The genus Rumex (Polygonaceae): an ethnobotanical, phytochemical and pharmacological review

Rumex L., a genus in Polygonaceae family with about 200 species, is growing widely around the world. Some Rumex species, called sorrel or dock, have been used as food application and treatment of skin diseases and hemostasis after trauma by the local people of its growing areas for centuries. To date, 29 Rumex species have been studied to contain about 268 substances, including anthraquinones, flavonoids, naphthalenes, stilbenes, diterpene alkaloids, terpenes, lignans, and tannins. Crude extract of Rumex spp. and the pure isolates displayed various bioactivities, such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antioxidant, cardiovascular protection and antiaging activities. Rumex species have important potential to become a clinical medicinal source in future. This review covers research articles from 1900 to 2022, fetched from SciFinder, Web of Science, ResearchGate, CNKI and Google Scholar, using Rumex as a search term (all fields) with no specific time frame set for the search. Thirty-five Rumex species were selected and summarized on their geographical distribution, edible parts, traditional uses, chemical research and pharmacological properties.

Automated summary

This review investigates the global distribution and pharmacological properties of Rumex species, revealing their potential as a medicinal source with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and antioxidant activities. Rumex species have the potential to become an important source of clinical medicine in the future.