biostudies-literatureUnknown16Ota M<h4>Background</h4>Rhubarb product is the crude drug derived from the root or rhizome of <i>Rheum</i> or other related plants, and has been used since ancient times in Asian and European countries. However, the original plant species for Rhubarb product had been confused throughout its long history and across different areas.<h4>Methods</h4>The present study aimed to identify the original plant species for Rhubab products used in Japan through histological analysis of medicinal literature, successive Japanese Pharmacopoeias, and the textbooks of crude drugs published from the mid-Edo period (1603-1868) to the early Showa era (1926-1989).<h4>Results</h4>During the Edo period, <i>Rumex madaio</i> (synonym, <i>Rumex daiwoo</i>), a plant that grows wild in Japan, was initially recognized as thFrontiers in pharmacology1726521https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12929373biostudies-literatureHistorical studies on the use of Rhubarb in Japan.PMC12929373Ota MMakino TfalseHistorical studies on the use of Rhubarb in Japan.<h4>Background</h4>Rhubarb product is the crude drug derived from the root or rhizome of <i>Rheum</i> or other related plants, and has been used since ancient times in Asian and European countries. However, the original plant species for Rhubarb product had been confused throughout its long history and across different areas.<h4>Methods</h4>The present study aimed to identify the original plant species for Rhubab products used in Japan through histological analysis of medicinal literature, successive Japanese Pharmacopoeias, and the textbooks of crude drugs published from the mid-Edo period (1603-1868) to the early Showa era (1926-1989).<h4>Results</h4>During the Edo period, <i>Rumex madaio</i> (synonym, <i>Rumex daiwoo</i>), a plant that grows wild in Japan, was initially recognized as th2025-01-01T00:00:00Z20252026-07-16T22:08:06.938Z2026-07-11T03:11:59.259ZS-EPMC129293734174400610.3389/fphar.2025.1726521