Advances in the study of emodin: an update on pharmacological properties and mechanistic basis
Abstract Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, also known as rhubarb or Da Huang, has been widely used as a spice and as traditional herbal medicine for centuries, and is currently marketed in China as the principal herbs in various prescriptions, such as Da-Huang-Zhe-Chong pills and Da-Huang-Qing-Wei pills. Emodi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Chinese Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13020-021-00509-z |
| _version_ | 1830198504319877120 |
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| author | Qi Zheng Shuo Li Xiaojiaoyang Li Runping Liu |
| author_facet | Qi Zheng Shuo Li Xiaojiaoyang Li Runping Liu |
| author_sort | Qi Zheng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, also known as rhubarb or Da Huang, has been widely used as a spice and as traditional herbal medicine for centuries, and is currently marketed in China as the principal herbs in various prescriptions, such as Da-Huang-Zhe-Chong pills and Da-Huang-Qing-Wei pills. Emodin, a major bioactive anthraquinone derivative extracted from rhubarb, represents multiple health benefits in the treatment of a host of diseases, such as immune-inflammatory abnormality, tumor progression, bacterial or viral infections, and metabolic syndrome. Emerging evidence has made great strides in clarifying the multi-targeting therapeutic mechanisms underlying the efficacious therapeutic potential of emodin, including anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-fibrosis, anti-tumor, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-diabetic properties. This comprehensive review aims to provide an updated summary of recent developments on these pharmacological efficacies and molecular mechanisms of emodin, with a focus on the underlying molecular targets and signaling networks. We also reviewed recent attempts to improve the pharmacokinetic properties and biological activities of emodin by structural modification and novel material-based targeted delivery. In conclusion, emodin still has great potential to become promising therapeutic options to immune and inflammation abnormality, organ fibrosis, common malignancy, pathogenic bacteria or virus infections, and endocrine disease or disorder. Scientifically addressing concerns regarding the poor bioavailability and vague molecular targets would significantly contribute to the widespread acceptance of rhubarb not only as a dietary supplement in food flavorings and colorings but also as a health-promoting TCM in the coming years. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T01:55:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0c9472ab817847769f8d64c48099dee6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1749-8546 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T01:55:13Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Chinese Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-0c9472ab817847769f8d64c48099dee62022-12-21T21:24:55ZengBMCChinese Medicine1749-85462021-10-0116112410.1186/s13020-021-00509-zAdvances in the study of emodin: an update on pharmacological properties and mechanistic basisQi Zheng0Shuo Li1Xiaojiaoyang Li2Runping Liu3School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese MedicineSchool of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese MedicineSchool of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese MedicineSchool of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese MedicineAbstract Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, also known as rhubarb or Da Huang, has been widely used as a spice and as traditional herbal medicine for centuries, and is currently marketed in China as the principal herbs in various prescriptions, such as Da-Huang-Zhe-Chong pills and Da-Huang-Qing-Wei pills. Emodin, a major bioactive anthraquinone derivative extracted from rhubarb, represents multiple health benefits in the treatment of a host of diseases, such as immune-inflammatory abnormality, tumor progression, bacterial or viral infections, and metabolic syndrome. Emerging evidence has made great strides in clarifying the multi-targeting therapeutic mechanisms underlying the efficacious therapeutic potential of emodin, including anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-fibrosis, anti-tumor, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-diabetic properties. This comprehensive review aims to provide an updated summary of recent developments on these pharmacological efficacies and molecular mechanisms of emodin, with a focus on the underlying molecular targets and signaling networks. We also reviewed recent attempts to improve the pharmacokinetic properties and biological activities of emodin by structural modification and novel material-based targeted delivery. In conclusion, emodin still has great potential to become promising therapeutic options to immune and inflammation abnormality, organ fibrosis, common malignancy, pathogenic bacteria or virus infections, and endocrine disease or disorder. Scientifically addressing concerns regarding the poor bioavailability and vague molecular targets would significantly contribute to the widespread acceptance of rhubarb not only as a dietary supplement in food flavorings and colorings but also as a health-promoting TCM in the coming years.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13020-021-00509-zEmodinPharmacologyToxicologyPharmacokineticsModification |
| spellingShingle | Qi Zheng Shuo Li Xiaojiaoyang Li Runping Liu Advances in the study of emodin: an update on pharmacological properties and mechanistic basis Chinese Medicine Emodin Pharmacology Toxicology Pharmacokinetics Modification |
| title | Advances in the study of emodin: an update on pharmacological properties and mechanistic basis |
| title_full | Advances in the study of emodin: an update on pharmacological properties and mechanistic basis |
| title_fullStr | Advances in the study of emodin: an update on pharmacological properties and mechanistic basis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Advances in the study of emodin: an update on pharmacological properties and mechanistic basis |
| title_short | Advances in the study of emodin: an update on pharmacological properties and mechanistic basis |
| title_sort | advances in the study of emodin an update on pharmacological properties and mechanistic basis |
| topic | Emodin Pharmacology Toxicology Pharmacokinetics Modification |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13020-021-00509-z |
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