Two common factors were extracted by factor analysis,representing effect and toxicity respectively. The results showed that rhubarb could exert a diarrhea effect at the dosage of 1/2,2 and 8 times of the high limit set forth in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia,increase the defecation volume and the intestinal tract propulsion rate,reduce the time of anal and the oral transmission,and increase the water content of feces. The combination with licorice could alleviate its diarrhea effect,especially at the dosage of 1/2 times of the high limit set forth in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. However,rhubarb showed obvious hepatic and colon toxicities at the dosage of 2 and 8 times of the high limit set forth in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia,and the combination with licorice could significantly reduce its toxicity. It shows that licorice has a " mediating" effect on rhubarb by alleviating the purgation property and reducing the toxicity.
Animals ; Cathartics ; pharmacology ; Colon ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Glycyrrhiza ; chemistry ; Kidney ; Liver ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rheum ; chemistry ; Toxicity Tests

Anthraquinones,dianthrones and tannins are the main active ingredients of Rheum tanguticum. In this study the three components were determined by HPLC,and the results were analyzed by multiple comparisons,principal components analysis(PCA)and correspondence analysis(CA). The results showed that the contents of components in different growing areas and types(wild and cultivated) reached a significant level(P<0. 05). Baiyu county,Xiaojin county and Ruoergai county had obvious advantages in the accumulation of catechin hydrate,rhien and sensenoside A respectively. The principal component was different in two growing type and the wild environment was conducive to combined anthraquinones accumulation. For active components,normalized planting was better than retail cultivating. Therefore,the effect on the accumulation of chemical components in Rh. tangusticum,should be taken into full account in the selection of the cultural base of Rh. tanguticum. The standardized cultivating is superior to retail cultivating in terms of the accumulation of active ingredients,and standardized planting is inferior to the wild.
Anthraquinones ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Phytochemicals ; analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rheum ; chemistry ; Tannins ; analysis

The herbal formula, DF-02, consisting of Ephedra intermedia and Rheum palmatum are used for the treatment of the metabolic diseases such as obesity and liver fibrosis in Korean local clinics. We aimed to develop the simultaneous analytical conditions for four standards, (+)-pseudoephedrine (PSEP) and (−)-ephedrine (EP) for E. intermedia, and aloe-emodin (AE) and chrysophanol (CP) for R. palmatum using HPLC-UV techniques. The validated conditions yielded the high precision (relative standard deviation (RSD) < 3.65%) and the recoveries (94 – 106%) using the calibration curves with high linearity (R² > 0.9994). As a result, four standards of DF-02 were simultaneously determined under the developed method, which will be utilized for the quality control or evaluation of DF-02 and many herbal preparations containing E. intermedia and R. palmatum.
Calibration ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Ephedra ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Metabolic Diseases ; Methods ; Obesity ; Plant Preparations ; Quality Control ; Rheum

BackgroundGastrointestinal dysfunction plays a critical role in the prognosis of critically ill patients. Previous studies showed rhubarb, a traditional Chinese herb, can protect the intestinal barrier function, prevent intestinal bacterial translocation, and promote gastrointestinal peristalsis, but the clinical studies are less. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of rhubarb on gastrointestinal dysfunction in critically ill patients.

MethodsFrom June 2015 to May 2017, a total of 368 critically ill patients with Grade I-III acute gastrointestinal injury (AGI) were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into two groups according to the exposure factors (whether the patients received rhubarb treatment): the rhubarb group and the usual treatment group. Clinical data were collected within the first 24 h of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission and 7 days after treatment. Survival data on day 28 after ICU admission and the durations of ICU and total hospitalization were also collected. Propensity score matching (PSM) was conducted to reduce confounding bias between the groups. The logistic regression was conducted to screen the influence factors.

ResultsThe eligible patients were divided into rhubarb group (n = 219, 59.5%) and usual treatment group (n = 149, 40.5%). Before PSM, the remission rate of feeding intolerance in rhubarb group and usual treatment group were 59.8% and 39.6%, respectively. After PSM, the remission rate of feeding intolerance in rhubarb group and usual treatment group was 77.9% and 30.9%, respectively. The remission rates of feeding intolerance in rhubarb group were significantly higher than those in the usual treatment group (all P < 0.05). Compared with the usual treatment group, the rhubarb group had a higher rate of AGI improvement, lower level of C-reactive protein, shorter stay in ICU before and after PSM (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in 28-day mortality between rhubarb and usual treatment groups before and after PSM (48 vs. 33, P = 0.959; and 16 vs. 21, P = 0.335). The logistic regression analysis showed that the single factor, whether receiving rhubarb therapy, affected the proportion of patients whose enteral nutrition needs ≥83.7 kJ·kg·d after 7 days of treatment (odds ratio: 7.908, 95% confidence interval: 3.661-17.083, P < 0.001). No serious adverse effects were found in two groups.

ConclusionsThe rhubarb might significantly improve feeding tolerance and relieve gastrointestinal dysfunction in critically ill patients, without serious adverse reactions. It provided proof for the treatment of gastrointestinal dysfunction with rhubarb during clinical practice.

APACHE ; Adult ; Aged ; Critical Illness ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; statistics & numerical data ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; therapeutic use ; Propensity Score ; Retrospective Studies ; Rheum ; chemistry