Neuron Protective Constituents from Rheum Nanum and Rheum Sublanceolatum

The neuron protective activity of the chemical constituents from Rheum nanum and Rheum sublanceolatum in vitro was investigated using cultured embryonic mouse cortical cells exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation. The protective effect was quantitatively evaluated by measuring the lactate dehydrogenase release rate. Most of the compounds reduce the lactate dehydrogenase release rate, including emodin, chrysophanol-8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, 6-hydroxymusizin-8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, gnetin C, torachrysone-8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, and maesopsin, and all possess potent neuron protective activity. Chrysophanol and aloe-emodin exhibit neuron protection only at low concentrations. Emodin-8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside protects the neuron cells at high concentration. Aloe-emodin-8-O-β-D- glucopyranoside is inactive.