• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.88-92
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• 2002

The production of anthraquinone has been dectected in transformed roots of Rheum undulatum L. The effects of medium, initial pH, concentration of sucrose, light irradiation and elicitors on anthraquinone production in transformed roots of Rheum undulatum L. were investigated. The maximum production of anthaquinone was achieved in WPM medium (pH 5.7) supplemented with 6% sucrose, 0.5 mg/l $GA_3$, and 50 mg/l chitosan at 16h light $(16{\mu}mol\;m^{-2}s^{-1})$ condition. Under the optimum conditions, the production of anthraquinone reached to 0.18 mg/g(F.W.) after 8 weeks. The content was estimated about 1.3 times of the level of native roots.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.250-258
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• 2000

Hairy root cultures of Rheum undulatum L. induced by a co-culture with Agrobacterium rhizogenes ATCC15834 were established and the production of tannin in hairy roots was investigated. The growth of hairy roots was maximized in WPM liquid medium supplemented with 2 mg/L IAA, and 3% sucrose (pH 5.7). The highest yields of tannin were obtained from WPM medium containing 0.5 mg/L ABA, and 5% sucrose (pH 5.5). The growth and tannin production in hairy root cultures were influenced by the addition of elicitors to the medium. The addition of 50 mg/L chitosan enhanced the production of tannin with about 1.7 fold.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.39-48
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• 2006

The Following is a list of specific external and internal morphology of Rheum palmatum L. and R. undulatum L. in Rhei Rhizoma. 1. For the original plants of Rhei Rhizoma in the literatures. 18 plants are reported. 2. The external characteristics of original plant : R. palmatum has a large palmate leaf, its petiole of radical leaf has a simple bristle and its flower is purple and pink color. Whereas R. undulatum has a medium ovate leaf, its petiole of radical leaf is purphish, its stem leaf surrounds a half of stem and its flower is yellowish white color. 3. The character of herbal states : a. diameter and size-- R. palmaum is bigger and heavier than R. undulatum. b. in section--R. palmatum is dark brown color, R. undulatum is bright brown color Fibrovascular bundle is arranged in circle shape in R. patmatum. R. undulatum shows a distingushed wheel shape. 4. The internal characteristics : R. palmatum has a large intercellular space of cork layer, its cambium is clear and a xylem medullary ray is comparatively tight, Whereas R. undulatum has a tight intercettular space of cork layer., its cambium is a few clear and xylem medullary ray is verty tight. As these results, additional study is required to distinguish herbs and their effect among many kinds of same genus-degree of relatedness.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.393-397
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• 2012

This study was investigated seed germination of Rheum undulatum L. depends on storage temperature (-20, $5^{\circ}C$ and room temperature), germination temperature (5, 15, 25 and $40^{\circ}C$) and a soaking treatment (no soaking, 2 days and 4 days). There was not much difference from the germination rate of R. undulatum L. in storage temperature conditions for 8 weeks. The highest of germination rate occurred over 80 percentage at $25^{\circ}C$. When R. undulatum L. was soaked with tap water for four days, the average values of germination velocity and germination day were represented of 1.7 ea/day and 1.68 days. These results may help our understanding of variations in germination characteristics for R. undulatum L. seeds treated under various germination conditions.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.490-496
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• 2006

This study aimed to evaluate in vitro effects of Rheum undulatum L. root on the development of dental caries, especially its effects on viability, dental plaque formation, and glycolytic acid production of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus. Methanol extract of Rheum undulatum L. root and its fractions were prepared and tested. Among the test extract and fractions, dichloromethane fraction (DF) showed the most active antibacterial activity (inhibition zone: 13-17 mm) against S. mutans and S. sobrinus in a disc diffusion method. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of DF against these bacteria ranged from 0.25 to 0.5 mg/mL. Furthermore, DF significantly inhibited the caries-inducing factors of these bacteria. At sub-MIC levels, DF inhibited in vitro dental plaque formation by S. mutans and S. sobrinus ($IC_{50}$= 0.079 and 0.142 mg/mL, respectively), which was caused, in part, by the inhibitory effect on the activity of glucosyltransferases. A significant reduction of glycolytic acid production was found at the concentration as low as 0.032 mg/mL for S. mutans and 0.063 mg/mL for S. sobrinus. The possible bioactive compounds that are inducing in vitro anti-cariogenic activity of DF are unknown. Based on the preliminary phytochemical analysis, the activity of DF may be related to the presence of anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides, coumarines, sterols/terpenes, and phenolics. These results indicate that DF is probably useful for the control of dental plaque formation and subsequent dental caries development.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.1700-1704
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• 2008

Rheum undulatum L. has been commonly used as a cure for hematemesis, dropsy, and haematuria in the Oriental medicine for a long time. The main constituents of R. undulatum are chrysophanol and emodin, which are an antioxidative substance that has an anthraquinone structure. In the present study, to develop a new anti-aging agent, we examined the antioxidant activity and the inhibitory effect of the R. undulatum extract on the synthesis of MMP-1 in UVA-irradiated human dermal fibroblasts and MMP-1 activity. The R. undulatum extract was found to scavenge 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals and superoxide radicals in the xanthine/ xanthine oxidase system by a dose-dependent manner, respectively. UVA-induced MMP-1 expression was reduced about 79.5% by 1 ${\mu}g$/ml of the R. undulatum extract and also inhibited MMP-1 activity in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, it was observed that the R. undulatum extract has the antioxidant activity, regulation of UVA-induced MMP-1 production, and inhibition of MMP-1 activity. Therefore, these results suggest that the R. undulatum extract can be developed as a new anti-aging component of cosmetics.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.26-32
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• 2015

Objectives: Rheum undulatum L. has traditionally been used for the treatment of many diseases in Asia. However, its anti-proliferative activity in cancer has still not been studied. In the present study, we investigated the anti-cancer effects of methanol extract of Rheum undulatum L. (MERL) on human adenocarcinoma gastric cell lines (AGS). Methods: To investigate the anti-cancer effect of MERL on AGS cells, we treated the AGS cells with varying concentrations of MERL and performed 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays. Cell cycle analyses, measurements of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), caspase activity assays and Western blots were conducted to determine whether AGS cell death occurred by apoptosis. Results: Treatment with MERL significantly inhibited growth of AGS cells in a concentration dependent manner. MERL treatment in AGS cells leaded to increased accumulation of apoptotic sub G1 phase cells in a concentration dependent manner. In control cultures, 5.38% of the cells were in the sub G1 phase. In MERL treated cells, however, this percentage was significantly increased (9.95% at $70{\mu}g/mL$, 15.94% at $140{\mu}g/mL$, 26.56% at $210{\mu}g/mL$ and 38.08% at $280{\mu}g/mL$). MERL treatment induced the decreased expression of pro-caspase-8 and -9 in a concentration dependent manner, whereas the expression of the active form of caspase-3 was increased. A subsequent Western blot analysis revealed increased cleaved levels of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) protein. Also, treatment with MERL increased the activities of caspase-3 and -9 compared with the control. MERL treatment increased the levels of the pro-apoptotic truncated Bid (tBid) and Bcl2 Antagonist X (Bax) proteins and decreased the levels of the anti-apoptotic B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) protein, whose is the stabilization of mitochondria. However, inhibitions of p38, extracellular signal regulated kinases (ERKs) and C-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) by MERL treatment did not affect cell death. Conclusion: These results suggest that MERL mediated cell death is associated with an intrinsic apoptotic pathway in AGS cells.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.460-464
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• 2000

We have evaluated cytotoxic effects of four crude extracts of methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, butanol, water layer isolated Rheum undulatum in A498 cell line, human kidney epithelial cells. The cytotoxic evalutation was measured by colorimetric assay using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide(MTT) , neutral red(NR) and sulforhodamine protein B(SRB). These results obtained are as follows : MTT, NR and SRB quantities were significantly decreased in cultured A498 cells treated four crude extracts by increased concentrations. The cell cytotoxic effect of crude extracts of butanol layer was more stronger than others layer. The values of MTT$\sub$50/, NR$\sub$50/, SRB$\sub$50/ of crude extract of butanol layer and were measured both 0.63 mg/ml, 0.65 mg/ml, and 0.68 mg/ml, respectively and the values of water layer were 0.84 mg/ml, 0.82 mg/ml. and 0.80 mg/ml. respectively in cultured A498 cell line.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.357-363
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• 2011

In this study, the antioxidative effects and inhibitory activities on tyrosinase of Rheum undulatum (R.undulatum) L. extracts were investigated. 50 % ethanol extract, ethyl acetate and aglycone fractions of R. undulatum L. were used in experiments. The DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) scavenging activities ($FSC_{50}$) of R. undulatum L. extracts was lower than (+)-${\alpha}$-tocopherol, known as a typical antioxidant. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activities ($OSC_{50}$) of aglycone fraction on ROS generated in $Fe^{3+}$-EDTA/$H_2O_2$ system using the luminol-dependent chemiluminescence assay showed the most prominent effect at a concentration of $0.265\;{\mu}g/mL$. The cellular protective effects of extract/fractions of R. undulatum L. on the rose-bengal sensitized photohemolysis of human erythrocytes were increased in a concentration dependent manner ($1{\sim}50\;{\mu}g/mL$). Especially, aglycone fraction in $10\;{\mu}g/mL$ concentration showed the most protective effect among extracts (${\tau}_{50}$, 757.0 min). The inhibitory effects ($IC_{50}$, $11.20\;{\mu}g/mL$) on tyrosinase of aglycone fraction was much higher than arbutin ($226.88\;{\mu}g/mL$), known as a whitening agent. These results indicate that R. undulatum L. extracts can be used as antioxidant. Particularly, aglycone fraction of R. undulatum L. showed superior antioxdative activity and high inhibitory effect on tyrosinase. Therefore, aglycone fraction of R. undulatum L. could be applicable to new functional cosmetics.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.330-336
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• 2013

Rheum tanguticum has long been used in oriental medicine as antipyretics, analgesics, anti-inflammation, aperient, hypertension medicine and medicine for skin disease. This study has investigated the effectiveness of defense for gastritis making use of Rheum tanguticum and its similar plants, Rumex cripus, Rheum officinale, Rhem palmatum and Rheum undulatum. Chysophanol, chrysophanol-8-O-glc, Desoxyrhaponticin desoxyrhaponti-genin, emodin, isorhaponticin, 2-methoxy-4-hydroxyanthraquinone-5-O-glc, physcion, pirace-tannol-3'-O-glc, resveratrol, rhaponticin and rhapontigenin are used as the components of Rheum tanguticum. In HCl ethanol-induced gastritis in rat, the most effective extract was 70 percent ethanol which is of Rheum tanguticum, showing the inhibition of 91.8 percent to the gastric lesions. 70% ethanol extract of Rhem palmatum and Rumex cripus shown inhibition of 75.6 percent and 73.2 percent, respectively. This effectiveness is considered as acid-neutralizing capacity, anti-H.pylori and anti-oxidant activity. 70% ethanol extract of Rheum tanguticum and its component, piracetannol-3'-O-glc exhibited higher free radical scavenging activity than others. These results suggest that Rheum species extracts and their active components could be utilized for the treatment of gastritis. Furthermore, these results are expected to contribute the standardization with objectivity and reliability for Rheum species, medicinal herbs. In addition, it can contribute to the prevention of indiscriminate distribution of imitation, and the rising rate of dependence on imports of medicinal herbs, and mixing prevention of low-quality goods.