The Rheum genus (Polygonaceae) covers about 60 species of rhubarbs, including specimens with a long ethnomedicinal history in Asia, Europe and other regions of the world. The work reviews available literature (until March, 2020) on phytochemical profile, ethnomedicinal recommendations, biological activities, pharmacological uses and future prospects for therapeutic applications of Rheum rhabarbarum L. (garden rhubarb) and Rheum rhaponticum L. (rhapontic rhubarb). Although the above species are well-known vegetables, scientific interest in these plants is a relatively new issue; most of evidence of their biological activities and therapeutic potential derives from the last 15 years. Rhubarbs contain numerous bioactive substances, belonging to diverse groups of phytochemicals, e.g. stilbenes, anthraquinones and flavonoids. The registered special extract of R. rhaponticum (ERr731^®) is administered to alleviate the menopause-related complaints. Furthermore, both ethnomedicinal surveys and recent studies on bioactive substances from rhubarbs indicate that these plants may have significantly broader range of beneficial effects such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and cardioprotective activities.

在大黄属（蓼科）约60种大黄，包括在亚洲，欧洲和世界其他地区长期ethnomedicinal历史标本封面。这项工作审查现有的文献（直到三月，2020年）的植物化学轮廓，ethnomedicinal建议，生物活性，药理用途和治疗应用的未来前景大黄rhabarbarum L.（花园大黄）和食用大黄L.（大黄）。尽管上述物种是众所周知的蔬菜，但对这些植物的科学兴趣是一个相对较新的问题；它们的生物学活性和治疗潜力的大部分证据来自最近15年。大黄含有许多生物活性物质，属于植物化学物质的不同类别，例如芪草，蒽醌和类黄酮。的注册特殊提取物R.祁州（ERr731 ^®）给予缓解更年期相关的投诉。此外，民族药理学调查和对大黄中生物活性物质的最新研究均表明，这些植物可能具有广泛的有益作用，例如抗氧化剂，抗炎，抗微生物和心脏保护活性。