Rubia cordifolia herb health benefit and use by Chinese herbal medicine
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.
Kidney stones
Protective effect of the hydro-alcoholic extract of Rubia cordifolia roots
against ethylene glycol induced urolithiasis in rats.
Food Chem Toxicol. 2010 Apr; Divakar K, Pawar AT, Chandrasekhar SB, Dighe
SB, Divakar G. Department of Pharmacology, Acharya and B.M. Reddy College of
Pharmacy, Bangalore 560090, Karnataka, India.
This study investigated the protective effect of the hydro-alcoholic extract of
roots of Rubia cordifolia Linn. (HARC) against ethylene glycol induced
urolithiasis and its possible underlying mechanisms using male Wistar albino
rats. Ethylene glycol feeding resulted in hyperoxaluria, hypocalciuria as well
as increased renal excretion of phosphate. Supplementation with HARC
significantly prevented change in urinary calcium, oxalate and phosphate
excretion dose-dependently. The increased calcium and oxalate levels and number
of calcium oxalate crystals deposits in the kidney tissue of calculogenic rats
were significantly reverted by HARC treatment. The HARC supplementation also
prevents the impairment of renal functions. Extract of roots of Rubia cordifolia
can protect against ethylene glycol induced urolithiasis as it reduced and
prevented the growth of urinary stones. Therefore, HARC is helpful to prevent
the recurrence of the disease as it showed its effect on early stages of stone
development. The mechanism underlying this effect is mediated possibly through
an antioxidant, nephroprotection and its effect on the urinary concentration of
stone-forming constituents and risk factors.
Composition
Rubiacordone A: a new anthraquinone glycoside from the
roots of Rubia cordifolia.
Molecules. 2009 Jan 23; College of Chinese Medicinal Materials, Jilin
Agricultural University, Changchun, PR China. drxiang@hotmail.com
A new anthraquinone, Rubiacordone A
(6-acetoxy-1-hydroxy-2-methylanthraquinone-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside), was
isolated together with the known anthraquinone,
1-acetoxy-6-hydroxy-2-methylanthraquinone-3-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside],
from the dried roots of Rubia cordifolia. Rubiacordone showed considerable
antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria.
Rubia species
Rubia tinctorum
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