Rhubarb – Rheum emodi Uses, Research, Medicines

Pita mula- Rheum emodi is an ayurvedic herb mentioned for the treatment of low digestion, constipation, dysmenorrhea, jaundice etc. It is also known as Rhubarb or Revand chini. 

Latin name- Rhum emodi Wall.
Family- Polygonaceae (chukra kula)

Vernacular names

Names in different languages:
English name: Indian rhubarb or Himalayan rhubarb
Hindi name: Dolu, Revandchini.
Afghanistani name – chukri, Rawash
Arabic name –  Revanch chini, Rawind
Bengali name – Revandchini
Bombay name – Ladakirevand chini
Canarese name – Naturevalchini
Deccan name – Nahirevandchina
French name : Hubarb de parse
Gujarathi name: Revandchini, Gamni,
Gujarathi :revandchini.
Himachal Pradesh : Ladu, chuchi.
Kamaun: Archu
Kannada name: Revalchini
Ladak : Lachu
Marathi name : Mulkarcvand chini, Revanchini.
Nepalese name: Padamachal
Persian name : Bikrewas, Revandchini.
Punjab : Atsu , Chotial, Chuchi, Pambash, Chutial, Khabium, Lachu, Rewand chini.
Spiti : Lachu.
Tamil name : Variyattu, Natturevandchini
Telugu : Nattupampuch, Nattureval chini
Urdu : Rewand chini

Sanskrit synonyms

Amlaparni- The leaves are sour in taste
Pitamulika- The roots are yellow in color
Grandhika, Gandhini- The plant has a dominant odor
Swedachini, Revadhika, Hrithdhatri, Kankushta

Morphology of Rheum emodi:
Rhubarb is a stout herb 1.5 – 3.0 m in height, distributed in the Himalayas from Kashmir to Sikkim at altitude of 3,300 m to 5,200 m. It is also cultivated in Assam for its leaves consumed as vegetables. The stem is hard, green with brownish streaks. The flowers are 2-3 feet long and purple to reddish colored, seen in the month of July to August. The fruits are about 1-2 cm long, purple colored and seen in the month of September to October. The root of the plant is thick, strong and yellow in color. The roots are dried and sold. There are three main types of rhubarbs—Chinese, Indian or Himalayan, and Rhapontic.

Properties, part used, dosage

Revandchini – medicinal properties:
Rasa (Taste) – Katu (Pungent), Tikta (Bitter)
Guna (Qualities) – Laghu (Light for digestion), Ruksha (Dry in nature), Teekshna (Strong)
Vipaka – Katu (Undergoes Pungent taste after digestion)
Veerya (Potency) – Ushna (Hot)
Karma (Actions) – Kaphapiyta shamaka (reduces vitiated kapha and pitta dosha)

Part used- Underground stem, Root
Dosage- 0.2 g to 1 g

Chemical composition

Chemical composition of Rheum emodi:
The root gave emodin, emodin-monomethyl ether, chrysophanol, aloemodin, and rhein. These occur free and as quinone, anthrone or dianthroneglycosides. The astringent principle consists of gallic acid together with small amounts of tannin. The drug also contains cinnamic and rheinolic acids, volatile oil, starch and calcium oxalate. Two major glycosidic active principles, sennoside A and B, are present along with free anthraquinones. Rhubarb also contains rhein acids and calcium oxalate. Rhubarb yields to about 40 % of extractives.

Habitat

Himalayas from Kashmir to Sikkim
Assam
Cultivated in China, Tibet, India, Germany and other European countries.

गन्धिनी पीतमूली च बल्या सा मृदुरेचनी ।
हन्त्यजीर्णमतिसारं वह्रिमान्ह्यमरोचकम् ॥ Ayurveda Vijnana

Uses, Indications

Uses of Pitamuli:

• The powdered root of Indian Rhubarb is sprinkled over the wound for wound healing.
• The leaf stalk is used as fresh salad and vegetables.
• The powder of the stem and root is used in a dose of 0.5 g with hot water to relieve constipation.
• Cold infusion of the leaf of Pitamuli is given in a dose of 25 ml to treat dysmenorrhea and retention of urine.
• The powder of the root is used as dental powder for cleaning the teeth and treating gingivitis.
• The powder of the root of Rheum emodi is given in a dose of 1 g to treat hepatomegaly and jaundice.
• The fresh leaf of the plant improves the appetite and increases the digestive capacity and hence can be used as raw salad.
• The powder of the root of Pitamuli is given in a dose of 0.5 g with honey to treat cough and rhinitis.

Adverse effects

Excessive use of the roots of Pitamuli can cause increased peristaltic movement leading to diarrhea and cramps. Hence care should be taken during its use.

Interaction with medicines, supplements

Can this be used while taking Homeopathic medicine?
Yes. This product does not react with homeopathic medicine.

Can this medicine be continued while taking supplements like multivitamin tablets, Omega 3 fatty acids etc?
Yes. Generally, this product goes well with most dietary supplements. However, if you are taking more than one product per day, please consult your doctor for an opinion.

With western medicines
Seek your doctor’s advice if you are taking this product along with other western (allopathic / modern) medicines. Some Ayurvedic herbs can interact with modern medicine.
If both Ayurvedic and allopathic medicines are advised together, then it is best to take Allopathic medicine first, wait for 30 minutes and then take the Ayurvedic medicine.

Ayurvedic medicines

Ayurvedic medicines with Rubarb as ingredient:
Chiniumco tablet: This is a proprietary Ayurvedic medicine used in the treatment of profuse bleeding from nose, intestine, piles, uterus etc.

Arjin tablet:  This is a proprietary Ayurvedic medicine used in the management of hypertension.

Bleminor cream: It is a proprietary Ayurvedic medicine. Bleminor’s anti-inflammatory property is beneficial in preventing hyper-pigmentation due to recurrent inflammation. It also aids in correcting skin discoloration resulting from injury.

Kankayan vati: This is a medicine in tablet form useful to treat intestinal worms, piles, bloating of the abdomen.

Panchamla taila: Panchamla Thailam is an Ayurvedic oil used externally for the treatment of ascites, rheumatoid arthritis and joint pain.

Research

Research articles related to Rheum emodi:
Anti- oxidant activity: This study aims to investigate the antioxidant power of stilbenoids from R. emodi and then explore the material basis for its antioxidant potential. The most abundant stilbenoid piceatannol-4′-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (PICG) and its aglycon piceatannol (PICE) were isolated from R. emodi rhizomes. Taking into account the rapid in vivo metabolic transformation of PICG into PICE it can be inferred that the most abundant stilbenoid PICG may be an important constituent responsible for the antioxidant potential of R. emodi and promising to be developed as an antioxidant agent for supplementary or therapeutic use.

Anti- microbial activity: Powders of S. mukorossi and R. emodi were extracted successively with petroleum ether, benzene, chloroform and ethanol and were concentrated in vacuum. It was found that ethanol and chloroform extracts of S. mukorossi and ethanol and benzene extracts of R. emodi inhibited H pylori at very low concentrations. In the in vitro study, the isolates showed a considerable zone of inhibition at very low concentrations (10 μg/mL) for both the extracts. In the in vivo study, the H pylori infection was cleared with minimal doses of extracts of S. mukorossi (2.5 mg/mL) and R. emodi (3.0 mg/mL) given orally for seven days.

Anti- fungal activity: Podophyllum hexandrum and Rheum emodi were investigated for their antimicrobial properties against pure cultures of clinical isolates of Aspergillus niger ATCC 1197 and Candida albicans ATCC 10231. The results of the antimicrobial assay of the methanolic extracts of both the plant extracts indicated that the plants exhibited antimicrobial activity against the tested microorganisms at four different concentrations of 25mg/ml, 50mg/ml, 75mg/ml and 100 mg/ml.

Hepato -protective action: The protective potential of the total Anthraquinone glycoside fraction of Rheum emodi was determined by evaluating Aminotransferase activity, mitochondrial membrane potential, calcium-induced liver MPT (Mitochondrial permeability transition) and VDAC expression. Pretreatment with a total Anthraquinone glycoside fraction of Rheum emodi showed significant preservation of mitochondrial membrane potential as compared to CCl4 control demonstrating the mitochondrial protection. In addition, pretreatment with TAGF Rheum emodi at various concentrations exerted a dose-dependent effect against sensitivity to mitochondrial swelling induced by calcium.

Classical categorization

Bhavaprakasha- Dhatwadi varga
Nighantu Adarsha- Nagapushpadi varga

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Polygonaceae
Genus: Rheum
Species: R. emodi

Common Adulterants

Rheum Webbianum Royle.
Rheum Moorcroftianum Royle.
Rheum Spiciforma Royle.
Rheum Nobile Hook.

Rhubarb, raw

Taste – Pungent, bitter
Properties – light, dry, sharp, piercing
Potency – hot
After digestion taste transformation (Vipaka)  – Pungent
Effect on Doshas
Vata increasing
Pitta balancing
Kapha balancing

Rhubarb, frozen, uncooked

Taste – Pungent, bitter
Properties – light, dry, sharp, piercing
Potency – hot
After digestion taste transformation (Vipaka)  – Pungent
Effect on Doshas
Vata increasing
Pitta balancing
Kapha balancing

Rhubarb, frozen, cooked, with sugar

Taste – Pungent, bitter, sweet
Properties – not very light, not very dry
Potency – not very hot
After digestion taste transformation (Vipaka)  – Pungent
Effect on Doshas
Vata neutral (rhubarb is Vata increasing, but sugar is Vata balancing)
Pitta balancing
Kapha nourishing (rhubarb is Kapha balancing, but sugar is Kapha increasing)

Author: Dr.B.K.Prashanth M.D (Ayu), Ph.D
E mail: drprashanthbk@gmail.com
Click to consult Dr Prashanth BK

Systemic Action (Sthanika Karma)

External – Styptic and promotes wound healing. powder is used as tooth powder
Digestive System – In lower doses it stimulates salivary glands, liver stimulant, carminative and absorbent. But in higher doses by increasing the gastric and duodenal secretions, can cause diarrhea. Later it will subside on its own because of its astringent nature. It also helps to reduce the gastric acidity.
Respiratory system – Helps to expel kapha dosha from the respiratory tract. Indicated in cough and breathing disorders .
Excretory system – Increases urine production, indicated in Painful micturition.
Reproductive system – Indicated in Secondary amenorrhea.
Satmikarana – It can be used in general weakness in lower doses.