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The biological activities of different parts of the Rheum ribes plant were evaluated comparatively. Extracts showing strong biological activity were identified and it was determined which of the extract-loaded nanoparticles showed stronger activity. Cytotoxic activity of R. ribes extracts was calculated on glial (C6) and fibroblast (NIH 3T3) cells using XTT assay. Spectrophotometry was used to evaluate the impact of these compounds on the enzyme activities of human carbonic anhydrase I and II (hCA I and hCA II). The findings showed that chitosan NPs with extracts loaded on them have a lower IC50 value and more cytotoxic activity in C6 cells than chitosan NPs with only extracts. R. ribes young shoots ultrasonic methanol extract (RYU) was shown to have the strongest antiproliferative efficacy against C6 cells. Results showed that RYU and ultrasonic methanol extract of R. ribes radix (RRU) were determined as the best carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. According to results of particle size, encapsulation efficiency, and release studies of chitosan NPs, it has been observed that they are suitable for application. At a concentration of 10 µg/mL, it was found that none of the R. ribes extracts exhibited cytotoxic action toward the NIH 3T3 cell line. According to results of particle size, encapsulation efficiency, and release studies of chitosan NPs, it has been observed that they are suitable for application. It was observed that none of the extracts of R. ribes at a concentration of 10 µg/mL showed cytotoxic activity in the NIH 3T3 cell line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Eurasian Journal of Ecology is the property of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We report on an occurrence of ocular albinism in sub-Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus tropicalis) pups born on Marion Island, Prince Edward Archipelago. While previous observations have documented pups with atypical lanugo pelage colorations, this is the first case involving hypopigmentation of both fur and other tissues, including the eyes and nails. During the austral summer of 2021/22, we encountered four sub-Antarctic fur seal pups displaying this anomalous pigmentation. These anomalous individuals were found along two beaches on the island's western side and one beach on the eastern side during an island-wide fur seal census. Although the characteristics observed strongly suggest ocular albinism, confirmation would be necessary through genetic analyses. The absence of melanin in mammalian eyes is known to compromise visual acuity, which may likely result in reduced survival beyond the weaning period, explaining the paucity of such adults in this well-observed population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Gazi Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi Part C: Tasarım ve Teknoloji is the property of Gazi University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In traditional Japanese medicine, Rhei Rhizoma is used as a purgative, blood stasis-resolving and antipsychotic drug. The latter two properties are possibly related to anti-inflammatory effects. Microglia regulate inflammation in the central nervous system. M1 microglia induce inflammation, while M2 microglia inhibit inflammation and show neurotrophic effects. This study investigated the effects from water extracts of roots of cultivated Rheum species in Nagano Prefecture, Japan (strain C, a related strain to a Japanese cultivar, 'Shinshu-Daio'; and strain 29, a Chinese strain) and 3 kinds of Rhei Rhizoma available in the Japanese market, and also examined their constituents on the polarization of cultured microglia. All extracts significantly decreased M1 microglia, and strains C and 29 significantly increased M2 microglia. Furthermore, the extracts of both strains significantly increased the M2/M1 ratio. Among the constituents of Rhei Rhizoma, (+)-catechin (2), resveratrol 4′-O-β-D-(6″-O-galloyl) glucopyranoside (5), isolindleyin (8), and physcion (15) significantly increased the M2/M1 ratio. The contents of the constituents in water extract of each strain were quantified using HPLC. The extracts of strains C and 29 contained relatively large amounts of 2 and 5; and 2, 8, and 15, respectively. This study showed the water extracts of roots of cultivated Rheum strains in Japan had the effects of M2 polarization of microglia, suggesting that these strains become the candidate to develop anti-inflammatory Rhei Rhizoma. Moreover, the suitable chemical composition to possess anti-inflammatory activity in the brain was clarified for the future development of new type of Rhei Rhizoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Food Safety & Quality is the property of Journal of Food Safety & Quality Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Rhubarb, the rhizome and root of Rheum palmatum L. from the Polygonaceae family, is a globally important medicinal plant, especially in eastern Asia. It has been indicated for enteritis, gastritis, constipation, and diarrhea in Persian medicine. Several pharmacological investigations in previous decades have been conducted on anthraquinones of rhubarb responsible for diarrheagenic activities and rhubarb tannins initiating anti-diarrheagenic effects. Aloe-emodin, chrysophanol, emodin, physcion, rhein, and their glycosides are major rhubarb anthraquinones. Moreover, catechin, catechin gallate, catechin-glucopyranoside, gallic acid, galloyl glucose, carboxyl-chrysophanol-O- glucose, coumaroyl-O-galloyl-glucose, di-O-galloyl-glucose, glucopyranosyl-galloyl-glucose, and di-, tri-, tetra-, and pentamer of catechin units are major rhubarb tannins. In this paper, a review of relevant pharmacological studies on rhubarb tannins and anthraquinones published in PubMed and Scopus databases is performed. In addition, the hub genes and common targets of rhubarb anthraquinones and tannins were investigated using gene expression databases. Thirty common differentially expressed target genes were identified. According to the survey, the pharmacology of rhubarb is linked to aquaporin expression and maintained inflammatory responses in the intestinal environment, where anthraquinones and tannins play as positive and negative regulators. Furthermore, their opposing effects on intestinal motility, fluid absorption, and water/electrolyte secretion are explained. Anthraquinones inhibit the Na+/K+ATPase pump while stimulating cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and Ca2+-activated Cl− channels (CACC). Tannins reduce fluid secretion and smooth muscle contraction by inhibiting CACC and CFTR. This linkage opens new aspects for rhubarb pharmacology, its diarrheagenic/anti-diarrheagenic effects, and philosophical concepts of Hot and Cold temperaments in traditional medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of the plants are essential due to their medicinal properties and have contributed to the origin and evolution of many traditional herbal therapies. Rheum is also one of the famous and known medicinal plants of Kashmir Himalaya. It ranges from an altitude of 1700-5500 m. Its Roots are long and stout. The stem is erect, hollow, sulcate, glabrous, or strigose. It is native to Asia-Temperate to Asia-Tropical, from China to India, Nepal, and Pakistan. In India, its found in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttar Pradesh. Rhubarb is the English name of the genus Rheum (family Polygonaceae). Emodi, Webbianum and Spiciforme are three species of Rheum found in Kashmir Himalaya. Rheum species are well-known medicinal plant and is found on high altitudes. Its leaves and stalks are taken as food and cooked as vegetables. It’s used as medicine and is generally proven more effective against certain ailments like antibacterial, anticancerous, anti-inflammatory, rheumatoid diseases, stomachache, and intestinal problems. It is also used for the treatment of indigestion, abdominal disorders, boils, wounds and flatulence. But Rheum has become endangered due to exploitation. Active compounds like aloe-emodin, rhein, emodin, chrysaphanol and physicion are found in this plant which is anti Cancerian agents. High molecular diversity is also observed in all the three species of Rheum.

Objective To investigate the effect of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) on a rat model of hypertriglyceridemic acute pancreatitis (HLAP). Methods A total of 72 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group, model group, Rheum officinale group, and fecal microbiota group, with 18 rats in each group. After 8 weeks of feeding with high-fat diet, the rats in the sham-operation group were given sham operation, and those in the other three groups were given retrograde pancreaticobiliary injection of 5% sodium taurocholate to induce acute pancreatitis; after modeling, the rats in the Rheum officinale group were given enema with Rheum officinale, and those in the fecal microbiota group were given enema with fresh fecal microbiota solution. Blood, pancreatic, and terminal ileal tissue samples were collected at 6, 24, and 36 hours after surgery. HE staining was used to observe histopathological changes of the pancreas and the intestine; an automatic biochemical analyzer was used to measure the serum levels of amylase, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HLD-C); ELISA was used to measure the serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and endotoxin as an index for intestinal permeability. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between multiple groups, and the least significant difference t-test or the Tamhane T2 test was used for further comparison between two groups; the Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between multiple groups, and the Bonferroni method was used for further comparison between two groups. Results Compared with the sham-operation group, the Rheum officinale group and the fecal microbiota group had no significant increase in the pathological score of the terminal ileum at 6 and 24 hours, and there was no significant difference between the fecal microbiota group and the sham-operation group at 36 hours (all P>0.05). At 36 hours, the Rheum officinale group and the fecal microbiota group had a significantly lower serum level of amylase than the model group (all P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the Rheum officinale group had a significantly lower serum level of ALT at 36 hours (P<0.05) and a significantly lower serum level of AST at 24 hours (P<0.05), while the fecal microbiota group had a significantly lower level of ALT at each time point (P<0.05) and a significantly lower serum level of AST at 24 and 36 hours (all P<0.05). The Rheum officinale group and the fecal microbiota group had significant reductions in the serum levels of TC and TG (all P<0.05); compared with the Rheum officinale group, the fecal microbiota group had a significantly higher serum level of HDL-C at 24 and 36 hours (all P<0.05), and compared with the model group, the fecal microbiota group had a significantly lower serum level of HDL-C at each time period (all P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the inflammatory indices IL-6 and TNF-α between the fecal microbiota group and the sham-operation group at each time point (all P>0.05), and the Rheum officinale group had significantly higher levels than the sham-operation group (all P<0.05); both the Rheum officinale group and the fecal microbiota group had a significantly lower serum level of endotoxin than the model group (all P<0.05), and the fecal microbiota group had a significantly lower level of endotoxin than the Rheum officinale group within 6 hours of treatment (P<0.05). Conclusion Both Rheum officinale and fecal microbiota transplantation can improve tissue inflammation and intestinal permeability in HLAP rats and can improve lipid metabolism and alleviate the progression of pancreatitis to a certain extent, and fecal microbiota transplantation shows a better clinical effect than Rheum officinale alone, but more randomized controlled trials are needed for further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species of Rheum have high medicinal value, with the center of diversity in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) and adjacent regions. However, phylogenetic relationships of Rheum are still unclear due to fragment markers providing insufficient informative loci. Here, we sequenced and annotated plastomes of nine Rheum species, and compared the genome structure among the novel nine species along with three published species. Comparative analyses revealed that plastomes of Rheum share a relatively conserved structure. Five highly divergent regions (accD, ccsA, matK, ndhF, and ndhH) can be used as valuable molecular markers for further species delimitation and population genetic studies. Twenty‐two accessions representing 17 species were used for phylogenetic analysis, which generated a robust phylogenetic tree and revealed two major clades within Rheum. Phylogenetic results showed that glasshouse structures and cushions of Rheum are results of parallel evolution during adaptation to similar environments. Inconsistent tree topology between concatenated and coalescent methods was detected, implying that incomplete lineage sorting and hybridization may have occurred in the evolutionary history of Rheum. Divergence time estimation based on two fossil calibrations and three secondary calibrations revealed a Miocene to middle Oligocene origin of Rheum. Our study provides valuable genomic resources for the medicinally important genus Rheum, while gaining helpful insights into its systematics and evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alpine plants' distribution is being pushed higher towards mountaintops due to global warming, finally diminishing their range and thereby increasing the risk of extinction. Plants with specialized 'glasshouse' structures have adapted well to harsh alpine environments, notably to the extremely low temperatures, which makes them vulnerable to global warming. However, their response to global warming is quite unexplored. Therefore, by compiling occurrences and several environmental strata, we utilized multiple ensemble species distribution modeling (eSDM) to estimate the historical, present-day, and future distribution of two alpine 'glasshouse' species Rheum nobile Hook. f. & Thomson and R. alexandrae Batalin. Rheum nobile was predicted to extend its distribution from the Eastern Himalaya (EH) to the Hengduan Mountains (HM), whereas R. alexandrae was restricted exclusively in the HM. Both species witnessed a northward expansion of suitable habitats followed by a southerly retreat in the HM region. Our findings reveal that both species have a considerable range shift under different climate change scenarios, mainly triggered by precipitation rather than temperature. The model predicted northward and upward migration for both species since the last glacial period which is mainly due to expected future climate change scenarios. Further, the observed niche overlap between the two species presented that they are more divergent depending on their habitat, except for certain regions in the HM. However, relocating appropriate habitats to the north and high elevation may not ensure the species' survival, as it needs to adapt to the extreme climatic circumstances in alpine habitats. Therefore, we advocate for more conservation efforts in these biodiversity hotspots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alpine plants’ distribution is being pushed higher towards mountaintops due to global warming, finally diminishing their range and thereby increasing the risk of extinction. Plants with specialized ‘glasshouse’ structures have adapted well to harsh alpine environments, notably to the extremely low temperatures, which makes them vulnerable to global warming. However, their response to global warming is quite unexplored. Therefore, by compiling occurrences and several environmental strata, we utilized multiple ensemble species distribution modeling (eSDM) to estimate the historical, present-day, and future distribution of two alpine ‘glasshouse’ species Rheum nobile Hook. f. & Thomson and R. alexandrae Batalin. Rheum nobile was predicted to extend its distribution from the Eastern Himalaya (EH) to the Hengduan Mountains (HM), whereas R. alexandrae was restricted exclusively in the HM. Both species witnessed a northward expansion of suitable habitats followed by a southerly retreat in the HM region. Our findings reveal that both species have a considerable range shift under different climate change scenarios, mainly triggered by precipitation rather than temperature. The model predicted northward and upward migration for both species since the last glacial period which is mainly due to expected future climate change scenarios. Further, the observed niche overlap between the two species presented that they are more divergent depending on their habitat, except for certain regions in the HM. However, relocating appropriate habitats to the north and high elevation may not ensure the species’ survival, as it needs to adapt to the extreme climatic circumstances in alpine habitats. Therefore, we advocate for more conservation efforts in these biodiversity hotspots.

Rheum emodi is a rare medicinal herb in the Himalayan region due to its medicinal cum aromatic properties it is highly over-exploited from nature. Complete Randomized Design was executed and study aimed to understand the effect of different concentration of Lead and Cadmium in growth and biochemical parameters of Rheum emodi (Wall. Ex Meissn) as comparison to control. In plants, heavy metals Quantity were analyzed to show their effects on the animal and human beings who consume them as such or their derived products. In this study, encouraging results were obtained which favoured maximum (53.33%; p

Chronic renal failure (CRF) is a major public health problem worldwide. Earlier studies have revealed salutary effects of rhubarb extracts in CRF. In this study, we employed lipidomic and metabolomic approaches to identify the plasma biomarkers and to determine the effect of treatment with petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and n-butanol extracts of rhubarb in a rat model of CRF with adenine-induced chronic tubulointerstitial nephropathy. In addition, clinical biochemistry, histological evaluation and pro-fibrotic protein expression were analyzed. Significant changes were found between the CRF and control groups representing characteristic phenotypes of rats with CRF. Treatment with the three rhubarb extracts improved renal injury and dysfunction, either fully or partially reversed the plasma metabolites abnormalities and attenuated upregulation of pro-fibrotic proteins including TGF-β1, α-SMA, PAI-1, CTGF, FN and collagen-1. The nephroprotective effect of ethyl acetate extract was better than other extracts. The differential metabolites were closely associated with glycerophospholipid, fatty acid and amino acid metabolisms. The results revealed a strong link between renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis and glycerophospholipid metabolism and L-carnitine metabolism in the development of CRF. Amelioration of CRF with the three rhubarb extracts was associated with the delayed development and/or reversal the disorders in key metabolites associated with adenine-induced CRF.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major public health problem worldwide. Rhubarb has been shown to have nephroprotective and anti-fibrotic activities in patients with CKD. However, bioactive fractions and biochemical mechanism of anti-fibrotic properties of rhubarb remain unclear. Here we applied ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry together with univariate and multivariate statistical analyses to investigate the urinary metabolite profile in rats with adenine-induced CKD treated with the petroleum ether (PE)-, ethyl acetate (EA)- and n-butanol (BU)- extracts of rhubarb. Significant differences in renal function, kidney histopathology as well as metabolic profiles were observed between CKD and control rats. Changes in these parameters reflected characteristic phenotypes of CKD rats. We further identified a series of differential urinary metabolites for CKD rats, suggesting metabolic dysfunction in pathway of amino acid, purine, taurine, and choline metabolisms. Treatment with EA, BU and PE extracts of rhubarb improved renal function and histopathological abnormalities including interstitial fibrosis and inflammation, and either fully or partially reversed the abnormalities of the urinary metabolites. Among them, the nephroprotective effect of EA extract was stronger than BU and PE extracts. This work provides important mechanistic insights into the CKD and nephroprotective effects of different rhubarb extract against tubulo-interstitial fibrosis.

Rheum australe is an endangered medicinal herb of high altitude alpine region of Himalayas and is known to possess anti-cancerous properties. Unlike many herbs of the region, R. australe has broad leaves. The species thrives well under the environmental extremes in its niche habitat, therefore an understanding of transcriptome of R. australe to environmental cues was of significance. Since, temperature is one of the major environmental variables in the niche of R. australe, transcriptome was studied in the species growing in natural habitat and those grown in growth chambers maintained at 4 °C and 25 °C to understand genes associated with different temperatures. A total of 39,136 primarily assembled transcripts were obtained from 10,17,74,336 clean read, and 21,303 unigenes could match to public databases. An analysis of transcriptome by fragments per kilobase of transcript per million, followed by validation through qRT-PCR showed 22.4% up- and 22.5% down-regulated common differentially expressed genes in the species growing under natural habitat and at 4 °C as compared to those at 25 °C. These genes largely belonged to signaling pathway, transporters, secondary metabolites, phytohormones, and those associated with cellular protection, suggesting their importance in imparting adaptive advantage to R. australe in its niche. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Rhubarb is the peeled and dried roots of Rheum palmatum L. and Rheum tanguticum Maxim. ex Balf. or Rheum officinale Baill. Free total rhubarb anthraquinones (FTRAs) were isolated and extracted from rhubarb. Previous studies have revealed that the early administration of FTRAs protects the intestinal mucosal barrier in rats with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), the mechanism of which is not yet clear. However, we observed an enhanced expression of intestinal pyroptotic factors in rats treated with SAP, which may be related to the mechanism of intestinal barrier protection by FTRAs., Aim of the Study: The main objective of this study was to investigate the mechanism by which FTRAs protect the intestinal mucosal barrier in SAP rats, focusing on the classical pyroptosis pathway., Materials and Methods: SAP was induced in rats through retrograde injection of sodium taurocholate via the pancreaticobiliary duct. Subsequently, FTRAs (22.5, 45, and 90 mg/kg), rhubarb (900 mg/kg, positive control), and saline (control) were administered at 0 h (immediately), 12 h, and 24 h post-surgery. Pancreatic and intestinal tissue injury, positive PI staining rate, and expression levels of various factors in intestinal tissues were compared across different groups. These factors include diamine oxidase (DAO), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), high mobility group box chromosomal protein 1(HMGB1) and pro-inflammatory factors in intestinal and serum, pyroptosis-associated factors, toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4), nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kB), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC), NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), cysteine protease-1 (caspase-1) and Gasdermin (GSDMD)., Results: The findings indicated that FTRAs protected the damaged intestine and pancreas and restored the expression of intestinal epithelial junction proteins in SAP rats. Additionally, it reduced intestinal and serum levels of DAO, interleukin 1, interleukin 18, HMGB1, and LDH, attenuated intestinal Positive PI staining rate, and significantly decreased the expressions of TLR-4, NF-kB, ASC, NLRP3, caspase-1 and GSDMD in SAP rats., Conclusions: The results suggest that FTRAs inhibited pyroptosis through down-regulation of the NLRP3-Caspase-1-GSDMD and TLR-4- NF-kB signaling pathways of intestinal tissues., thereby protecting the intestinal barrier of SAP rats., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of Rhubarb anthraquinone (RA) on a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) rat model, and explore potential biomarker and metabolic pathways by using the metabolomics method., Materials and Methods: We established HFD rats as the NAFLD model. Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a control group, model group, RA low-dose group, RA medium-dose group, and RA high-dose group, and evaluated the protective effect of RA on NAFLD by detecting biochemical indicators of serum and pathological changes of liver tissue. Investigating potential biomarkers and metabolic pathways connected with RA's protective effects against NAFLD by UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS untargeted metabolomics., Results: The results showed that RA significantly reversed the increase of TG, TC, ALT, AST, and ALP (P < .05), the decrease of HDL-C (P < .05), and alleviated pathological conditions in NAFLD rats. Based on potential biomarker analysis, RA affected metabolic pathways such as fatty acids biosynthesis, bile acids biosynthesis, and pentose phosphate pathway, delaying the progression of NAFLD., Conclusion: RA improved blood lipid levels, liver function, and pathological conditions of NAFLD rats. Meanwhile, affected the metabolic pathways and regulated the synthesis of fatty acids and bile acids in NAFLD rats., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

In this study, J774A.1 macrophages stimulated by lipopolysaccharide(LPS) and adenosine triphosphate(ATP) were used to establish an in vitro model of pyroptosis, and the intervention mechanism of free total rhubarb anthraquinones(FTRAs) on pyroptosis was investigated. J774A.1 macrophages were cultured in vitro, and the experiment was assigned to the control group and groups with different concentrations of LPS(0.25, 0.5, and 1 μg·mL~(-1)) and ATP(1.25, 2.5, and 5 mmol·L~(-1)). An in vitro model of macrophage pyroptosis was established by detecting cell viability through CCK-8, propidium iodide(PI) apoptotic cell staining, lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), interleukin(IL)-18, and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α release. Then, J774A.1 macrophages were randomly divided into six groups: blank control group, LPS+ATP group, high-dose FTRA group, and low, medium, and high-dose FTRA pre-protection group. The phenotypic characteristics and key indicators of pyroptosis were detected as the basis for evaluating the effect of FTRAs on pyroptosis induced by LPS and ATP. Western blot and RT-PCR were used to detect the expression levels of protein and mRNA related to the pyroptosis pathway in caspase-1/11 and elucidate the molecular mechanism of the anti-pyroptosis effect. The results showed that the stimulation condition of 0.50 μg·mL~(-1) LPS+5.00 mmol·L~(-1) ATP was the most effective in the in vitro model of macrophage pyroptosis. FTRAs pre-protected cells for 24 h and then can increase cell viability under pyroptosis conditions, alleviate cell damage, lower the positive rate of PI staining, and reduce the release of LDH, IL-18, and TNF-α. FTRAs were able to significantly inhibit the activation of GSDMD proteins and significantly down-regulate the protein expression of the pyroptosis pathway signature molecules, TLR4, NLRP3, cleaved-caspase-1, and cleaved-caspase-11, but they had no significant effect on ASC proteins. FTRAs were also able to significantly inhibit the mRNA expression of caspase-1, caspase-11, and GSDMD. These results indicate that FTRAs have an inhibitory effect on the pyroptosis model induced by LPS and ATP and play an anti-pyroptosis effect by regulating classical and non-classical pyroptosis signaling pathways and reducing the production of inflammatory cytokines.

As a traditional staple food, bread lacks several nutrients such as fiber and minerals. In this study, the possibilities of using rhubarb powder to enrich wheat bread were investigated. Rhubarb powder was replaced with wheat flour at the ratios of 0%, 4%, 8%, and 12%. In order to reveal effects of rhubarb powder on quality properties of bread, color, moisture, total protein, fat content, antioxidant activity, textural, and sensory analysis were conducted. As the rhubarb powder ratio increased, the fiber (10.60 ± 0.55), ash (4.34 ± 0.13), and fat content (2.17 ± 0.55) of bread samples increased significantly (p < 0.05). Antioxidant activity (19.61% ± 0.53%) and total phenolic contents (916.38 ± 2.69) of bread samples also increased significantly (p < 0.05). The colors of the enriched breads were relatively dark. The breads containing 12% rhubarb powder had the highest ash content (4.34 ± 0.13). The samples containing 4% rhubarb powder took the highest sensory scores from the sensory panel in terms of odor, flavor, and overall impression. However, as the ratio of rhubarb powder increased, the sensory values of bread samples decreased. According to the results of this study, rhubarb powder could be used up to 4% to produce acceptable breads in terms of sensory properties with improved nutritional quality., (© 2024 The Authors. Journal of Food Science published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Institute of Food Technologists.)

Objective: The discovery of quorum sensing systems regulating bacterial virulence has afforded a novel opportunity to control infections without interfering with growth. As many bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa also used this system synthesized of some virulence factor such as alkaline protease, pyocyanin, phospholipase and exotoxin A, biofilm formation and swarming motility. Swarming motility is one of the major virulence factors; it is known to play a role in early biofilm development. Material-Method: In this study, inhibitory effect of methanol (MeOH), methanol-chloroform (MeOH-CHCl3) and water (H2O) extracts of the Rheum ribes L. on swarming motility in P. aeruginosa PA01 was investigated. And also antibacterial activity and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were investigated on Gram-positive Bacillus cereus ATCC 11778, Enterecoccus faecalis ATCC 29212, Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 7644, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Metisilin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 43300 and Gram-negative Chromobacterium violaceum ATCC 12472, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA01. Results: As a result, all extracts showed antibacterial effect on Gram-positive bacteria in different rate and according to swarming motility experiments, the highest inhibitory effect was seen in methanol and water extracts of Rheum ribes with 81%. Also chloroform extract showed similar inhibition rate (78%) on swarming motility. Conclusion: It is thought that the root extract of the plant has antibacterial properties especially on Gram positive bacteria, inhibits the swarming motility in P. aeruginosa PA01 and may have the potential to be a model for new generation drugs in the fight against infectious diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three Linnaean names in the genus Rheum are lectotypified: R. compactum, R. palmatum and R. undulatum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined the anti-fungal and anti-growth role of cancer cell lines for the roots and stems of the Rheum ribes, in addition to evaluating its biological and antioxidant efficacy. This plant is very important in research because it is considered the source of one of the most important raw medicines in the Middle East, which belongs to the plant family Polygonaceae and is a plant known in the medical and therapeutic uses against many diseases such as Diabetes mellitus, intestinal parasites, Ulcer ulcers, Cancer Inflammation, as plant roots are used to treat intestinal worms, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, ulcers and diarrhea, and it has been found to contain chemicals that have an anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and bacterial growth. The diameter of the colonies was measured 48 hours after implantation at a temperature of 37°. The aqueous extract of the root shows that the higher the concentration of the extract, the greater the inhibition diameter. Also, the aqueous extract of the stem appears as the concentration of the extract increases, the diameter of the inhibition increases. But the aqueous extract of the stem showed greater efficacy than the aqueous extract of the root in inhibition and for all concentrations. The alcoholic root extract was more effective than the aqueous extract of the root and for all concentrations as well as for the alcoholic extract of the stem it showed higher efficacy than the aqueous extract of the stem. The effectiveness of the alcohol extract of the root and stem was close at concentrations 10 and 20, while the concentrations of 30 and 40 of the alcoholic extract of the stem gave the same effect despite the increased concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cardiovascular disorders (CVD) are a common cause of mortality worldwide. Oxidative stress is thought to be a major factor leading to CVD. Anti-oxidants such as medicinal plants may have a role in the mitigation of vascular problems through free radicals scavenging. In this study, we evaluated the protective effects of Rheum turkestanicum against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced toxicity in endothelial cells (BAE-1). Methods: To evaluate the protective effect of R. turkestanicum against H2O2 toxicity, four groups comprised of control group (the cells without any treatment), H2O2 group (the cells incubated with H2O2 (200 µM)), and treatment groups (the cells treated with R. turkestanicum (12200 µg/ml) alone or 24h before exposure to H2O2). Quercetin (30.23 µg/ml) was used as a bioactive ingredient of the extract. Then the cell viability, reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation, and apoptosis were evaluated. Results: H 2O2 exposure reduced cell viability to 13.6 ± 1.6%, enhanced ROS generation to 1445 ± 80.7%, lipid peroxidation (LPO, 290 ± 13% of control), and apoptotic cells (P < 0.001). In contrast, compared with H2O2 group, R. turkestanicum and quercetin significantly restored the cell viability to 80.3 ± 1.6 and 87.2 ± 2.1%, ROS formation to 186 ± 10 and 129 ± 1%, as well as LPO to 130.7 ± 7.7 and 116 ± 2.5 of control, respectively (P < 0.001). Therefore, the extract reduced H2O2-induced toxicity in BAE-1 cells by scavenging of free radicals. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that the extract might reduce toxicity of endothelial cells by attenuation of oxidative stress, which can be related to the presence of active ingredients including quercetin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the features of the anatomical and morphological structure of the vegetative organs of Rheum wittrokii Lundstr. and the results of its qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analyses. The structure of the leaf shows the presence of calcium oxalate druses, which are located mainly under the layer of columnar mesophyll, along the Central part of the leaf blade. Druses in the spongy parenchyma are clearly distinguished and have an almost spherical shape with a peculiar needle-like structure. In the main vein, sections of the sclerenchymic lining are adjacent to the conducting bundle. The covering tissue of the roots has a secondary structure and is represented by a three-layer periderm. In the cells of the main parenchyma of the cortex, numerous calcium oxalate druses are found, which have a round-crystal configuration and are collected in small groups. The vessels of the root xylem are large with ladder and mesh perforation. Features of the main stem parenchyma are its larger, rounded-oblong or oval shape with slightly thickened cell walls. The revealed anatomical features can be used in the case of the diagnosis of medicinal plant raw materials. The study of the chemical composition, the study of biological activity and the development of new herbal medicines is relevant. As a result of studying the chemical composition of the ethanol extract of Rheum wittrokii obtained by extracting 96% ethanol, 8 main components were identified. Rhizomes are dominated by chrysophanic acid with an identification probability of 41.4%. The presence of components was found: chrysarobin, chrysophanic acid, emodin-3-methyl ether, emodin- 1,3,8-trihydroxy-6-methylanthracene-9,10-dione, which are directly involved in the body’s metabolism, providing antioxidant, antiseptic and anti-cancer effects, and also help in the removal of toxins from the body, which has a beneficial effect on the liver, increasing the level of glycogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Complete plastomes of Rheum species facilitated to clarify the phylogeny of Polygonaceae, and comparative chloroplast genomics contributed to develop genetic markers for the authentication of Rheum species. Rheum (Polygonaceae) is widely distributed throughout the temperate and subtropical areas of Asian interior. Rheum species are usually perennial herbs, and half of them are endemic to China with important medicinal properties. On account of similar morphological characteristics, species delimitation of Rheum still remains unclear. Chloroplast genomes of eight Rheum species, Rumex crispus and Oxyria digyna were characterized. Based on the comparison of genome structure of these species and the two published Rheum species, it is shown that plastome sequences of these species are relatively conserved with the same gene order, and three Sect. Palmata species remarkably showed high sequence similarities. Some hotspots could be used to discriminate the Rheum species, and 17 plastid genes were subject to positive selection. The phylogenetic analyses indicated that all the Polygonaceae species were clustered in the same group and showed that Rheum species, except for Rheum wittrockii, formed a monophyletic group with high maximum parsimony/maximum likelihood bootstrap support values and Bayesian posterior probabilities. The molecular dating based on plastomes indicated that the divergences within Polygonaceae species were dated to the Upper Cretaceous period [73.86–77.99 million years ago (Ma)]. The divergence of Sect. Palmata species was estimated to have occurred around 1.60 Ma, indicating that its diversification was affected by the repeated climatic fluctuation in the Quaternary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, we optimized the ultrasound-assisted extraction condition of antioxidative substances from Rheum officinale by orthogonal experiment followed by response surface methodology. The obtained ethanol extract of R. officinale (EER) was further investigated with its antioxidant activity, the effect on extending the longevity of Drosophila melanogaster and antibacterial activity against Propionibacterium acnes. The results showed that the EER extracted under the condition of solid–liquid ratio of 1:43, ultrasonic extraction time of 8 min and ethanol concentration of 50% got the highest radical scavenging (92.95 ± 1.82%), whose antioxidant activity was close to ascorbic acid and butylated hydroxytoluene. In Longevity assay, male flies were fed extract with a range from 50 to 200 mg/L and the result showed a good work on extending the lifespan of fruit flies. In antibacterial assays, the EER exhibited a moderate antibacterial ability. Moreover, it is found that Rhein could be the main constituent against Propionibacterium acnes. Therefore, R. officinale could be developed continuously for application in medical, cosmetic and anti-aging field, due to its potential antioxidant, anti-P. acnes and anti-aging activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Culinary rhubarb is a popular vegetable crop, valued for its long, thickened stalks, very rich in different natural bioactive ingredients. Tissue cultures are a useful tool for vegetative propagation of virus-free rhubarb plants and rapid multiplication of valuable selected genotypes. The aim of this study was to develop an effective method for in vitro propagation of selected genotypes of Polish rhubarb ‘Malinowy’ characterized by high yield and straight, thick and intensive red stalks. Identification and quantification of anthocyanins and soluble sugars by the HPLC method in shoot cultures and ex vitro established plantlets were also performed. Shoot cultures were established from axillary buds isolated from dormant, eight-year-old rhizomes. Effective shoot multiplication of rhubarb ‘Malinowy’ was obtained in the presence of 6.6 µM benzylaminopurine or 12.4 µM meta-topolin. Both cytokinins stimulated shoot formation in a manner that depended on sucrose concentration. Increasing the sucrose concentration from 59 to 175 mM decreased the production of shoots and outgrowth of leaves by 3-fold but enhanced shoot length, single shoot mass and callus formation at the base of shoots. This coincided with increased accumulation of soluble sugars (fructose, glucose) and anthocyanins-cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside (max. 208.2 mg·100 g−1 DM) and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (max. 47.7 mg·100 g−1 DM). The highest rooting frequency (94.9%) and further successful ex vitro establishment (100%) were observed for shoots that were earlier rooted in vitro in the presence of 4.9 µM indole-3-butyric acid. Our results indicated that anthocyanin contents in leaf petioles were influenced by developmental stage. Under in vitro conditions, it is possible to elicit those pigments by sucrose at high concentration and meta-topolin.

The objective of this study was to investigate the potential targets and mechanism of Rheum palmatum L in the treatment of colorectal cancer based on the network pharmacology and molecular docking, which could provide the theoretical basis for clinical applications. The potential components were screened using TCMSP database and articles. The gene targets of colorectal cancer were screened through the Genecards database and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man database. Then, the common targets of components and colorectal cancer were used to construct the network diagram of active components and targets in Cytoscape 3.7.0. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) diagram was generated using String database, and the targets were further analyzed by gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes. Molecular docking between gene targets and active components was analyzed via AutoDock, and visualized through PyMol. Among this study, main targets might be TP53, EGF, MYC, CASP3, JUN, PTGS2, HSP90AA1, MMP9, ESR1, PPARG. And 10 key elements might associate with them, such as aloe-emodin, beta-sitosterol, gallic acid, eupatin, emodin, physcion, cis-resveratrol, rhein, crysophanol, catechin. The treatment process was found to involve nitrogen metabolism, p53 signaling pathway, and various cancer related pathway, as well as the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway, estrogen signaling pathway, interleukin-17 signaling pathway and thyroid hormone signaling pathway. The molecular docking was verified the combination between key components and their respective target proteins. Network pharmacological analysis demonstrated that R palmatum was could regulated p53, AGE-RAGE, interleukin-17 and related signaling pathway in colorectal cancer, which might provide a scientific basis of mechanism., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Rhubarb free anthraquinones (RhA) have significant lipid-regulating activity. However, whether RhA monomers have a role in lipid-regulating and their mechanism of action remains unclear. Based on the cholesterol accumulated HepG2 cell model, the cholesterol-regulating effect of RhA monomers and their combinations was investigated. The expression of sterol-regulatory element binding protein 2 (SREBP2), 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) and squalene monooxygenase (SQLE) of the model cells was analyzed to preliminarily explore the mechanism of action. After that, the liposomes of each active RhA monomer were separately prepared with the same lipid materials and the same preparation method so that each monomer has similar or equal bioavailability after oral administration to rats. Finally, the hypercholesterolemic rat model was established, and the effect of active RhA monomers loaded liposomes as well as their combinations on cholesterol-regulating was investigated and their mechanism of action was analyzed. The results showed that aloe-emodin, rhein and emodin were the main cholesterol-regulating components of RhA, and the combination of rhein and emodin showed significant cholesterol-lowering effect, which may be related to the expression of SREBP2, HMGCR and SQLE in the rat liver., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that there are no competing interests associated with the manuscript., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background and Objective: The herb Rheum tanguticum (RT), a member of the Polygonaceae family, is listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia and has been widely used to treat cardiovascular and gastrointestinal disease. The research aimed to identify the different substances from two kinds of RT extraction methods and the in vivo biotransformation of RT components., Methods: In this study, by using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS), we have investigated the metabolomic variation and the in vivo metabolism of RT. A post-acquisition data processing software, PeakView, was applied to an accurate qualitative analysis of the chemical components in RT., Results: Through plant metabolomics analysis, 24 related, differentially expressed metabolites of RT water extract and alcohol extract were obtained. Combined with novel identification strategies and systematic in vivo metabolism analysis, a total of 101 compounds were discovered or tentatively identified in rat serum (including 15 prototype compounds and 86 metabolites)., Conclusion: In this study, a combination of extraction methods, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) technology, and in vivo animal metabolism studies have been established for the screening, identification, and research of chemical active components of natural medicines. LC-MS analysis combined with plant metabolomics was used to study the differential metabolites between different extraction methods of RT. Based on UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS technology, the composition and metabolism of rat plasma before and after RT administration were analysed in vivo, and 15 prototype components and 86 metabolites were detected., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: In traditional Chinese herbal medicine, rhubarb is said to remove accumulation with purgation, clearing heat, and discharging fire. Modern pharmacology has shown that rhubarb extract has a purgative effect when given to experimental animals in an appropriate dose. However, the active components and their mechanism of action are still not clearly defined., Aim of the Study: The current research aimed to evaluate the synergistic stool-softening effects and explore the action mechanism of rhubarb free anthraquinones (RhA) and their monomers on constipation in rats., Materials and Methods: A rat model of water deficit-induced constipation was established to induce constipation, and these rats were treated with RhA and its monomers. ELISA, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, qPCR and Western blotting based on network pharmacology and molecular docking were conducted to explore the possible mechanism of action of RhA and its monomers., Results: RhA, aloe-emodin, rhein, and chrysophanol showed stool-softening activity, and the combination of aloe-emodin and rhein had the strongest softening effect on faecal pellets. Aloe-emodin, rhein, and chrysophanol significantly increased the serum levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), motilin (MTL), and substance P (SP), upregulated the expression of VIP, cyclase-associated protein 1 (CAP1), protein kinase A (PKA), cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), aquaporin 3 (AQP3), aquaporin 4 (AQP4), and aquaporin 8 (AQP8), decreased the expression of epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) and Na + /H + exchanger 3 (NHE3), and reduced the colonic tissue concentration of Na + -K + -ATPase in the constipated rats. Osmolality of colonic fluid in model rats treated by RhA, aloe-emodin, rhein, and chrysophanol was increased., Conclusion: Aloe-emodin, rhein, and chrysophanol were the stool-softening components of the RhA extract, and there were certain drug-interactions between the components. RhA upregulated VIP expression, activated the cyclic adenosine monophosphate protein kinase A (cAMP/PKA) pathway, and further stimulated CFTR expression while inhibiting NHE3 and ENaC expression, resulting in a hypertonic state in the colonic lumen. Water transport could then be driven by an osmotic gradient, which in turn led to the upregulation of AQP3, AQP4, and AQP8 expression. In addition, RhA likely improved gastrointestinal motility by increasing serum VIP, SP, and MTL concentrations, thus promoting faecal excretion., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest We declare that there is no competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Senescence can promote hyperplastic pathologies, such as cancer. Prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer in men. The p21-mediate cellular senescence, facilitated through the tumor suppressor p53-dependent pathway, is considered the primary mechanism for cancer treatment. Aloe-emodin, has been reported to exert anticancer effects in various types of cancers. This study aimed to investigate the bioactivity of aloe-emodin in LNCaP cells via the activation of p21-mediated cellular senescence. Aloe-emodin treatment increased the percentage of cells in the G1 phase while decreasing the percentage in the S phase. This effect was reflected in the expression levels of proteins associated with cell cycle progression, such as p21CIP, retinoblastoma protein, and cyclin-dependent kinase2/4 in LNCaP cells. However, aloe-emodin-treated LNCaP cells did not induce cell cycle arrest at G2/M checkpoint. Moreover, increased senescence-associated-galactosidase activity was observed in a dose-dependent manner following treatment with aloe-emodin. Aloe-emodin also induced DNA damage by modulating the expression of histone H2AX and lamin B1. Furthermore, aloe-emodin inhibited the proliferation of LNCaP cells, contrasting with the exponential growth observed in the nontreated cells. Importantly, this inhibition did not impact the immune system, as evidenced by the increased proliferation of splenocytes isolated from mice. These findings provide preliminary evidence of the anticancer effect of aloe-emodin in LNCaP cells, necessitating further investigations into the underlying mechanisms in vivo and human subjects.

Background and Objectives: Rhubarb anthraquinones contain five main components, that is, rhein, emodin, aloe-emodin, chrysophanol, and physcion, which demonstrate good therapeutic effects on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, research on its pharmacokinetics in NAFLD remains lacking. This study aimed to investigate the pharmacokinetic differences of rhubarb anthraquinones in normal and NAFLD rats., Methods: This study developed an NAFLD rat model by high-fat diet feeding for 6 weeks. Normal and NAFLD groups were orally administered different rhubarb anthraquinones doses (37.5, 75, and 150 mg/kg). The concentration of the rhein, emodin, aloe-emodin, chrysophanol, and physcion in plasma was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet., Results: The results revealed significant differences in pharmacokinetic behavior between normal and NAFLD rats. Compared with normal rats, NAFLD rats demonstrated significantly increased maximum plasma concentration (C max ) and area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC 0 → ∞ ) of rhubarb anthraquinones (P < 0.05), as well as significantly prolonged time to reach maximum plasma concentration (T max ), terminal elimination half-life (t 1/2 ), and mean residence time (MRT) of rhubarb anthraquinones (P < 0.05)., Conclusions: This study indicates significant differences in the pharmacokinetics of rhubarb anthraquinones between the physiological and NAFLD states of rats. Rhubarb anthraquinone demonstrated a longer retention time and slower absorption rate in NAFLD rats and exhibited higher bioavailability and peak concentration. This finding provides important information for guiding the clinical use of rhubarb anthraquinones under pathological conditions., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Background: In this study, 13 different extracts were investigated which are grown in the region of Erzurum. Objective: The aim of this study was to screen various plant extracts that are known and used for medicinal purposes such as Ferula communis L., Rumex patientia L., Gundelia tournefortii L., Rheum ribes L., Asphodeline taurica, Polygonum arenastrum, Allium schoenoprasum L., and Ferula orientalis L. Materials and methods: Medicinal parts of plants such as leaves, flowers, and stems were investigated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, ferric reducing antioxidant power, and cupric reducing antioxidant capacity assays: Centaury and Blackthorn. Total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and antimicrobial properties were also determined. Antibacterial and antifungal activities were investigated by the microdilution method and the agar diffusion method respectively. Results: Accordingly, the results of the Rheum ribes L. plant have the highest antioxidant activity among all analyses made. But in almost all antioxidant analysis methods, the lowest antioxidant activity was found in Ferula orientalis L. According to the antibacterial analysis applied, it was found that the plant extracts were generally more effective on yeast strains than the test bacteria used; that is, most of the plants have antifungal effect. Conclusions: Due to their antimicrobial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties, the extracts of these plants might be used as natural sources in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to develop new domestic production of Rhei Rhizoma (RR) from Rheum specimens cultivated in the Sugadaira Medicinal Plant Cultivation Test Field (SMPCF), the ITS sequences of 12 SMPCF specimens and Chinese Rheum specimens of four species, as well as RR samples produced in North Korea, China and Japan, were determined by subcloning and their sequences were compared. As the ITS sequences of 10 SMPCF specimens showed significant intra-individual polymorphism, identification of pseudogenes was conducted by detecting the three motifs of the 5.8S sequence and the stability of the 5.8S secondary structure. Approximately 46% of sequences obtained from the SMPCF specimens were putative pseudogenes. The maximum likelihood tree based on ITS sequences showed three main groups—the outer group and inner clusters I and II; clones from 10 SMPCF specimens including putative pseudogenes belonged to the outer group. Cluster I was composed of two clades, one including clones from R. officinale specimens and R. palmatum-derived samples with matK genotype Rp9, and another including clones from R. coreanum-derived samples. Cluster II consisted of three clades, one including clones from R. palmatum specimens with genotype Rp5, another including clones mainly from R. tanguticum specimens with genotype Rt4, and the third including clones from R. palmatum or R. tanguticum specimens with various matK genotypes. Clones from SMPCF specimen RC5 showed a close relationship with those from R. tanguticum specimens with matK genotype Rt4, whereas those from specimen RC9 related to R. coreanum-derived samples. As a result, specimens RC5 and RC9 were considered as candidates for the development of domestic RR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND It is important to find plant materials that can inhibit the growth of Listeria monocytogenes and other food‐spoiling bacteria both in vitro and in situ. The aim of the study was to compare antibacterial and antioxidative activity of selected plant–ethanol infusions: leaves and berries of blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.), berries of chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa (Michx.) Elliott) and blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L. var. edulis); petioles and dark and light roots of garden rhubarb (Rheum rhaponticum L.) for potential use in food matrices as antibacterial and antioxidative additives. RESULTS: The strongest bacterial growth inhibition was observed in 96% ethanol infusions of the dark roots of rhubarbs. In 96% ethanol, nine out of ten studied plant infusions had antibacterial effect against L. monocytogenes, but in 20% ethanol only the infusions of dark rhubarb roots had a similar effect. Chokeberry and other berries had the highest antioxidative activity, both in 20% and 96% ethanol infusions. CONCLUSION: The combination of dark rhubarb roots or petioles and berries of black chokeberry, blackcurrant or some other anthocyanin‐rich berries would have potential as both antibacterial and antioxidative additives in food. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to synthesize nickel oxide nanoparticle (NiO‐NPs) by Rheum turkestanicum (RT) root extract, which is a local medicinal plant. The synthesized NiO‐NPs have been characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX), fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) methods. We have evaluated the cytotoxicity of NiO‐NPs on the WEHI 164 murine fibrosarcoma cells by MTT assay. The photocatalytic properties of NiO‐NPs was investigated by observing the removal of Rhodamine‐B (RB) in aqueous media. It has been displayed by the obtained results that NiO‐NPs have been synthesized in a Hexagonal (Rhombohedral) lattice system with the size of about 12–15 nm. According to the results, almost 95% of RB has apparently degraded in the presence of NiO‐NPs under UV‐light after 30 h. It has been illustrated by the cytotoxicity effects against the WEHI 164 murine fibrosarcoma cells that 250 μg/ml of NiO‐NPs is capable of eliminating about 70% of these tumors' cells. The IC50 of the NiO‐NPs has been calculated to be 25 μg/ml. The introduced green method can replace the available chemical procedures, which involve using hazardous substances that are a threat to the human health. The photocatalytic activities of green synthesized of NiO‐NPs (in RT extract media) in RB removal were examined and its cytotoxicity against the WEHI 164 cancer cells was investigated. It was displayed almost 95% of RB degradation under UV‐light after 30 h and evaluation of anticancer properties of NiO‐NPs was illustrated (IC50) of 25 μg/ml. The introduced green method can replace the available chemical procedures, which involve using hazardous substances that are a threat to the human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Diabetes mellitus is the most common endocrine disease and refers to a group of metabolic abnormalities associated with hyperglycemia, which is characterized by defects in insulin, insulin function, or both. Rhubarb is used in traditional medicine of China for various diseases including diabetes and high blood pressure and also as a laxative. This study was conducted with the purpose of determining the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of rhubarb root on glucose and histopathological changes in the pancreas of diabetic rats. Methods: In this study, 24 female rats were divided into 4 groups. One group, as a control group, received normal saline. In the other three groups, after induction of diabetes, one group received normal saline, the second group received rhubarb root extract (150mg/kg), andthelast groupreceivedglibenclamide(at a dose of 0.6mg/kg). Induction of diabetes was performed by alloxan at a dose of 120mg/kg, IP. After 4 weeks of treatment, the rats were euthanized and blood sampling was done. Then, biochemical parameters and blood sugar levels were measured. Pancreases were removed and after fixation and hematoxylin and eosin staining, werestudied by light microscope. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s test. The significance level was considered p