Research - Rhubarb
The Effect of Rhubarb Pre-Treatment on Intestinal Microcirculation in Septic Rats
Yun-Liang Cui,*,a Lv Wang,†,a Zhao-Tao Tian,* Zhao-Fen Lin† and De-Chang Chen†
*Department of Critical Care Medicine Jinan Military General Hospital, Jinan, China
† Department of Emergency Medicine, Changzheng Hospital Second Military Medical University, Shanghai,China
Abstract:
The intestine plays a vital role in the pathophysiology of sepsis development. The objective of the present study was to explore the effects of rhubarb on intestinal microcirculation in septic rats. We used moorFLPI laser speckle imaging to detect the blood flow of the intestinal mucosa and wall. Using an ELISA, we assayed the concentration of lactate (L) and pyruvic acid (P) in the intestinal tissue to calculate the ratio of lactate to pyruvic acid (L/P ratio). To observe the intestinal mucosal capillaries, gelatin and ink were perfused into the intestine and subsequently stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) to measure the ratio of the vessel area.We then used immunohistochemistry to measure CD31 expression. Using an MTT assay, the effect of the rhubarb extract on the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was analyzed. The blood flow in the intestinal wall and mucosa of the control, sham and rhubarb-treated groups was significantly higher, while the sepsis group had relatively low blood flow. The L/P ratio in the intestinal tissue was larger in the sepsis group than in the other three groups. The microvascular area (MVA) in the sepsis group was smaller than in the control group, sham group or rhubarb group. Positive expression for CD31 was observed in the cytoplasm of vascular endothelial cells. The intestinal mucosal capillaries were reduced in septic rats as compared to the other three groups. HUVEC proliferation was enhanced by the rhubarb extract monomers at 1 mol/L, but suppressed at higher concentrations of 10 to 100 mol/L. These results suggest that pre-treatment with rhubarb prior to sepsis induction promotes the expansion of the intestinal mucosal capillaries, protects intestinal mucosal capillary endothelial cells and increases the number of functional intestinal capillaries
Source : Am J. Chinese Medicine
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Effect of rhubarb (Rheum emodi) in primary dysmenorrhoea: a single-blind randomized controlled trial
Hina Rehman1 / Wajeeha Begum1 / Farzana Anjum1 / Humyra Tabasum2 / Shabnam Zahid3
Abstract
Background: The aim of this study was to investigate and evaluate the efficacy of Rheum emodi in the management of primary dysmenorrhoea.
Methods: A randomized, single-blind, standard controlled trial compared efficacy of R. emodi against mefenamic acid on diagnosed subjects of primary dysmenorrhoea for three consecutive cycles. Experimental group (n=30) received capsules of R. emodi powder two times a day, two days before the expected date of menstruation, and continued first three days of menstruation, while control group (n=15) participants received mefenamic acid capsules three times a day on the same protocol. The primary outcome measures were reduced in severity and duration of pain, assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS) and verbal multidimensional scoring system (VMSS), and secondary outcome measures were overall improvement of dysmenorrhoea and improved in quality of life (QOL). Statistical analysis was done by repeated measures analysis of variance and Chi-square/Fisher Exact test.
Results: The menstrual pain was significantly decreased in both groups after three-cycle intervention. Significant changes were observed in VAS (p<0.001) and VMSS (p<0.001) in the experimental group. There is a significant (p<0.001) reduction in duration of pain in both the groups. Associated symptoms and QOL were markedly improved after treatment (p<0.001).
Conclusions: It has been clear from the above result that R. emodi is an effective herb in alleviating symptoms of primary dysmenorrhoea. It can serve as an alternative treatment without any apparent side effects. These results deserve further investigations.
Source : Journal Complementary and Integrative Medicine
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