Rapid and Simple Biological Activity Screening of Some Rumex Species; Evaluation of Bioguided Fractions of R. scutatus and Pure Compounds

Methanolic extracts of 11 Rumex L. species (Polygonaceae) were examined against brine shrimp and R. scutatus L. has shown significant brine shrimp lethality (LC50=0.96 μg/ml). Methanolic extracts of the roots of R. scutatus were fractionated and the active fraction led to the isolation of 4 anthraquinone aglycones: emodin, chrysophanol, physcion and aloe emodin. Their toxic sequence was found as chrysophanol> aloe emodin> emodin> physcion. These anthraquinone aglycones showed a significant activity with LC50=0.00, LC50=0.01, LC50=0.05, LC50=0.15 μg/ml, respectively