Rhubarb extract 20 mg/kg daily administered for 6 weeks to patients undergoing radiation therapy for cancer resulted in a reduction in radiation-induced lung toxicity in a randomized clinical trial. Rhubarb Uses, Benefits & Dosage - Drugs.com Herbal Database The free anthraquinones—rhein, emodin, physcion, and chrysophamol—are present in nearly all species.7 Stilbene glycosides, including rhaponticin and the metabolite rhapontigenin, have been identified in the root.4, 7, 8, 9 Tannins, sennosides, catechins, gallic acid, and cinnaminic acid have been identified.7 Lindleyin, a phytochemical with estrogenic activity, has also been described.10 Rhubarb is also a dietary source of resveratrol.57, Oxalic acid is present in the leaf blades, as well as 2-methylbutanol and 4-methylhexanol.2, 11. Acute renal failure has been associated with long-term anthraquinone use.28, A number of studies have observed the effects of rhubarb in rats with CRF. This information relates to an herbal, vitamin, mineral or other dietary supplement. Although this pesticide should not be used on edible crops, I thought I would still include this recipe since you can use your edible crops to help out the rest of your garden. Potassium deficiency can be increased by concurrent use of thiazide diuretics, corticosteroids, or licorice root. That doesn't mean rhubarb leaves have to become a food waste statistic. Oxalic acid is an active ingredient in products like Bar Keepers Friend, a non-abrasive powder that cleans and shines stainless steel and other surfaces. Celebrate spring’s bounty with these 25 delicious rhubarb-studded recipes. Avoid dosages higher than those found in food because safety and efficacy are unproven. The perennial herb has a conical rootstock, that is fleshy and yellow inside and produces large, cordate, 7-lobed leaves 30 to 46 cm long. The first reported sighting of the plant in situ was in the mountains of Bulgaria. Emodin is metabolized in the large intestine by intestinal bacteria and converted to aglycone, which exerts various effects on absorption, secretion, and motility in the tract, and is also suggested to increase peristalsis without affecting the stomach or duodenum.12 It has been used in cases of GI bleeds to eliminate extravasated blood.12, 19, In a study among patients with septicemia, crude rhubarb extract powder 9 g daily was used to preserve GI function. Savor the Rhubarb has a tutorial on how to turn these leaves into garden decor. Additionally, deceased intestinal transit time may reduce the absorption of orally administered drugs.53, Clinical trials using rhubarb extract report few adverse reactions; most relate to mild GI symptoms that resolve without treatment.18, 27, Localized oxalosis was noted in a case report. Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. By the end of the 19th century, it became clear that the particular medicinal characteristics of rhubarb were affected by conditions under which the roots grew, such as soil composition and climate.5, Rhubarb has been used medicinally in Europe since the 13th century. Shine Pots and Pans . What Are Antinutrients and Do You Need to Worry About Them in Your Diet? With the exception of certain products that are generally recognized as safe in normal quantities, including use of folic acid and prenatal vitamins during pregnancy, this product has not been sufficiently studied to determine whether it is safe to use during pregnancy or nursing or by persons younger than 2 years of age. We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information -. You should talk with your health care provider for complete information about the risks and benefits of using this product. It closely resembles celery, after all, which … This product has not been reviewed by the FDA to determine whether it is safe or effective and is not subject to the quality standards and safety information collection standards that are applicable to most prescription drugs. Lipid profiles were improved in the two experimental arms.22, Treating hypercholesterolemia in men with rhubarb stalk fiber for 4 weeks lowered serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins (LDL), while high-density lipoproteins remained unchanged.26 In 103 patients with atherosclerosis randomized to receive the extract for 6 months, rhubarb extract improved the lipid profile in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) compared with control.25 Individuals taking rhubarb reported decreased LDL compared with those taking placebo and compared with the pretreatment levels.27, Large, randomized clinical trials are lacking. Available for Android and iOS devices. Last updated on May 13, 2020. It does NOT include all information about the possible uses, directions, warnings, precautions, interactions, adverse effects, or risks that may apply to this product. Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products. Here are some non-edible uses for rhubarb leaves. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. Dye yarn and other materials using water that's been boiled with rhubarb leaves. Rhein has in vitro antimicrobial activity against a wide spectrum of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria.13, 39, 41, An extract of rhubarb stalk has been used as a dental desensitizer. ), with adult supervision. Interaction with cardiac glycosides (digoxin) and a reduction in the absorption of orally administered drugs have been noted when rhubarb is taken in large quantities. The leaf blades (but not the stalks) of rhubarb contain enough oxalic acid to cause poisoning. Wash them well after to remove any residual oxalic acid. When you boil rhubarb leaves in stainless steel pots and pans, it can help give the pots a beautiful shine. Initially, researchers learned that the medicinal root came from several varieties or species of rhubarb. A small amount of rhubarb may have adhered to the wall of the tracheobronchial tree, producing a localized area of oxalosis with accompanying necrosis.54 Consumption of rhubarb in patients with renal stones is not advised because of the oxalate content.13, The leaf blades, but not the stalks, of rhubarb contain enough oxalic acid to cause poisoning.2 Acute renal failure has been associated with long-term anthraquinone use.28, Emodin was mutagenic in several Salmonella typhimurium strains, and has been demonstrated to be phototoxic in vitro.12. Both companies supplied Europe with rhubarb.5, In the 1830s and 1840s, the cooked stems of rhubarb emerged as a culinary delight, especially in Britain and the United States.5, 6, The Rheum species contains a number of anthraquinone derivatives. Rhubarb has been studied for the management of GI and renal function disorders, and for the treatment of hyperlipidemia, cancer, and acute ischemic stroke. Significant overall clinical efficacy was demonstrated in the rhubarb intervention group compared with Western medicine controls (n = 788; relative risk [RR] = 1.27; P < 0.01); all trials had a relatively high risk of bias and the funnel plot indicated publication bias. The herb was brought from the eastern Mediterranean by way of the Silk Road, which stretches from China across central Asia. Rhubarb is extensively used in traditional Chinese medicine. A few reactions, primarily GI effects, have been reported in clinical trials. This product may be unsafe when used before surgery or other medical procedures. The tall, leafy vegetable makes a great addition to any garden, but be sure only to consume the celery-like stalks -- the leaves and roots of the rhubarb plant contain toxins that are poisonous. Evaluation of anti-inflammatory markers suggests that an anti-inflammatory action of rhubarb is responsible for the effect.18, In addition to the sennosides present in rhubarb extracts, which have been traditionally used as a laxative, emodin and other anthraquinones exert action on the GI tract. Rhubarb leaves are considered inedible due to their high concentration of oxalic acid.In fact, both the stalks and leaves contain oxalic acid, but the leaves have a much higher content. Rhubarb Lentil Soup. Contraindications have not been identified. Repel Pests From Leaves of Non-Edible Plants, 3. Rhubarb is derived from several Rheum species. Acute renal failure has been associated with long-term anthraquinone use. A total of 12 studies enrolling 968 participants were identified; ages of participants ranged from 57 to 69 years, all were Chinese, disease duration ranged from 6 hours to 14 days, and study duration ranged from 1 week to 30 days. Mild side effects of bloating and diarrhea were noted in the rhubarb group.56, In vitro studies and in vivo experiments in fish show that rhubarb extract possesses estrogenic activity, which has been suggested to be caused by the chemical lindleyin.10, R. officinale has been used in China to treat neonatal jaundice.43 In rats with induced cholestatic hepatitis, total bilirubin was decreased and the liver enzyme profile was improved with administration of emodin.44 A growth-promoting effect, resulting in liver regeneration, has been demonstrated by emodin.12, Other properties attributed to rhubarb include antiplatelet properties45 antihypertensive effects46 anti-inflammatory action47 and glucose homeostasis.48, Crude rhubarb extract 9 g powder was given daily to patients with sepsis.20 Rhubarb extract 20 mg/kg daily was administered for 6 weeks to patients undergoing radiation therapy.18 Patients with atherosclerosis were given rhubarb extract 50 mg/kg for 6 months.27, In Kampo medicine (the practice and adaptation of traditional Chinese medicine in Japan), long-term (12 months) use of rhubarb extract has been administered to improve Oketsu (blood stagnation), and short-term (2 weeks) use has been administered for lazy bowel syndrome.28, 49, Avoid dosages higher than those found in food because safety and efficacy are not proven.