Rubia cordifolia herb
The medicinal plant Rubia cordifolia has been used widely in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for its antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.
Rubia cordifolia and cancer
Rubia cordifolia herb has several anti cancer compounds including epoxymollugin.
Role of Rubia cordifolia Linn. in radiation protection.
Indian J Exp Biol. 2007 July. Tripathi YB, Singh AV. Department of Medicinal
Chemistry, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221
005, India.
The radioprotective potential of alcoholic extract of root of Rubia cordifolia,
was studied by survival, hemopoietic cell protection and micronucleus assay. The
LD50 value for the alcoholic root extract was found to be 1200 mg/kg body weight
at 72 hr post irradiation. A significant radiation protection (67%) as assessed
by increased animal survival was observed when Rubia cordifolia extract was
administered intraperitoneally, 90 min. before the radiation exposure. Besides,
the extract also inhibited radiation induced lipid peroxidation measured by the
inhibition of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance. Our results indicate that
the alcoholic root extract of Rubia cordifolia provides significant protection
against radiation induced lipid peroxidation, hemopoietic injury and
genotoxicity. The mechanism of action of Rubia cordifolia extract appears to be
through its anti-oxidant, metal chelation and anti-inflammatory property.
Rubia species
Rubia tinctorum