Rheum australe, also known as Himalayan rhubarb, is a plant native to the Himalayan region. The document provides details about the plant's scientific classification, biological source, habitat, cultivation methods, macroscopic and microscopic identification, chemical constituents, pharmacological actions including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects, formulations, traditional medicinal uses, quality standards, toxicity, drug interactions, and precautions.

1. Rheum australe
(Padamchal)
Shailendra shah
Department of pharmaceutical science,
Nobel college
Pokhara University
8 March 2020 1

2. Introduction
 The scientific name of Padamchal is
Rheum australe.
 It is also known as Noble
rhubarb or himalaya rhubarb or पदमचाल
, Dolu and Rhubarb root.
 Padamchal is a plant which has dark
reddish-purple flowers, in dense branched
clusters, in a long inflorescence which can
be 1 ft long.
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3. Nomenclature
 Synonyms: Rheum emodi
 English Name: Himalayan rhubarb
 Nepali Names: Padamchaal, Akashe
chuk, Amalbed, Chulthi amilo,
Shankhatra
 Other Names: Chulthi, Khaghyn
(Gurung), Kyunparin (Tamang),
Revantchini (Hindi), Himalaya Daiou
(Japanese), Chutial, Pumbachalan
(Kasmir), Banglarevanchini (Bengali)8 March 2020 3

4. Scientific Classification
 Kingdom: Plantae
 Division: Angiosperm
 Subdivision: Magnoliophyta
 Class: Magnoliopsida
 Order: Caryophyllales
 Family: Polygonaceae
 Genus: Rheum
 Species: R. australe
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5. Biological Source
 Useable drug parts are mainly
underground tubers, roots, rhizomes,
bulb
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6. Habitat
 Rheum australe are found in sub alpine and alpine zones,
meadows, forest clearing or open slopes (grasslands and
rocky slopes).
 They can be grown throughout the valleys in Himalayan
region at altitude of 3200m -5200m.
 They are native to the Himalaya of India, Bhutan and Tibet
can be found at elevations from 8,000 to 13,000 feet.
 Padamchal prefers a full sunny location and thrives in a
moist, fertile soil.
 Most padamchal can handle heavier clay soils better than
many other herbs and makes a striking addition to the spring
landscape.
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7. Cultivation and Collection
 Preferred Climate: Temperate
 Harvest Date: July-November
 Seed count: 25-30
 for maximum freshness, seed is kept in
refrigerated state in its original packaging until it is
time to plant.
 Climate and soil
 The plant is tolerant of clay soils and prefers a full
sun position with moist, fertile, poorly drained soil.
Sowed in spring, Prick seedling in gallon pots and
grow for a year, then transplant to garden or
landscape.
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8. Soil
 Minimum pH: 5.6
 Maximum pH: 7.8
Phenology
 Flowering: June- July
 Fruiting: August- September
 Flower Color: near white, pink, red
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9. Macroscopic identification
 It is a tall perennial herb of about 1.5m high,
rootstock woody leaves stalked, orbiculate or
broadly ovate, cordate, sparsely hairy on the veins
beneath.
 Leaves
 Leaves are large greenish red, heart-shaped,
simple, alternate, deciduous, mostly basal,
alternate, petiolate, chartaceous ; blade cordate-
ovate to orbiculate or reniform , margins entire.
Inflorescences terminal, paniclelike, pedunculate 2-
or 3-branched, 20-30 cm long.
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10.  Stems
• Stem are red colored, erect, glabrous or pubescent,
prostrate, twining, or scandent, often with swollen nodes,
striate, grooved or prickly.
 Flowers
 Flowers are small, actinomorphic, bisexual, rarely
unisexual, herbaceous, often enlarged in fruit or inner
tepals enlarged, with wings and spines. Stamens usually
(3- ) 6-9, rarely more; filaments free or united at base;
anthers 2-loculed, opening lengthwise; disk annular (often
lobed). Ovary superior 1-loculed; styles 2 or 3 rarely 4
free or connate at lower part.
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11.  Fruit is trigonous, biconvex, or biconcave. They are 3
mm across, purple-red or nutlets purple that is 1.2 cm
long, with narrow wings. They have 1-10 per ocreate
fascicle, base stipelike; perianth nonaccrescent in fruit,
whitish green or pinkish green, campanulate , glabrous;
tepals 6, distinct , sepaloid , dimorphic , outer 3 narrower
than inner 3; filaments distinct, free , glabrous; anthers
yellow or pinkish, elliptic ; styles 3, erect or deflexed ,
distinct; stigmas capitate .
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12.  Flowering : late spring-
summer
• Seeds :They are small, dry, one-
seeded fruit with a thin wall, lens-
shaped, flattened, about 1.5 mm long,
enclosed by the 2 inner sepals three-
sided covering with winged sides, and
the embryo is straight or curved with x
= 11 and have copious endosperm.
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13.  Roots : Rootstocks are very shout,
fleshy, available in small pieces(sliced
form); dark brownish in color with
distinct longitudinal fractures. Inner
portion is yellowish brown in color with
distinct concentric rings.
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14. Oraganoleptic properties
 Color: Yellow-brown to light brown
 Odour: Characteristic aromatic
 Taste: Sour, astringent and bitter when
chewed between the teeth
 Potency: Neutral
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15. Microscopic identification
 Chromosome number: (2n = 22, 44)^2
 T.S. of root
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16. Microscopic identification
 Single layered epidermis.
 Cortex 8–14 layered with
parenchymatous cells, thick-walled
cells of endodermis.
 Mature root shows 4 to 15 layers of
cork.
 1 or 2 layers of cork cambium.
 Secondary phloem poorly developed.
 Secondary xylem consisting of
vessels, tracheids, parenchyma and
fibres. 8 March 2020 16

17. Chemical Constituents
 Constituent type: Alkaloid, ketone
 The major constituents are the elements derived from
athraquinone like reidin C, chrysophanol, sennosides A-
E, emodin, chrysophanein, glucoemodin; glucorhein,
and other O-glycosides, physcione, rhein, and more.
 The minor components are 6-methyl rhein and 6-methyl-
aloe-emodin from R.emodin rhizomes.
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18. 8 March 2020 18
Chrysophenol
Physcio
n
Rhein Piceatannol

19. 8 March 2020 19
Aloe-Emodin
Emodin

20. 8 March 2020 20
8-O-β-D-(6’-O-acetyl) glucopyranosyl-
chrysophanol
E modin 8-O-(6´-O-malonyl)-
glucoside

21. Pharmacological action
• Anti-inflammatory activity
Chauhan et al. (1992) studied the anti-
inflammatory effect of the methanol extract of
the Rheum australe rhizome (500 mg/kg).
The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated
by using carrageenan induced paw oedema.
It was found that the degree of inhibition of
oedema increased with time, reaching
maximum inhibition after 5 h. This inhibitory
activity was comparable to the control drug
Ibuprofen (50 mg/kg body weight).
8 March 2020 21

22.  Antioxidant activity
The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl
radical scavenging activities, inhibitory effects on lipid
peroxidation (LPI) and Fe3+ reducing antioxidant
properties of methanolic/aqueous extracts of the Rheum
australe rhizome were studied. Although the aqueous
extract was inferior to the methanolic extract in
effectiveness, both extracts showed significant
antioxidant potential in a dose-dependent manner (P <
0.05). (Rajkumar et al., 2011a).
 Hepatoprotective activity
The protective effects of the ethanolic extracts of the
Rheum australe rhizome on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-
induced rat liver cell injury have been evaluated…
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23. Cotd
… Primary cultures of rat hepatocytes (6, 12, and 24 h
culture) treated with ethanolic extracts (10, 50 and 100
g) showed LDH and GPT release in a concentration
dependent manner, thus indicating hepatoprotective
activity. (Akhtar et al., 2009).
• Immuno enhancing activity
A study of the effects of the ethyl acetate extracts of
Rheum australe rhizome has shown immuno-enhancing
activity in murine macrophage cell lines. The results
revealed that there was a dose dependent increase in
the release of NO (nitric oxide) and the cytokines TNF-a
and IL-12 and a decrease in IL-10 in RAW 264.7
macrophage cell lines in the presence of the extract
alone. (Kounsar et al., 2011).
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24.  Nephroprotective activity
The nephroprotective activity of the methanolic water-
soluble (W-S) and water-insoluble (W-INS) extracts of
the Rheum australe rhizome against chemical-induced
(cadmium chloride, mercuric chloride, potassium
dichromate and gentamicin) kidney damage in rats was
determined. The MeOH W-S extract exhibited a better
nephroprotective effect on all the segments (S1, S2 and
S3) of the proximal tubule of kidney against cadmium-,
mercury- and potassium dichromate-induced
nephrotoxicity in rats. W-INS extracts were found to
have a protective effect on the S2 segment of the
proximal tubule only when nephrotoxicity was induced
by cadmium chloride and mercuric chloride (Alam et al.,
2005).
8 March 2020 24

25. Formulation
 Dose
Root powder: 0.2-1kg
Dried drug: 1-4kg
Fresh extracts: 30-100mg
 Ayurvedic Preparation
Amlaparni churna (powder)
Ratkasodaka vati (tabltes)
 Other preparations
Jawarich zarooni sada
Sharbat Jigar
Jigreen
SAFI
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26. 8 March 2020 26

27. Ethno-medicinal use
• Root is used in stomach problems, cuts,
wounds and muscular swellings, tonsillitis
and mumps.
 Root powder mixed with mustard oil is
applied on joints to get relief from joint pain.
 It is also cooked with strawberries or apples
as a sweetener or with stem or root ginger, to
make jams and sausages by the local
people.
 It is applied for cases of dysentery
accompanied with bloody feces. Additionally
the plant is used for bloody vomiting.
8 March 2020 27

28.  Applied orally and locally to treat
infections. Serve as a remedy for
helminthes (esp. flukes).
 They are used externally to eliminate
skin diseases like blisters and boils,
accompanied with inflammations; in this
case the remedy is mixed with honey or
water, and aided by similar herbal
medicines.
 In order to avoid bowel spasms, the
remedy is applied together with
carminative natural remedies.
8 March 2020 28

29. Medicinal use
 Rhubarb is used as purgative and astringent tonic.
 The herb can be used as a strong laxative. Its roots have
been used as a laxative due to an astringent-like effect
on the mucous membranes of the mouth and nasal
cavity.
 The root and stem of the plant are rich in
anthraquinones, such as emodin and rhein ¸ which are
cathartic and laxative, the reason why rhubarb acts a
slimming agent.
 Bleeding (upper gastrointestinal bleeding)
 Gingivitis
 As commercial product Pyralvex®¸ Parodium® is used in
inflammation of gum .
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30.  Renal failure (chronic) based on traditional Chinese
medicine. Combination of rhubarb and captopril is
more effective than captopril alone
 Age-associated memory impairment ( AAMI)
 Aplastic anemia, Constipation (chronic),
Hemorrhagic fever (nephritic syndrome) rhubarb
and sanchi powder decreased the hemorrhagic
effects of nephritic syndrome more than dicynonum
.
8 March 2020 30

31. Pharmacopioel Standards
Parts Moisture Ash Protei
n
Fats Crude
fiber
Carbohydra
te
Rhizome 9.61 9.47 6.4 35.29 13.85 25.36
Stem 9.62 8.65 5.48 32.98 14.98 28.36
Leaf 8.14 7.45 5.32 31.45 12.45 35.16
Flower 6.28 9.98 6.25 36.45 17.97 23.04
Fruit 7.48 10.25 2.96 35.95 15.93 27.40
Seed 9.86 8.98 5.96 32.56 17.18 25.02
8 March 2020 31

32. 8 March 2020 32
Quality Standards Concentration
Ash value NMT 7%
Acid insoluble ash NMT 4%
Extractive value(alcohol) NLT 19%
Water soluble extractive NLT 12%
Foreign organic matter NMT 1%

33. Toxicity
• The major symptoms of overdose are griping and severe
diarrhea with consequent losses of fluid and electrolytes
 Treatment should be supportive with generous amounts
of fluid.
 Electrolytes, particularly potassium, should be
monitored, especially in children and the elderly.
 Some plants contain significant quantities of oxalic acid
and should not be eaten in any quantity. Oxalic acid can
lock up certain minerals in the body, especially calcium,
leading to nutritional deficiency.
8 March 2020 33

34. Drug interaction
• Electrolyte imbalances such as increased loss of
potassium may potentiate the effects of cardiotonic
glycosides (digitalis, strophanthus)
 Existing hypokalaemia resulting from long-term
laxative abuse potentiate effects of antiarrhythmic
drugs, such as quinidine,
 Simultaneous use with other drugs or herbs which
induce hypokalaemia, such as thiazide diuretics,
exacerbate electrolyte imbalance.
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35. Precaution
• Not prescribed for pregnant women or for
patients with intestinal obstruction.
 People with a tendency to rheumatism,
arthritis, gout, kidney stones or hyperacidity
should take especial caution if including this
plant in their diet since it can aggravate their
condition.
 The plant should be avoided in case of
recurrent diarrhea, hemorrhoids, chills,
epilepsy and uric acid abundance.
8 March 2020 35

36.  Use of Rhizoma Rhei for children
under 10 years of age is
contraindicated
 Nursing mothers:
 Anthranoid metabolites appear in
breast milk.
 Rhizoma Rhei should not be used
during lactation
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37. Government royalty:
 According to Forest regulation 1995(2051 B.S), royalty for rootstock
is NRs 5/Kg and for petiole is NRs 3/Kg.
 According to ANSAB (Asia Network for Sustainable Agriculture and
Bioresources) (2010) is NRs 60/Kg.
 According to National Exports Pvt. Lmt (2018), the recent value is
NRs 85/Kg.
8 March 2020 37
National Exports Pvt. Ltd.
Mahdevtole, Ward 8
Tarkeshwor Municiaplity
GPO Box: 3835
Kathmandu, 44610
Nepal
Phone: +977 (1) 402-5717
Opening Hours: 9 AM - 5 PM Sunday - Friday
Closed - SaturdayFax+977 (1) 402-5724
Email: natexportsgmail.com
Website: www.nepl.com.np

38. 8 March 2020 38

39. References
 URL1:https://www.pfaf.org/User/Plant.as
px?LatinName=Rheum+australe
(Accesed on June 10)
 URL2:http://www.jadibutinepal.com/index
.php/our-products/herbs/rheum-australe
(on June 10)
 URL3:http://www.eson.org.np/database/i
ndex.php?tax=1&work=display&obj=537
&ischild=0 (on June 11)
 URL4:http://www.missouribotanicalgarde
n.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.asp
x?taxonid=285486&isprofile=0&
(Accesed on June 11, 2018)
8 March 2020 39

40.  M.B Rokaya, Zuzana Munzbergovaa,
B. Timsina, K.R Bhattarai (2012)
Rheum australe D. Don: A review of its
botany, ethnobotany, phytochemistry
and pharmacology, Journal of
Ethnopharmacology, Article no: 141
(2012) 761– 774
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41. 8 March 2020 41