Supplement to the Scientific Investigation of the Crude Drugs Stored in Shosoin. II. “Rhubarb”

Abstract

The rhubarb stored in“Shosoin" since 8th century was first (1948-49) investigated morphologically and chemically to be identified as a high-grade Chinese rhubarb， the rhizome of Rheum palmatum or Rh. palmatum var. tanguticum. Since the purgative principles of rhubarb have been identified later as sennosides and the chromatographical methods for determination of the principles have remarkably been advanced recently， a renewed investigation on the Shosoin rhubarb has been performed. By the HPLC analysis the presence of sennoside A and B along with other anthraquinones has been proved and their content determined. It is noted that the unstable bianthronyl glucosides， sennosides A and B， have been retained in the drug specimens during the period of more than 1200 years.