Rumex Species: Phytochemistry, Pharmacology and Nutritional Potential for Food and Health Applications
Mohamed Gohar M. Ezzat S.M. Yeskaliyeva B. Elhawary S.S. Kirollos F.N. Khouchlaa A. Bouyahya A. Calina D. Sharifi-Rad J. Setzer W.N. Martorell M.
December 2025John Wiley and Sons Inc
Food Science and Nutrition
2025#13Issue 12
The genus Rumex (Polygonaceae), comprising about 193 species, is widely distributed across temperate and subtropical regions of Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America, and has long been used in traditional medicine worldwide. These species are rich in diverse phytochemicals, including anthraquinones, flavonoids, tannins, naphthalenes, and stilbenes, which contribute to a broad range of biological activities. This review provides an updated synthesis of current knowledge on the taxonomy, phytochemistry, and pharmacological properties of Rumex species. Particular attention is given to R. dentatus, R. vesicarius and R. crispus, which exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, and anticancer effects in both in vitro and in vivo studies. Clinical and toxicological aspects, including oxalate accumulation and anthraquinone-associated adverse effects, are also discussed. Major research limitations include the lack of standardized extracts, insufficient clinical evidence, and poor bioavailability of key compounds. Enhancing bioavailability is vital because many bioactive compounds in Rumex are poorly absorbed and rapidly metabolized, which restricts their therapeutic potential. Environmental factors and phenological stages influencing phytochemical expression are highlighted as additional underexplored determinants of bioactivity. By integrating ethnopharmacological knowledge with experimental data, this review identifies future research priorities, including the optimization of formulation strategies, pharmacokinetic evaluation, and clinical validation. Collectively, these efforts may support the development of safe and effective Rumex-based nutraceuticals and therapeutic products.
anticancer , antimicrobial , antioxidant , bioavailability , ethnopharmacology , pharmacological activities , phytochemistry , Rumex species , therapeutic potential , traditional medicine
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Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, October University for Modern Sciences and Arts (MSA), Giza, Egypt
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnology and Bioactives Molecules, Faculty of Science and Technology, Sidi Mohamed Ben ABdellah University, Fez, Morocco
Laboratory of Human Pathologies Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco
Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Craiova, Romania
Universidad Espíritu Santo, Samborondón, Ecuador
Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea
Centro de Estudios Tecnológicos y Universitarios del Golfo, Veracruz, Mexico
Aromatic Plant Research Center, Lehi, UT, United States
Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL, United States
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Pharmacy, and Centre for Healthy Living, University of Concepción, Concepción, Chile
Department of Pharmacognosy
Department of Pharmacognosy
Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology
Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnology and Bioactives Molecules
Laboratory of Human Pathologies Biology
Department of Clinical Pharmacy
Universidad Espíritu Santo
Department of Medicine
Centro de Estudios Tecnológicos y Universitarios del Golfo
Aromatic Plant Research Center
Department of Chemistry
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics
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