Plant Archives Vol. 12 No. 2, 2012 pp. 603-606
ISSN 0972-5210
Review Article
RHEUM WEBBIANUM ROYLE : A POTENTIAL MEDICINAL PLANT FROM TRANS-HIMALAYAN COLD DESERTS OF LADAKH, INDIA A. Tayade, P. Dhar, B. Ballabh1, Raj Kumar, O.P. Chaurasia*, R.P. Bhatt2, R.B. Srivastava Defence Institute of High Altitude Research, Defence R. & D. Organization, Leh-Ladakh - 901 205, India. Defence Institute of Bio-Energy Research, Defence R. & D. Organization, Goraparao, PO-Arjunpur, Haldwani, India. 2 Directorate of Life Sciences, Defence R. & D. Organization, DRDO Head Quarter, New Delhi, India.
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Abstract In recent years, a numerous studies had been conducted in all over the world to explore the traditional medicinal system as a resource of complementary and alternative medicine. The Indian indigenous drugs from the medicinal plants also have great importance, both professional and economical point of view. Rheum webbianum Royle commonly known as Rhubarb, is an important medicinal plant, belonging to the family Polygonaceae. It is commonly used for the management of renal function disorders, hyperlipidemia, cancer and improves the memory in senile patients. R. webbianum, R. speciformae, R. tibetana and R. orcroftianum are the commonly found species in cold arid zones of India. The Rheum species contains a number of anthraquinone derivatives. The free anthraquinones viz. rhein, emodin, aloe-emodin, physcion, and chrysophamol are present in nearly all species. Stilbene glycosides, including rhaponticin and the metabolite rhapontigenin, have been identified in the root. Tannins, sennosides, catechins, gallic acid, and cinnaminic acid have been identified. Keeping in view the utility of this plant in certain herbal products and traditional medicine, conservation and sustainable utilization of this rare species is the urgent need of present hour. This will not only provide raw material but also provide resource generation for economic development for the local population in the cold arid high altitude regions of Ladakh Himalaya. Key words : Rheum webbianum, Trans-Himalaya, anthraquinones, renal function disorder, hyperlipidemia, anti-inflammatory action, cancer and dry wool.
Introduction Rheum webbianum Royle is an important medicinal plant belonging to the family Polygonaceae. It is commonly known as ‘Himalayan Rhubarb’ in English, ‘Ravanchini’ in Hindi, ‘xu mi da huang’ in Chinese, ‘Chotal’ in Pakistan and ‘Lachhu’ or ‘Chu-rtsa’ in Ladakh. It is native to Asia-Temperate to Asia-Tropical, from China to India, Nepal and Pakistan. In India, it is found in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh. In Jammu and Kashmir, it is grown on open slopes and shrubberies in Kashmir, Leh and Zansker valley between 3,105- 3,920 m above mean sea level (Chaurasia et al., 2007; http:// www.ars-grin.gov). R. webbianum is a large herb, 0.5-1.5 m tall. Stem stout, hollow, finely sulcate, glabrous or papilliferous on upper part. Petiole of basal leaf shorter than blade, stout, papilliferous. Radical leaves with 30-45 cm long petiole; leathery, orbicular to reniform, cordate, obtuse or subacute, entire, 5-7-nerved, papillose or glabrous, 10-50
cm across; upper leaves smaller. Inflorescence diffusely branched, mostly axillary, less commonly terminal, up to 1 m tall panicle. Flowers 2.0-2.5 mm across, ebracteate, pedicel 3-5 mm long, filiform, pale yellowish. Fruit broadly oblong or orbicular, 8-10 mm across, winged, notched on both sides. Seeds narrowly ovoid-ellipsoid. Its chromosome number is 2n = 44. It flowers between JuneSeptember (http://www.efloras.org). The genus is represented by about 60 extant species (Wang et al., 2005). Commonly found species in cold arid zones of India are Rheum webbianum, R. Speciformae, R. tibetana and R. morcroftianum. Another species, the Sikkim Rhubarb (R. nobile) is limited to the Eastern Himalayas. Rheum species have been recorded as larval food plants for some Lepidoptera species including brown-tail, buff ermine, cabbage moth, large yellow underwing, and nutmeg moth. The stalks, which are petioles, can be cooked in a variety of ways. Stewed, they yield a tart sauce that can
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Fig. 1 : a. Rheum webbianum Royle plant in cultivation, b. Plants in flowering stage, c. Leaf stalks of Rheum.
be eaten with sugar and stewed fruits are used as filling for pies, tarts and crumbles. Cooked with strawberries or apples as a sweetener, or with stem or root ginger, Rhubarb makes excellent jam. It can also be used to make wine. In former days, a common and affordable sweet for children in parts of the United Kingdom and Sweden was a tender stick of Rhubarb, dipped in sugar (http://www.wakefield.gov.uk). The roots, stems, leaves and leaf-stalks are purgative and are beneficial in treating indigestion, abdominal diseases, astringent, boils, purgative, wounds and flatulence. The roots are diuretic, laxative, purgative, febrifuge; used against indigestion, wounds and gastritis etc (Chaurasia et al., 2007). Rhubarb is extensively used in traditional Chinese medicine. Rhubarb has been studied for the management of gastrointestinal (GI) and renal function disorders, and for the treatment of hyperlipidemia and cancer. Dried Rhubarb extract 20 to 50 mg/kg daily has been used in clinical trials (Srinivas et al., 2007 and Huang et al., 2007). Traditional Chinese medicine suggests Rhubarb improves the memory in senile patients (Tian et al., 1997). Roots of this plant give a yellow color and also contain a number of derivatives and are used to dye wool and silk fibres. The main colouring component is chrysophanic acid, when extracted found to be associated with a number of compounds (http:// www.fibre2fashion.com). The Rheum species contains a number of anthraquinone derivatives. The free anthraquinones viz. rhein, emodin, aloe-emodin, physcion and chrysophamol are present in nearly all species. Stilbene glycosides, including rhaponticin and the metabolite rhapontigenin, have been identified in the root. Tannins, sennosides, catechins, gallic acid and cinnaminic acid have been identified (Peigen et al., 1984; Li et al., 2000; Zhu et al., 2005 and Misiti et al., 2006). Lindleyin, a phytochemical with estrogenic activity, has also been described (Usui et al., 2002). Oxalic acid, as well as 2-methylbutanol and 4methylhexanol are present in the leaf blades (Lust, 1974;
Dregus et al., 2003). The actions of emodin, aloe-emodin, rhein, and hydroxyanthraquinones in managing cancer have been reviewed. Cell cycle inhibition of many human cancer lines has been observed in vitro. Apoptosis, as well as antitumor action, has been demonstrated and Rhubarb extract has been suggested as an adjunct to chemotherapy. Antiangiogenic action of Rhubarb has also been shown (Srinivas et al., 2007; Huang et al., 2007; Wang et al., 2007; Cai et al., 2008; Cui et al., 2008 and Lin et al., 2003). It has been used in cases of GI bleeds to eliminate extravasated blood (Jiao et al., 1980 and Srinivas et al., 2007). Rhubarb appears to be a potential source of dietary fiber with a lipid-lowering effect. It has been proposed that Rhubarb exerts its effects on cholesterol by inhibition of squalene epoxidase (Abe et al., 2000). This enzyme is thought to catalyze the ratelimiting step in cholesterol biogenesis. An antiinflammatory action has also been suggested (Liu et al., 2008). The anthraquinone derivatives of Rhubarb have been used as antifungal and molluscicidal agents. Rhein has in vitro antimicrobial activity against a wide spectrum of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria (Cyong et al., 1987; Liu et al., 1997; Agarwal et al., 2000; Tegos et al., 2002 and Huang et al., 2007). An extract of rhubarb stalk has been used as a dental desensitizer. Calcium oxalate crystals form and occlude the dentinal tubules responsible for sensitization (Sauro et al., 2006). 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 (Usui et al., 2002). Rheum emodi roots possess hepatoprotective principles that can prevent and/or treat liver damage due to paracetamol (Akhtar et al., 2009). The bioassay-guided chemical examination of the rhizomes of R. emodi resulted in the isolation of two new oxanthrone esters, revandchinone-1, revandchinone-2, a new anthraquinone ether revandchinone-3 and a new oxanthrone ether, revandchinone-4 (Babu et al., 2003). The in vitro efficacy of R. emodi plant extracts was
R. webbianum Royle : A Potential Medicinal Plant from Trans-Himalayan Cold Deserts of Ladakh, India
tested to control brinjal wilt pathogen Fusarium solani (Joseph et al., 2008). Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR), Leh has established an herbal garden in its premises to cultivate the alpine medicinal plants. Propagation methods of Rheum webbianum were standardized through seed germination trials and root cuttings. Mass scale cultivation of R. webbianum was carried out in experimental fields. Roots of this plant can be harvested at 3-4 years of maturity to achieve maximum yield. Survivability and yield parameters were also recorded for five subsequent harvestings. 2.5 Kg/plant yield, 90% survivability through root cuttings and 85% survivability through sexual propagation was achieved. The roots were also analyzed for biochemical analysis and it was found rich in rhein and aloin. The root powder is already being used in the various herbal products like Herbal Appetizer, Herbal Antioxidant Supplement etc. developed by DIHAR. Leaf stalks contain 70-90% fresh juice which has 2% of oxalic acid content. To neutralize oxalic acid concentration calcium carbonate treatment was carried out and up to 95% of the original oxalic acid was reduced. This juice can be utilized for development of herbal beverages and other products.
Conclusion With the distinctive traditional medical opinions and natural medicines mainly originated in plants, traditional medicine offers good clinical opportunities. Still there is a need of apposite phytochemical investigations for its roots and leaf stalks to identify novel bio-active components for development of new drugs and herbal products. Keeping in view the utility of this plant in certain herbal products and traditional medicine, conservation and sustainable utilization of this rare species is the urgent need of present hour. This will not only provide raw material but also provide resource generation for economic upliftment for the local population in the cold arid high altitude regions of Ladakh Himalaya. With this kind of exploration it would be easier to treat and prevent the high altitude maladies caused by the harsh climatic conditions and free radical mediated damages.
Acknowledgement The authors are grateful to Defence Research & Development Organizations for supporting the research projects. We thank all Amchies of Leh, Ladakh, for sharing their traditional knowledge and also thank technical staffs who cooperated in the cultivation practices and all fellow colleagues of the DIHAR lab to process this venture properly, successfully for the completion of this task.
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