Bernheim (2), studying the properties of the “citric dehydrogenase” system, noted that aconitic acid (presumably the trans isomer) inhibited the reduction of methylene blue by citric acid. More recently, Morrison and Still (3), in a short report, claimed that truns-aconitic acid inhibited competitively the reaction cis-aconitate c citrate, catalyzed by the aconitase of rhubarb leaf. The present...

The present study aims to clarify the inhibitive effect of the compounds from Rheum palmatum L. on the SARS-3CL protease. The SARS-CoV 3CL gene was amplified from RNA of the SARS virus by PCR. The SARS-CoV 3CL protease was purified from a colon bacillus recombinant. Drugs and 3CL protease were incubated together. The inhibition rate and IC(50) were calculated based on absorbance. Components fro...

Four important categories of urologic herbs, their history, and modern scientific investigations regarding them are reviewed. Botanical diuretics are discussed with a focus on Solidago spp (goldenrod) herb, Levisticum officinale (lovage) root, Petroselinum crispus (parsley) fruit, and Urtica dioica (stinging nettle) herb. Urinary antiseptic and anti-adhesion herbs, particularly Arctostaphylos u...

Yīn-Chén-Hāo decoction (YCHD) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula composed of capillaris (Artemisia capillaris), gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides), and rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum) that is used for the treatment of damp-heat jaundice. In modern clinics, YCHD is mostly used for hepatic diseases. This review summarizes the biological activities of YCHD and its medical applications. The main ac...

Chrysophanol (Chry, Figure 1), 1,8-dihydroxy-3methylanthraquinone, is a free anthraquinone compound and a secondary metabolite of medicinal plant rhubarb. Chry has been reported to have many pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory activity [1], anti-microbial activity [2] and anti-cancer action [3]. Therefore, the detection of Chry is quite important and interesting. Until now, variou...