Mechanistic insights into the multi-target anti-atherosclerotic actions of rhubarb: a traditional remedy revisited.

Atherosclerosis (AS), a chronic inflammatory vascular disease, underlies the pathogenesis of most cardiovascular disorders. Its pathologic features include endothelial damage, inflammatory response, lipid plaque formation and rupture, thrombosis, and arterial stenosis occlusion. Severe AS can lead to the development of stroke, myocardial infarction and other adverse outcomes. Therefore, it is essential to choose reliable and effective drugs to control or alleviate the deterioration of AS. Rhubarb is a kind of Chinese herb in the Polygonaceae family, with the scientific name of Rheum palmatum L. Numerous studies in recent years have confirmed that the Chinese herb rhubarb possesses a wide range of pharmacological activities against a variety of diseases, including inflammation, cancer, digestive disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. This paper focuses on the different pharmacological impacts and possible action mechanisms of the main active constituents of rhubarb (including anthraquinones, anthracenes, stilbenes, tannins, etc.) in the treatment of AS, providing useful references for the treatment of AS and innovative pharmaceutical development.