REVEND (RHUBARB): AN IMPORTANT UNANI DRUG FOR PREVENTION OF NEPHROTOXICITY

Abstract

Rheum emodi commonly known as Rhubarb belongs to family Polygonaceae is called as Revand in Unani System of Medicine. The drug is usually regarded as Rhubarb. Traditionally plant is widely used as tonic, diuretic, laxative, and to treat ulcers, diarrhea, fever, cough and indigestion. Aim of this paper is to review the role of Rheum in prevention of Nephrotoxicity. Rhubarb material related to its nephroprotective activity was collected from journals, pharmacopeia, books and classical literature of Unani Scholars. Ibn-e-Sina (978-1023 AD) described both the plant "Ribas" (Riwas, Persian) and the drug "Rewand" (Rawand, Persian). "Mesue" (Masih), early in the 11th century, distinguished between Chinese and Khorasan Rhubarb (Dymock et al 1890, Engelshowe 1985, Butler and Moffett 1995). "Haji Zein-al-Attar" (1368 Hijri) considered "Rewand" to be the same as "Ribas". According to "Ibn-e-Jazla", there are two kinds of Rhubarb, China and Khorasan Rhubarb, and that the later is known as `Rewand-aldawaab', and is used in veterinary practice, whilst the Chinese is reserved for human beings. On the basis of researches carried out on Rheum it is evident that it has a potential to prevent the nephrotoxicity. It is also useful in the treatment diseases like cancer, microbial, inflammation, and fungal infections, liver, diabetes, and kidney disease. The plant is found high potent antioxidant activity. These studies raised the therapeutic efficacy of rhubarb. This review covers all the detail study of rhubarb plant with special reference to the nephroprotective function.