ABSTRACT
The plants included in the genus Rheum, belonging to the family Polygonaceae, are collectively called as rhubarb. Rhubarb is one of the oldest and most frequently used medicinal herbs that is mainly distributed in the mountainous regions of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau area and Asian interior. This chapter outlines the research gap on rhubarb by providing a comprehensive review of history, economic importance, worldwide distribution, traditional formulation, pharmacognosy, pharmacology, phytochemistry and pharmacokinetic studies on rhubarb. Evaluation of analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of the rhubarb extracts on animal models revealed that the inhibitory activity was comparable to the standard drugs, viz., paracetamol, aspirin and ibuprofen. Rhubarb possess antioxidants and anticancer potential. The antidiabetic effect observed is due to the utilization of peripheral glucose, decreasing carbohydrate digestion, restoring enzymes to control level and correcting impaired liver and kidney functions by limiting gluconeogenesis similar to insulin.
