Phytochemical Screening of Rheum ribes Root, Leaves and Flowering Stem and Biological Activity of the Root

Abstract

Rheum ribes is one of the most important medicinal plants spread wildly in Iraqi Kurdistan, and its roots are used traditionally in the treatment of Obesity and obesity-related disorders, such as type 2 diabetes and hypercholesterolemia which are considered the major cause of mortality worldwide and since the therapeutic medication failed to prevent their progression. Here comes the importance of medical plants as rich sources of natural bioactive substances that are used to treat many disorders. The current study intended to examine the phytochemical contents of roots (rhizome), leaves, and flowering stems of R. ribes L. that have been collected from five locations: Qandil, Kanitoo, Sharbazher, Penjwen, and Hawraman and to analyze the active compounds by HPLC technique, and also to study the potential of ethanolic extract of R. ribes root in the hypoglycemic and hypocholesterolemic points of view by using diet-induced obese and diabetic rats. The results showed that roots collected from Qandil had a higher concentration of total phenol and flavonoids and HPLC analysis results found that active compounds found in the plant root were: Gallic acid, Ellagic acid, Quercetin, Catechin, Rutin, Cinnamic acid, Tannic acid, Emodin, Aloe-emodin, and Physcion. Leaves and flowering stems contained all the mentioned compounds except Cinnamic acid and Tannic acid. The ethanolic extract of the roots significantly lowered the level of glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides(TG), and low-density lipoprotein(LDL)level (p<0.05) in the blood of rats and also had a positive effect on the body weight loss in rats, especially at a dose of (60 mg/kg).