Does Rhubarb Extract Help With Rhubarb extract has shown benefit for constipation relief...?

Evidence Summary

Rhubarb extract has shown benefit for constipation relief in a 30-day double-blind RCT, improving stool frequency, consistency, and transit time, likely via gut microbiome modulation (PMID: 36499011). Active anthraquinone components (aloe-emodin, rhein, chrysophanol) appear to soften stool by activating intestinal fluid secretion pathways and improving motility in animal models (PMID: 37907143). Topical rhubarb preparations have demonstrated efficacy comparable to acyclovir cream for herpes labialis healing time (PMID: 11799306) and showed benefit as an adjunct in treating periodontitis in diabetic patients (PMID: 30899946). One RCT also found oral rhubarb extract reduced radiation-induced lung toxicity and improved pulmonary function in lung cancer patients by lowering TGF-beta1 and IL-6 (PMID: 17870203).

Source: auto-research

Effective Dose

12.5–25 mg/day (rhein-standardized oral); 20 mg/kg/day (clinical radiotherapy context); topical doses vary by application