A research update on the therapeutic potential of rhein and its derivatives

Abstract Rhein is one of the anthraquinones components of Rheum. It shows excellent clinical efficacy and is widely used in the management of several disease conditions including tumors, inflammation, diabetic nephropathy, and viral infections. In this review, we summarize the recent studies on the pharmacological activities of rhein and its derivatives, as well as their association with different diseases and possible mechanisms based on our previous review. This review serves as an updated and a supplement to our previous report highlighting the use of rhein in nanotechnology. It also serves as a reference study and offers an overall picture of the use of rhein and its derivatives in nanotechnology.