A Review of the Components and Effects of Rhubarb Oxymel  (Sekanjabin Rivandi) with Network Causes of Liver Diseases

Mohammad  Shahbazi; Mehrdad  Karimi; Hossein  Rezaeizadeh; Zakiyeh  Ekhlasi; Azadeh  Zarei

doi:10.18502/tim.v10i4.20732

Mohammad Shahbazi Department of Traditional Medicine, School of Persian Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mehrdad Karimi Department of Traditional Medicine, School of Persian Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Hossein Rezaeizadeh Department of Traditional Medicine, School of Persian Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Zakiyeh Ekhlasi Department of Traditional Medicine, School of Persian Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Azadeh Zarei Department of Traditional Medicine, School of Persian Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/tim.v10i4.20732

Keywords: Sekanjabin Rivandi; Traditional Persian medicine; Liver diseases; Iranian traditional medicine; Rhubarb

Abstract

Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM), a holistic system with a history of several thousand years, uses single and compound herbal remedies to treat a wide range of diseases based on their temperaments and actions. One notable remedy is oxymel (Sekanjabin), which has been used for centuries across various cultures. Rhubarb oxymel (Sekanjabin Rivandi), a form of medicinal oxymel, has shown effectiveness in treating liver diseases like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In this paper, pharmacy books on TPM (Qarabadin medical texts) were reviewed for Rhubarb oxymel. The medicinal effects of the herbs included in these formulations were thoroughly analyzed using R Studio, with the aim of identifying potential correlations between the therapeutic actions of the herbs and the underlying causes of liver diseases. This analysis was conducted across multiple formulations to determine how specific herbal components may target various aspects of liver diseases. The study provides insights into the role of herbal medicine in addressing the root causes of liver disorders, Rhubarb oxymel is made from a combination of 24 herbs, such as Rheum palmatum L. (rhubarb), Cichorium intybus L. (chicory), and Fumaria parviflora Lam. (fumitory), each with specific therapeutic properties like deoppilant (opening or unblocking), tonic (strengthening), and purgative (expellant) effects. TPM texts detail the preparation, benefits, and actions of these herbs, which support liver and digestive health. The most common effect among the herbs in Rhubarb oxymel is their liver obstruction deoppilant property. Other more frequently mentioned effects include tonic, rarefactive (softening), and abstergent (cleansing or purifying) actions. Future preclinical and clinical studies are recommended to further clarify the biological activities and underlying mechanisms of Rhubarb oxymel in different diseases.