Emodin health benefit, review of studies and side effects

Emodin is a naturally occurring anthraquinone present in the roots and bark of numerous plants of the genus Rhamnus. Extracts from the roots, bark, and/or dried leaves of buckthorn, senna, cascara sagrada, aloe, frangula, and rhubarb have been used as laxatives since ancient times and currently are widely used in the preparation of herbal laxative preparations. Anthraquinones are widely present in plant kingdom, and clinically used as laxatives.

Emodin in vitro study against cancer cells
The mechanism of emodin-mediated cell apoptosis has been investigated extensively in many types of human cancer cells. Emodin induces gene expression profiling changes, but has no effects on caspases. In addition, the p53 pathway may cooperate with the IGF-2 pathway, resulting in an emodin-induced apoptosis through disruption of the mitochondrial signaling pathway in BCap-37 cells.

Anti-angiogenic effects of rhubarb and its anthranquione derivatives.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2008 November. Food & Drug Authentication Laboratory, Department of Biology and Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, PR China.
Rhubarb root (Dahuang) is often included as an ingredient in traditional Chinese compound prescriptions for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. To elucidate the anti-angiogenic properties of rhubarb root, we tested the inhibitory effects of different fractions and a series of anthraquinone derivatives against vessel formation in zebrafish embryos. The 95% ethanol extract and four subsequent fractions (n-hexane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and aqueous fractions) of rhubarb root and five anthraquinone derivatives were investigated on zebrafish model by quantitative endogenous alkaline phosphatase assay and staining assay. Ethyl acetate fraction showed the strongest inhibition of vessel formation by 52%. Three anthraquinones (aloe-emodin, emodin and rhein) displayed potent anti-angiogenic activities. The angiogenic properties of rhubarb root may partly account for its use in inflammatory diseases.

Effect on pancreatitis
Protective effects of emodin combined with danshensu on experimental severe acute pancreatitis.
Inflamm Res. 2009 Dec 31. Department of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 23 Youzheng St, Nangang Dist, 150001, Harbin, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China,
In the present experiment, we aimed to determine the feasibility and curative effects of emodin combined with danshensu on experimental severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) and the mutual benefit of this synergistic strategy by a prospective animal study. Eighty Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 20). TREATMENT: SAP was elicited by a retrograde infusion of 5.0% sodium taurocholate into the pancreatic main duct. SAP rats in each group received no further intervention, emodin alone, danshensu (DSS) alone, and emodin combined with DSS (EDSS), respectively. 48 h after SAP induction, all surviving animals were sacrificed to collect blood and tissue samples for the following measurements: serum levels of amylase, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), endotoxin and D-lactate. Pancreatic levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, maleic dialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, nuclear factor-kappaappaB (NF-kappaB) activation as well as wet-dry weight ratio were also evaluated. Ascitic fluid was quantified and the severity of pancreatic damage was analyzed by pathological grading and scoring. Compared with the SAP group, the emodin, DSS and EDSS groups had significant differences in every index. Furthermore, EDSS obviously improved all the parameters mentioned above so as to counteract inflammatory response and oxidative stress, as well as most effectively abating pancreatic and intestinal barrier injury. EDSS exerted protective effects on SAP rats and remarkably alleviated the severity of experimental SAP. Mechanisms that might account for the beneficial effects include protecting the intestinal barrier, inhibiting over-inflammatory reaction and abating oxidative stress. The combined strategy proved to be more effective than either emodin or DSS alone and may cause synergistic effects in combination in the early stage of SAP. Broad potential for future clinical practice is foreseeable.

5-htp home herb extract