Chin Med J (Engl). 2000 Jun; 113(6): 529-31.

[Rhubarb extracts in treating complications of severe cerebral injury]

Gu J, Zhang X, Fei Z, Wen A, Qin S, Yi S, Chen Y, Li X.

Institute of Neurosurgery PLA, Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China. gujian@pub.xaonline.com.cn

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic effects of the Chinese medicinal herb, Rhubarb, on severe brain injury. METHODS: Rhubarb extracts in ethyl alcohol and water were used to treat 20 patients with severe cerebral injury complicated by hyperthermia, renal failure, hemorrhage in the upper digestive tract, and increased intracranial pressure. Vital signs, variations of Glasgow coma scale (GCS) and intracranial pressure (ICP) of the patients were observed. The degree of hemorrhage in the digestive tract and the change in creatinine value were also observed. Other 20 patients served as controls. RESULTS: The result of the treatment group was more marked than that of the control group. Three days after administration of the rhubarb extract, the body temperature decreased by 1.1 degrees C, ICP by 0.4 kPa (1 mm Hg = 0.1333 kPa) on average, and the incidence of hemorrhage in the digestive tract by 30%. The volume of hemorrhage of the digestive tract decreased by 700 +/- 250 ml, and the time for turning occult blood to negative by 10%. CONCLUSION: The Chinese medical herb, rhubarb, has multiple therapeutic effects on severe brain injury.