Rhubarb Side Effects and
Benefits
Benefits
What is Rhubarb?
Rhubarb is a relative of buckwheat and has an earthy, sour flavor. Rhubarb
thrives in cold climates and originated in Western China, Tibet, Mongolia,
Siberia and neighboring areas. The traditional role was medicinal-the dried
root was a popular remedy for a wide range of illnesses. Its primary function
was to induce vomiting, although rhubarb is also a mild astringent. This
medicinal role caused the price of the dried root to rise. In 1542, rhubarb
sold for ten times the price of cinnamon in France and in 1657 rhubarb sold
for over twice the price of opium in England (Schneider, 2001). Beginning in
the eighteenth century, rhubarb began to be consumed in foods, primarily
drinks and meat stews.
Botanically speaking, rhubarb is considered a vegetable, but it's most often
treated as a fruit — though it's rarely eaten raw. Just like fresh cranberries,
rhubarb is almost unbearably tart on its own and needs the sweetness of
sugar, honey, or fruit juice added to it to balance out the acidity. Rhubarb's
nickname is the "pie plant" because that is the primary use for this vegetable.
Rhubarb was introduced to the United States at the end of the eighteenth
century. Today most rhubarb is frozen for commercial and institutional use;
only about a quarter of the crop is sold fresh.
One serving size of Rhubarb (half cup of diced, 61g) contains 15 calories, 3
g of total carbohydrate, 1 g of dietary fiber, 1 g of sugar, 1 g of protein and
small amounts of calcium, vitamins A and C.
Hothouse, or strawberry, rhubarb appears in markets as early as January
and continues to be stocked through April. Field-grown, or cherry, rhubarb
begins to arrive in markets in March and can continue to arrive through the
summer (depending on the area where it is grown). Spring stalks are the
juiciest and most-tender.
Fresh stalks are flat, not curled or limp. When stalks that have been pulled-
not cut-from the field are available; choose them. Pulled stalks dry out less
rapidly. Size is no indicator of tenderness. Deep red stalks are sweeter and
richer.
Potential Health Benefits of Rhubarb
Rhubarb may have benefits of cutting cancer risks.
Rhubarb has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine since ancient
times and today it is still applied in various herbal preparations for health
benefits. Reseachers from National University of Singapore studied the
toxicological and anti-neoplastic potentials of the main anthraquinones from
Rhubarb, Rheum palmatum. [1]
It is interesting to note that although the chemical structures of various
anthraquinones in this plant are similar, their bioactivities are rather different.
The most abundant anthraquinone of rhubarb, emodin, was capable of
inhibiting cellular proliferation, induction of apoptosis, and prevention of
metastasis. These capabilities seem to act through tyrosine kinases,
phosphoinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase C (PKC), NF-kappa B (NF-
kappaB), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascades.
Aloe-emodin is another major component in rhubarb to have anti-tumor
properties. Its anti-proliferative property is related to p53 and its downstream
p21 pathway. [1]
A recent study suggests that the molecular targets of these two
anthraquinones are different, though both potentiate the anti-proliferation of
various chemotherapeutic agents. Rhein another major rhubarb
anthraquinone effectively inhibited the uptake of glucose in tumor cells,
caused changes in membrane-associated functions and led to cell death in
the study. [1]
A study has shown that rhubarb help patients with gastric cancer to recover
after operations. Patients in the study group were fed with rhubarb before
operation, and at 1 day and 2 days after operation.
Rhubarb positively modulated the acute inflammatory response, promoted
the recovery of postoperative gastrointestinal motility, and benefited enteral
nutrition support in patients who have undergone major operations for
gastric cancer. [3]
However, some test-tubes studies showed that some rhubarb ingredients
might have mutagenic activities. But the clinical link between the use of
rhubarb and the development of gastric cancer was not clear. [4]
Rhubarb may benefit circulation - vasodilation or vasoconstriction?
An aqueous extract of rhubarb (Rheum undulatum L) was found to exhibit a
distinct vasorelaxant activity. This aqueous extract induced a concentration-
dependent relaxation of the phenylephrine-precontracted aorta. After a
series of experiments, researchers concluded that the extract dilated
vascular smooth muscle and suppressed the vascular inflammatory process
via endothelium-dependent NO/cGMP signaling. [2]
On the other hand, rhubarb and Sanchi Powder were found to promote
vasoconstriction, shortening the bleeding time and blood arresting. The
combination could also increase the platelet count and improve the platelet
aggregation. [5]
A study of rabbits has demonstrated the beneficial effects on hemorrhagic
pancreatitis. Researchers first injected living measles virus into the main
pancreatic duct and the ear vein of the rabbits, leading to increased serum
amylase. They then treated some rabbits with rhubarb. They found that
rhubarb treated animals had a lower serum amylase. [29]
There is also a report that it helps stop bleeding from upper digestive tract.
[30]
Rhubarb can be used in muscle contraction, in vitro studies
suggested.
Rhubarb has exciting actions on isolated gastric smooth muscle strips of
guinea pig. The exciting action of rhubarb is partly mediated via cholinergic
M receptor, cholinergic N receptor and L-type calcium channel. [6]
Rhubarb can stimulate the motility of isolated gallbladder muscle strips from
guinea pigs. The stimulation of rhubarb was believed to be related to M
receptor, Ca(2+) channel and alpha receptor partly. [7]
Researchers also found that serum containing Rhubarb Mixture amplified the
contraction amplitude of an isolated small intestinal smooth muscle of rabbit.
The rate of change of contraction amplitude was elevated significantly after
administration, while the frequency of contraction did not change obviously.
[8]
Though there are some in vitro evidence that rhubarb may cause
vasconstriction, it showed a protective measure for high blood pressure
during pregnancy. [9, 10]
Researchers found that low doses of rhubarb prevented hypertension
developed during pregnancy. Rhubarb (140 cases) or placebo (125 cases)
was given to women at risk of hypertension consecutively from the 28th week
of gestation till delivery, and another 68 pregnant women as control. Results
showed that 5.7% of rhubarb treated women developed hypertension, a rate
substantially lower than the 20.8% of the placebo group (P < 0.01). [9]
Rhubarb may benefit those with high cholesterol. [11,13]
Both experimental and clinical studies have indicated that a novel source of
dietary fibre, produced from rhubarb (Rheum rhaponticum) stalks, is
potentially hypolipidaemic. Researchers found that rhubarb fiber could
actually increase excretion of bile acids and induction of cholesterol 7 alpha-
hydroxylase activity in both the normal and the cholesterol-fed mice. [11]
In a study of 10 patients suffered from high cholesterol, Canadian
researchers supplemented the patients with 27 g of ground rhubarb stalk
fiber per day for 4 weeks. They claimed that rhubarb fiber supplementation
resulted in significant lowering of serum total cholesterol (8%) and low-
density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (9%). These results signify the potential
uses of underutilized rhubarb crop.
Rhubarb (Rheum rhapontiam) stalk fibre was previously shown to be
hypolipidaemic under clinical and experimental conditions. However, the
rhubarb-fibre diet had no effect on the plasma cholesterol or triacylglycerol
concentrations of diabetic rats. [13]
Rhubarb showed anti-oxidant, anti-infammatory and anti-allergy
effects. [14-18]
The methanolic extracts from five kinds of rhubarb were found to show
scavenging activity for DPPH radical and .O2-. [14]
Rhubarb supplements showed positive impact on liver inflamation. In a study
of 44 patients of hepatitis, researchers supplied patients with rhubarb, while
they supplemented another 20 patients with inosine, vitamin C and glucose
as a control group. They found a satisfactory to marked improvement in 39
patients of the rhubarb-treated group, while only 10% of the control group
showed improvements. [16]
Japanese researchers found that the rhizome of Rheum undulatum inhibited
the allergic reactions in an animal study and that these inhibitory effects
might be partially attributable to the stilbenes. [17]
Researchers from Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Japan, demonstrated
that stilbenes from the rhizomes of Rheum undulatum (Korean rhubarb) and
the related compounds had anti-allergic activities. Active stilbenes such as
piceatannol, 3,5,4'-trimethylpiceatannol, resveratrol, trimethylresveratrol
inhibited ionomycin-induced beta-hexosaminidase release. And, piceatannol,
3,5,4'-trimethylpiceatannol, resveratrol, and trimethylresveratrol also
significantly inhibited antigen-induced release of TNF-alpha and IL-4 in RBL-
2H3 cells. [18]
Rhubarb can exert protective effects on severe acute pancreatitis in rats,
probably by inhibiting the inflammation of pancreas, improving pancreatic
microcirculation, and altering exocrine secretion. [35]
Rhubarb demonstrated immune modulation in some test-tube and animal
studies. [19, 20]
Some studies showed rhubarb extracts may prevent stone formation.
Rhubarb has shown benefits on renal failure or toxicity in test-tube and
animal studies. [21-25]
Researchers found that a rhubarb extract prevented calcium phosphate
precipitation in a in vitro study. Thus, they suggested that supplementation of
rhubarb extract may have benefit of preventing calculus formation. [21]
Treatment of chronic renal failure with rhubarb and adjuvant drugs combined
with other appropriate measures alleviates the suffering of the patients and
improves the quality of their survival. [22]
In a clinical trial of 38 patients, Japanese researchers found that rhubarb can
retard the introduction-period of hemodialysis and can also inhibit
deterioration of the chronic renal failure. [25]
Rhubarb may have protective effects on lung, too; animal studies
suggested.
In a study of rats, rhubarb and dexamethasone could significantly reduce the
edema of the lung tissue, decrease the red blood cell exudation, neutrophil
infiltration and plasma protein exudation in the alveoli and all the biological
markers in comparison with the acute lung injury model rats, indicating these
two substances have protective action on vascular endothelium and alveolar
epithelium. [26]
A study of rats showed that the application of rhubarb and dexamethasone
could decease the expression and ameliorate the lung damage induced by
lipopolysaccharide injection. [27]
Rhubarb was found to have anti-Bacterial, anti-viral effects from animal or
test-tube studies. [31, 32, 34]
Researchers from Japan found that rhubarb root (Rheum officinale)and its
active ingredient-rhein had significant activities against bacteroides fragilis
which is a major anaerobic microorganism in the intestinal flora of humans.
ost patients can take care of themselves after treatment, and some can
engage in half-day work. The treatment prolongs the life of the patient, and
reduces medical expenses. [31, 28]
An animal study showed its effects on herpes simplex virus(HSV) infection.
[34]
SIDE EFFECTS AND WARNING
Rhubarb has been used in Chinese traditional medicine for a long time. its
side effects should be minimal for usual doses and dosage design. However,
the side effects could be serious if you have cancer or vascular issues. It is
unclear if rhubarb is anti-cancer or carcinogenic. There are reports that it
may cause cancer; there are also reports that its ingredients have anti-
cancer activities. Its effect on vascular system is also unclear. A few reports
indicated its vasodilutory effects, while some showed its muscle contraction
effects. It may also enhance blod clotting.
The side effects for eating its leave can be fatal. The leaves are poisonous
because they contain oxalate. This toxin, plus another unknown toxin also
found in the leaves, has been reported to cause poisoning when large
quantities of raw or cooked leaves are ingested. Some ingredients of
rhubarb were also found to be phototoxic.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ZHION 2006. THIS ARTICLE CAN BE USED AS REFERENCE ONLY.
CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR FOR ANY QUESTIONS. DO NOT TAKE ANY SUPPLEMENTS OR
HERBS WITHOUT CONSULTING YOUR DOCTOR.
[1] Huang Q, et al, Anti-cancer properties of anthraquinones from Rhubarb. Med Res Rev. 2006 Oct 4.
[2] Moon MK,et al, Vasodilatory and anti-inflammatory effects of the aqueous extract of rhubarb via a
NO-cGMP pathway.Life Sci. 2006 Feb 28;78(14):1550-7. Epub 2005 Nov 2. [3] Cai J, et al, Effects of
perioperative administration of Rhubarb on acute inflammatory response in patients with gastric
cancer. Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Xue Bao. 2005 May;3(3):195-8. [4] Mantani N, Rhubarb use in patients
treated with Kampo medicines--a risk for gastric cancer? Yakugaku Zasshi. 2002 Jun;122(6):403-5. [5]
Fu DC, Yu CY.Observation on therapeutic effect of Rhubarb and sanchi powder in treating patients with
hemorrhagic fever in nephrotic syndrome complicated with digestive tract bleeding Zhongguo Zhong
Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2005 Aug;25(8):744-7. [6] Yu M, et al,Effects of rhubarb on isolated gastric muscle
strips of guinea pigs. World J Gastroenterol. 2005 May 7;11(17):2670-3. [7] Luo YL, et al, Effect of
rhubarb on contractile response of gallbladder smooth muscle strips isolated from guinea pigs.World J
Gastroenterol. 2005 Feb 14;11(6):863-6.[8] Zhang HQ, et al, Effect of Compound Rhubarb Mixture on
contraction of isolated small intestinal smooth muscle of rabbit. Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Xue Bao. 2004
May;2(3):210-2. [9] Zhang ZJ, et al, Low-dose of processed rhubarb in preventing pregnancy induced
hypertension Zhonghua Fu Chan Ke Za Zhi. 1994 Aug;29(8):463-4, 509. [10] Wang Z et al, ,Clinical
observation on therapeutical effect of prepared rhubarb in treating pregnancy induced hypertension
Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1999 Dec;19(12):725-7. [11] Goel V, et al, Dietary rhubarb
(Rheum rhaponticum) stalk fibre stimulates cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase gene expression and bile
acid excretion in cholesterol-fed C57BL/6J mice.Br J Nutr. 1999 Jan;81(1):65-71. [12] Goel V, et al,
Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Vol 16, Issue 6 600-604. [13] Cheema SK, et al, Dietary
rhubarb (Rheum rhaponticum) stalk fibre does not lower plasma cholesterol levels in diabetic rats.Br J
Nutr. 2003 Feb;89(2):201-6. [14] Matsuda H, et al, Antioxidant constituents from rhubarb: structural
requirements of stilbenes for the activity and structures of two new anthraquinone glucosides.Bioorg
Med Chem. 2001 Jan;9(1):41-50. [15] Peng SM, et al, Effect of rhubarb on inflammatory cytokines and
complements in patients with systemic inflammation reaction syndrome and its significance Zhongguo
Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2002 Apr;22(4):264-6. [16]Huang ZH, et al, Clinical observation on
treatment of infantile cholestatic hepatitis syndrome by rhubarb Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi.
1997 Aug;17(8):459-61. [17] Matsuda H, et al, Study on anti-Oketsu activity of rhubarb II. Anti-allergic
effects of stilbene components from Rhei undulati Rhizoma, Biol Pharm Bull. 2001 Mar;24(3):264-7.
[18] Matsuda H, et al, Anti-allergic activity of stilbenes from Korean rhubarb (Rheum undulatum L.):
structure requirements for inhibition of antigen-induced degranulation and their effects on the release
of TNF-alpha and IL-4 in RBL-2H3 cells.Bioorg Med Chem. 2004 Sep 15;12(18):4871-6. [19] Ma L.
Experimental study on the immunomodulatory effects of rhubarb Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1991 Jul;
11(7):418-9, 390.
[20] Chen XL, et al, Effect of rhubarb on intestinal immune associated secretion in healthy mice and in
burn mice Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2001 Oct;21(10):754-6. [21] Hidaka S, et al, Effects of
a rhubarb (Rhei rhizoma) solution and its fractions on the formation of calcium phosphate precipitates.
J Periodontal Res. 1996 Aug;31(6):408-13. [22] Yokozawa T, et al, Effects of rhubarb tannins on uremic
toxins.Nephron. 1991;58(2):155-60. [23] Tian J, et al, Effects of Cordyceps sinensis, rhubarb and serum
renotropin on tubular epithelial cell growth Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1991 Sep;11(9):547-9, 518. [24]
Yokozawa T, et al,Effects of rhubarb tannins on renal function in rats with renal failure. Nippon Jinzo
Gakkai Shi. 1993 Jan;35(1):13-8. [25] Sanada H.Study on the clinical effect of rhubarb on nitrogen-
metabolism abnormality due to chronic renal failure and its mechanism Nippon Jinzo Gakkai Shi. 1996
Aug;38(8):379-87. [26] Li C, et al, Protective effect of rhubarb on endotoxin-induced acute lung injury.
J Tradit Chin Med. 2001 Mar;21(1):54-8. [27] Chunsheng L, et al, Expression of intercellular adhesion
molecule in lung tissues of experimental acute lung injury and the affect of Rhubarb on it. Chin Med
Sci J. 2000 Jun;15(2):93-7. [28] Kang Z, et al, Observation of therapeutic effect in 50 cases of chronic
renal failure treated with rhubarb and adjuvant drugs.J Tradit Chin Med. 1993 Dec;13(4):249-52.[29]
Role of a virus in hemorrhagic pancreatitis and the therapeutic effect of rhubarb,Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za
Zhi. 1990 Mar;10(3):162-3, 133. [30] Zhou H, et al, 312 cases of gastric and duodenal ulcer bleeding
treated with 3 kinds of alcoholic extract rhubarb tablets Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1990 Mar;10(3):150-
1, 131-2.[31] Cyong J, et al, Anti-Bacteroides fragilis substance from rhubarb, J Ethnopharmacol. 1987
May;19(3):279-83. [32] Hu P, et al, Treatment of bacterial peritonitis with dachengqi decoction and
rhubarb in mice Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2000 Jan;20(1):53-4. [33] Wang ZY, et al,
Inhibition effects of rhubarb ethanol extract on herpes simplex virus infection in vivo Zhonghua Shi
Yan He Lin Chuang Bing Du Xue Za Zhi. 2003 Jun;17(2):169-73. [[35] Zhao YQ, et al, Protective
effects of rhubarb on experimental severe acute pancreatitis.World J Gastroenterol. 2004 Apr 1;10(7):
1005-9.
Rhubarb is a relative of buckwheat and has an earthy, sour flavor. Rhubarb
thrives in cold climates and originated in Western China, Tibet, Mongolia,
Siberia and neighboring areas. The traditional role was medicinal-the dried
root was a popular remedy for a wide range of illnesses. Its primary function
was to induce vomiting, although rhubarb is also a mild astringent. This
medicinal role caused the price of the dried root to rise. In 1542, rhubarb
sold for ten times the price of cinnamon in France and in 1657 rhubarb sold
for over twice the price of opium in England (Schneider, 2001). Beginning in
the eighteenth century, rhubarb began to be consumed in foods, primarily
drinks and meat stews.
Botanically speaking, rhubarb is considered a vegetable, but it's most often
treated as a fruit — though it's rarely eaten raw. Just like fresh cranberries,
rhubarb is almost unbearably tart on its own and needs the sweetness of
sugar, honey, or fruit juice added to it to balance out the acidity. Rhubarb's
nickname is the "pie plant" because that is the primary use for this vegetable.
Rhubarb was introduced to the United States at the end of the eighteenth
century. Today most rhubarb is frozen for commercial and institutional use;
only about a quarter of the crop is sold fresh.
One serving size of Rhubarb (half cup of diced, 61g) contains 15 calories, 3
g of total carbohydrate, 1 g of dietary fiber, 1 g of sugar, 1 g of protein and
small amounts of calcium, vitamins A and C.
Hothouse, or strawberry, rhubarb appears in markets as early as January
and continues to be stocked through April. Field-grown, or cherry, rhubarb
begins to arrive in markets in March and can continue to arrive through the
summer (depending on the area where it is grown). Spring stalks are the
juiciest and most-tender.
Fresh stalks are flat, not curled or limp. When stalks that have been pulled-
not cut-from the field are available; choose them. Pulled stalks dry out less
rapidly. Size is no indicator of tenderness. Deep red stalks are sweeter and
richer.
Potential Health Benefits of Rhubarb
Rhubarb may have benefits of cutting cancer risks.
Rhubarb has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine since ancient
times and today it is still applied in various herbal preparations for health
benefits. Reseachers from National University of Singapore studied the
toxicological and anti-neoplastic potentials of the main anthraquinones from
Rhubarb, Rheum palmatum. [1]
It is interesting to note that although the chemical structures of various
anthraquinones in this plant are similar, their bioactivities are rather different.
The most abundant anthraquinone of rhubarb, emodin, was capable of
inhibiting cellular proliferation, induction of apoptosis, and prevention of
metastasis. These capabilities seem to act through tyrosine kinases,
phosphoinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase C (PKC), NF-kappa B (NF-
kappaB), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascades.
Aloe-emodin is another major component in rhubarb to have anti-tumor
properties. Its anti-proliferative property is related to p53 and its downstream
p21 pathway. [1]
A recent study suggests that the molecular targets of these two
anthraquinones are different, though both potentiate the anti-proliferation of
various chemotherapeutic agents. Rhein another major rhubarb
anthraquinone effectively inhibited the uptake of glucose in tumor cells,
caused changes in membrane-associated functions and led to cell death in
the study. [1]
A study has shown that rhubarb help patients with gastric cancer to recover
after operations. Patients in the study group were fed with rhubarb before
operation, and at 1 day and 2 days after operation.
Rhubarb positively modulated the acute inflammatory response, promoted
the recovery of postoperative gastrointestinal motility, and benefited enteral
nutrition support in patients who have undergone major operations for
gastric cancer. [3]
However, some test-tubes studies showed that some rhubarb ingredients
might have mutagenic activities. But the clinical link between the use of
rhubarb and the development of gastric cancer was not clear. [4]
Rhubarb may benefit circulation - vasodilation or vasoconstriction?
An aqueous extract of rhubarb (Rheum undulatum L) was found to exhibit a
distinct vasorelaxant activity. This aqueous extract induced a concentration-
dependent relaxation of the phenylephrine-precontracted aorta. After a
series of experiments, researchers concluded that the extract dilated
vascular smooth muscle and suppressed the vascular inflammatory process
via endothelium-dependent NO/cGMP signaling. [2]
On the other hand, rhubarb and Sanchi Powder were found to promote
vasoconstriction, shortening the bleeding time and blood arresting. The
combination could also increase the platelet count and improve the platelet
aggregation. [5]
A study of rabbits has demonstrated the beneficial effects on hemorrhagic
pancreatitis. Researchers first injected living measles virus into the main
pancreatic duct and the ear vein of the rabbits, leading to increased serum
amylase. They then treated some rabbits with rhubarb. They found that
rhubarb treated animals had a lower serum amylase. [29]
There is also a report that it helps stop bleeding from upper digestive tract.
[30]
Rhubarb can be used in muscle contraction, in vitro studies
suggested.
Rhubarb has exciting actions on isolated gastric smooth muscle strips of
guinea pig. The exciting action of rhubarb is partly mediated via cholinergic
M receptor, cholinergic N receptor and L-type calcium channel. [6]
Rhubarb can stimulate the motility of isolated gallbladder muscle strips from
guinea pigs. The stimulation of rhubarb was believed to be related to M
receptor, Ca(2+) channel and alpha receptor partly. [7]
Researchers also found that serum containing Rhubarb Mixture amplified the
contraction amplitude of an isolated small intestinal smooth muscle of rabbit.
The rate of change of contraction amplitude was elevated significantly after
administration, while the frequency of contraction did not change obviously.
[8]
Though there are some in vitro evidence that rhubarb may cause
vasconstriction, it showed a protective measure for high blood pressure
during pregnancy. [9, 10]
Researchers found that low doses of rhubarb prevented hypertension
developed during pregnancy. Rhubarb (140 cases) or placebo (125 cases)
was given to women at risk of hypertension consecutively from the 28th week
of gestation till delivery, and another 68 pregnant women as control. Results
showed that 5.7% of rhubarb treated women developed hypertension, a rate
substantially lower than the 20.8% of the placebo group (P < 0.01). [9]
Rhubarb may benefit those with high cholesterol. [11,13]
Both experimental and clinical studies have indicated that a novel source of
dietary fibre, produced from rhubarb (Rheum rhaponticum) stalks, is
potentially hypolipidaemic. Researchers found that rhubarb fiber could
actually increase excretion of bile acids and induction of cholesterol 7 alpha-
hydroxylase activity in both the normal and the cholesterol-fed mice. [11]
In a study of 10 patients suffered from high cholesterol, Canadian
researchers supplemented the patients with 27 g of ground rhubarb stalk
fiber per day for 4 weeks. They claimed that rhubarb fiber supplementation
resulted in significant lowering of serum total cholesterol (8%) and low-
density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (9%). These results signify the potential
uses of underutilized rhubarb crop.
Rhubarb (Rheum rhapontiam) stalk fibre was previously shown to be
hypolipidaemic under clinical and experimental conditions. However, the
rhubarb-fibre diet had no effect on the plasma cholesterol or triacylglycerol
concentrations of diabetic rats. [13]
Rhubarb showed anti-oxidant, anti-infammatory and anti-allergy
effects. [14-18]
The methanolic extracts from five kinds of rhubarb were found to show
scavenging activity for DPPH radical and .O2-. [14]
Rhubarb supplements showed positive impact on liver inflamation. In a study
of 44 patients of hepatitis, researchers supplied patients with rhubarb, while
they supplemented another 20 patients with inosine, vitamin C and glucose
as a control group. They found a satisfactory to marked improvement in 39
patients of the rhubarb-treated group, while only 10% of the control group
showed improvements. [16]
Japanese researchers found that the rhizome of Rheum undulatum inhibited
the allergic reactions in an animal study and that these inhibitory effects
might be partially attributable to the stilbenes. [17]
Researchers from Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Japan, demonstrated
that stilbenes from the rhizomes of Rheum undulatum (Korean rhubarb) and
the related compounds had anti-allergic activities. Active stilbenes such as
piceatannol, 3,5,4'-trimethylpiceatannol, resveratrol, trimethylresveratrol
inhibited ionomycin-induced beta-hexosaminidase release. And, piceatannol,
3,5,4'-trimethylpiceatannol, resveratrol, and trimethylresveratrol also
significantly inhibited antigen-induced release of TNF-alpha and IL-4 in RBL-
2H3 cells. [18]
Rhubarb can exert protective effects on severe acute pancreatitis in rats,
probably by inhibiting the inflammation of pancreas, improving pancreatic
microcirculation, and altering exocrine secretion. [35]
Rhubarb demonstrated immune modulation in some test-tube and animal
studies. [19, 20]
Some studies showed rhubarb extracts may prevent stone formation.
Rhubarb has shown benefits on renal failure or toxicity in test-tube and
animal studies. [21-25]
Researchers found that a rhubarb extract prevented calcium phosphate
precipitation in a in vitro study. Thus, they suggested that supplementation of
rhubarb extract may have benefit of preventing calculus formation. [21]
Treatment of chronic renal failure with rhubarb and adjuvant drugs combined
with other appropriate measures alleviates the suffering of the patients and
improves the quality of their survival. [22]
In a clinical trial of 38 patients, Japanese researchers found that rhubarb can
retard the introduction-period of hemodialysis and can also inhibit
deterioration of the chronic renal failure. [25]
Rhubarb may have protective effects on lung, too; animal studies
suggested.
In a study of rats, rhubarb and dexamethasone could significantly reduce the
edema of the lung tissue, decrease the red blood cell exudation, neutrophil
infiltration and plasma protein exudation in the alveoli and all the biological
markers in comparison with the acute lung injury model rats, indicating these
two substances have protective action on vascular endothelium and alveolar
epithelium. [26]
A study of rats showed that the application of rhubarb and dexamethasone
could decease the expression and ameliorate the lung damage induced by
lipopolysaccharide injection. [27]
Rhubarb was found to have anti-Bacterial, anti-viral effects from animal or
test-tube studies. [31, 32, 34]
Researchers from Japan found that rhubarb root (Rheum officinale)and its
active ingredient-rhein had significant activities against bacteroides fragilis
which is a major anaerobic microorganism in the intestinal flora of humans.
ost patients can take care of themselves after treatment, and some can
engage in half-day work. The treatment prolongs the life of the patient, and
reduces medical expenses. [31, 28]
An animal study showed its effects on herpes simplex virus(HSV) infection.
[34]
SIDE EFFECTS AND WARNING
Rhubarb has been used in Chinese traditional medicine for a long time. its
side effects should be minimal for usual doses and dosage design. However,
the side effects could be serious if you have cancer or vascular issues. It is
unclear if rhubarb is anti-cancer or carcinogenic. There are reports that it
may cause cancer; there are also reports that its ingredients have anti-
cancer activities. Its effect on vascular system is also unclear. A few reports
indicated its vasodilutory effects, while some showed its muscle contraction
effects. It may also enhance blod clotting.
The side effects for eating its leave can be fatal. The leaves are poisonous
because they contain oxalate. This toxin, plus another unknown toxin also
found in the leaves, has been reported to cause poisoning when large
quantities of raw or cooked leaves are ingested. Some ingredients of
rhubarb were also found to be phototoxic.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ZHION 2006. THIS ARTICLE CAN BE USED AS REFERENCE ONLY.
CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR FOR ANY QUESTIONS. DO NOT TAKE ANY SUPPLEMENTS OR
HERBS WITHOUT CONSULTING YOUR DOCTOR.
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