Rhei Rhizoma Research Articles

Rapid Characterization and Identification of the Chemical Constituents in San-Huang-Xie-Xin-Tang, a Traditional Chinese Medicine Formula, by High Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled to Electrospray Ionization and Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry.

San-Huang-Xie-Xin-Tang (SHXXT), a traditional Chinese medicine formula composed of Coptidis rhizome (CR), Scutellariae radix (SR) and Rhei rhizome (RR), is widely used to treat hypertension, gastritis and peptic ulcer clinically. However, the chemical constituent of SHXXT is still unclear due to its complexity, which hindered the discovery of effective compounds and quality control. Thus, an in-depth understanding of its chemical constituents is very essential. To address this problem, comprehensive analysis of chemical constituents of SHXXT was performed by high performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS). As a result, 45 compounds were identified, including 8 phenolic acids, 15 flavonoids, 13 alkaloids, 8 anthraquinones and 1 lignan. Among them, 17 compounds were from CR, 17 compounds were from SR and 11 compounds were from RR. This established method can systematically and rapidly analyze the chemical constituents in SHXXT, which provides chemical foundation for further research on effective substances and action mechanism of SHXXT.

Differential metabolite analysis of the pharmacodynamic differences between different ratios of Dahuang ()-Taoren () herb pair.

To explore the material basis of the difference of efficacy of Dahuang (Radix Et Rhizoma Rhei Palmati)-Taoren (Semen Persicae) (DT) drugs with different proportions. Samples of different ratios of Dahuang (Radix et Rhizoma Rhei Palnati, DH) to Taoren (Semen Persicae, TR) (Group A 1:1, B 2:3, C 3:2) were analyzed based on gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry untargeted metabolomics technique. A total of 240 primary metabolites were detected. Forty-one differential metabolites involved nine differential metabolic pathways, of which four were closely related to the efficacy of DT in the treatment of heat and blood stasis syndrome. These pathways included the biosynthesis of amino acid (phenylalanine tyrosine and tryptophan), flavonoids, unsaturated fatty acids, and the glycolysis/glycogenesis pathway. There are significant differences in the efficacy of different ratios of DT drugs, and their optimal ratio for the treatment of heat and blood stasis syndrome should be 1:1.

Simultaneous rapid detection of glycyrrhizin and sennoside A in Daiokanzoto samples by lateral flow immunoassay.

Glycyrrhizin (GLY) and sennoside A (SA) are characteristic bioactive marker compounds of the Kampo medicine Daiokanzoto. Their accurate detection in blends of Rhei rhizoma and Glycyrrhizae radix of several species (4:1 or 4:2) is essential for quality control and to ensure therapeutic efficacy. A rapid, efficient assay can significantly facilitate their detection. To establish a rapid qualitative assay for GLY and SA detection, a lateral flow immunoassay (LFA) was developed using specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) nanoparticles. This assay harnesses the competitive binding of mAb nanoparticles to the immobilized analytes on test strips and free analytes in the samples. Two conjugates for detecting GLY and SA, GLY-bovine serum albumin and SA-human serum albumin, were separately immobilized on the test zones of LFA strips. The detection mechanism is reliant on the visual detection of color changes in the test zones. When GLY and SA were present in samples, they contended with the immobilized conjugates on the strip to bind with the mAb nanoparticles and produced distinct color patterns in the test zones. The limits of detection of the assay for GLY and SA were both 3.13 μg/mL. The capability of the LFA was substantiated using plant samples and Daiokanzoto, and its alignment with indirect competitive ELISA results was confirmed. The introduced LFA is a groundbreaking procedure that offers a rapid, straightforward, and sensitive method for simultaneously detecting GLY and SA in Daiokanzoto samples. It is instrumental in ensuring product quality.

A Review of Recent Chinese Clinical Studies on Herbal Medicine Treatments for Chronic Pancreatitis

Objectives: This study summarizes current trends and results in clinical studies on herbal medicine treatments for chronic pancreatitis.Methods: Studies published from 2014 to 2023 were searched for on the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), PubMed, and KMbase using the keywords “chronic pancreatitis”, “herbal medicine”, “herb”, “만성 췌장염”, and “한약”. The studies were analyzed according to year, study design, characteristics of the patients, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) intervention.Results: In total, 23 studies were selected. There were 21 randomized controlled trials and 2 case-control studies. The most common herbal prescriptions were Qingyi-tang (淸胰湯), <i>Radix Bupleuri</i> (柴胡), <i>Radix Paeoniae Alba</i> (白芍藥), <i>Radix Glycyrrhizae</i> (甘草), <i>Radix Scutellariae</i> (黃芩), and <i>Rhei Rhizoma</i> (大黃). In all the studies, herbal medicine treatments were effective in the treatment of chronic pancreatitis, and efficacy was assessed using clinical symptoms, physicochemical examination, radiological examination, and relapse.Conclusions: Herbal medicine treatment can be an effective treatment for chronic pancreatitis and has potential in clinical practice.

Traditional Chinese Medicine for Topical Treatment of Skeletal Muscle Injury.

Muscle injuries are common musculoskeletal problems, but the pharmaceutical agent for muscle repair and healing is insufficient. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) frequently uses topical treatments to treat muscle injuries, although scientific evidence supporting their efficacy is scarce. In this study, an in vitro assay was used to test the cytotoxicity of a topical TCM formula containing Carthami Flos, Dipsaci Radix, and Rhei Rhizoma (CDR). Then, a muscle contusion rat model was developed to investigate the in vivo effect and basic mechanisms underlying CDR on muscle regeneration. The in vitro assay illustrated that CDR was non-cytotoxic to immortalized rat myoblast culture and increased cell viability. Histological results demonstrated that the CDR treatment facilitated muscle repair by increasing the number of new muscle fibers and promoting muscle integrity. The CDR treatment also upregulated the expression of Pax7, MyoD and myogenin, as evidenced by an immunohistochemical study. A gene expression analysis indicated that the CDR treatment accelerated the regeneration and remodeling phases during muscle repair. This study demonstrated that topical CDR treatment was effective at facilitating muscle injury repair.

Quality assessment of Rheum species cultivated in Japan by focusing on M2 polarization of microglia.

In traditional Japanese medicine, Rhei Rhizoma is used as a purgative, blood stasis-resolving and antipsychotic drug. The latter two properties are possibly related to anti-inflammatory effects. Microglia regulate inflammation in the central nervous system. M1 microglia induce inflammation, while M2 microglia inhibit inflammation and show neurotrophic effects. This study investigated the effects from water extracts of roots of cultivated Rheum species in Nagano Prefecture, Japan (strain C, a related strain to a Japanese cultivar, 'Shinshu-Daio'; and strain 29, a Chinese strain) and 3 kinds of Rhei Rhizoma available in the Japanese market, and also examined their constituents on the polarization of cultured microglia. All extracts significantly decreased M1 microglia, and strains C and 29 significantly increased M2 microglia. Furthermore, the extracts of both strains significantly increased the M2/M1 ratio. Among the constituents of Rhei Rhizoma, ( +)-catechin (2), resveratrol 4'-O-β-D-(6″-O-galloyl) glucopyranoside (5), isolindleyin (8), and physcion (15) significantly increased the M2/M1 ratio. The contents of the constituents in water extract of each strain were quantified using HPLC. The extracts of strains C and 29 contained relatively large amounts of 2 and 5; and 2, 8, and 15, respectively. This study showed the water extracts of roots of cultivated Rheum strains in Japan had the effects of M2 polarization of microglia, suggesting that these strains become the candidate to develop anti-inflammatory Rhei Rhizoma. Moreover, the suitable chemical composition to possess anti-inflammatory activity in the brain was clarified for the future development of new type of Rhei Rhizoma.

Inhibitory Effect of Rhei Rhizoma Constituents on the Cortisol Production in ACTH-Stimulated Bovine Adrenal Fasciculata Cells

Depression can be activated by dysfunction of the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and is sometimes accompanied by increased cortisol production. In this study, the effects of Kampo extract products on cortisol production in bovine adrenal fasciculata cells via adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation were investigated with the aim of identifying substances that can improve the function of the HPA axis. Daiokanzoto extract product, which is prepared from Rhei Rhizoma and Glycyrrhizae Radix as the constituent crude drugs, was found to potently inhibit cortisol production in bovine adrenal fasciculata cells. Because only Rhei Rhizoma decoction showed potent inhibitory effect, the cortisol production inhibitory substances in Rhei Rhizoma was analyzed. As a result, six anthraquinones: chrysophanol, emodin, aloe-emodin, rhein, chrysophanol-8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, and physicion-8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside were isolated and identified from Rhei Rhizoma decoction. Among these compounds, emodin showed the strongest inhibition of the ACTH-induced cortisol production in cells (IC50 = 13.1 ± 1.9 µM). These results suggest that emodin may help of stress-induced illnesses such as depression.

Effects of Daehwang-Hwanglyoun-Sasim-Tang on brain injury and cognitive function in mice caused by bilateral common carotid artery stenosis.

Among geriatric diseases, cerebrovascular disease ranks fourth according to the Causes of Death Statistics in 2019, Korea, and is the most common cause of acquired disorders in adults. Daehwang-Hwanglyoun-Sasim-Tang (DHST), a herbal prescription consisting of two herbal medicines, Rhei Rhizoma and Coptidis Rhizoma, has been reported to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer effects. This study was conducted to confirm the anti-inflammatory mechanism of DHST treatment in ischemic brain injury and to confirm the role of DHST in cognitive function improvement. C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into four groups (sham operation, bilateral common carotid artery stenosis (BCAS) control, experimental group administered 5 mL/kg DHST, experimental group administered 50 mL/kg DHST), with each group containing five mice. After 1 week, DHST was orally administered for 4 weeks, 5 days a week, and then behavioral evaluation of learning and memory was performed. In addition, morphological changes in the neurons in the CA1 region of the hippocampus were observed. Inflammation-related factors were evaluated using western blot analysis. In the 50 mL/kg DHST (H-DHST) group, the expression of apoptosis-related proteins was reduced and neuronal damage was suppressed in the hippocampal CA1 region. However, cognitive improvement was observed in the H-DHST group that was attributable to anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic pathways. In the 5 mL/kg DHST group, no significant effect was observed compared with the control group.

Examination of the molecular mechanism of the mutual inhibitory effect of each cytotoxicity caused by the combined extraction of Coptidis Rhizoma and Rhei Rhizoma: An example of providing evidence for ‘herbal pair’ theory

ABSTRACTAimKampo medicines are effective depending on the combination of crude drugs. In addition, the basis is a combination of two crude drugs, which is defined as a ‘herbal pair’. However, there are very few studies from this point of view. We found that Rhei Rhizoma (RR) may interact with Coptidis Rhizoma (CR).MethodsComponent profiles were analyzed by three‐dimensional high‐performance liquid chromatography (3D‐HPLC). Cell viability in N18TG‐2 cells was determined by morphology observation and a ‘3‐(4,5‐di‐methylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide, yellow tetrazole (MTT)’ assay.ResultsWhen RR and CR were extracted together, the color of the extract was lighter than the colors of the individual extracts. In addition, precipitation occurred by simply combining the extracts of both in vitro. When each component profile was analyzed by 3D‐HPLC, at least the amount of berberine, which is contained in a large amount in CR, was strongly decreased in combined extracts with RR. Although CR and RR each have a cytotoxic effect, when both were extracted together, their cytotoxicity almost disappeared. However, cytotoxicity remained in the supernatant when both extracts were combined in vitro, and also in the suspension of the resulting precipitate.ConclusionFrom these results, when CR and RR are extracted together, their cytotoxicity is suppressed by some unknown mechanism. Whether this is due to the synthesis of new compounds by co‐extraction or the detoxification of toxic components by interaction needs further investigation. This result suggests the importance of ‘herbal pair’ research.

UPLC-Q-TOF/MS based fecal metabolomics reveals the potential anti-diabetic effect of Xiexin Decoction on T2DM rats

Xiexin Decoction (XXD), a traditional Chinese medicine prescription composed of Rhei rhizome (RR), Scutellaria radix (SR) and Coptidis rhizome (CR), has been used to cure diabetes in clinical practices for thousands of years, but its mechanism is not clear. Our previous study indicated that XXD could significantly ameliorate the symptom of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rats by shifting the composition of gut microbiota. However, the effect of XXD on the metabolic activity of gut microbiota is not clarified. In this study, the underlying mechanism of XXD on the amelioration of T2DM was explored by fecal metabolic profiling analysis based on ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-fight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS). The disordered metabolic profiles in T2DM rats were notably improved by XXD. Ten potential biomarkers, which were mainly involved in arachidonic acid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, bile acid metabolism, glycolysis and gluconeogenesis, were identified. Furthermore, these metabolites were closely related to SCFAs-producing and anti-inflammatory gut microflora. After XXD intervention, these biomarkers restored to the normal level at some extent. This study not only revealed potential biomarkers and related pathways in T2DM rats affected by XXD, but also provided a novel insight to uncover how traditional herb medicines worked from fecal metabolomics.

Adverse Effects of Kampo Medicines.

This review summarizes the adverse effects of Kampo medicines. These adverse effects in terms of immunoallergic reactions include interstitial pneumonia, liver injury, allergic cystitis, and drug eruption. Many cases of interstitial pneumonia, liver injury, and allergic cystitis associated with Kampo formulas have been reported to be caused by formulas containing Scutellariae Radix (Scutellaria root, ogon). The known adverse effects linked to overdose of Kampo formulas include pseudoaldosteronism [caused by Glycyrrhizae Radix (licorice, kanzo)], sympathomimetic symptoms [caused by Ephedrae Herba (ephedra, mao)], aconite poisoning [caused by Aconiti Tuber (processed aconite root, bushi and uzu)], and diarrhea [caused by Rhei Rhizoma (rhubarb, daio)]. In recent years, mesenteric phlebosclerosis caused by the long-term administration of Gardeniae Fructus (gardenia fruit, sanshishi) has also been reported. It is necessary to consider these potential adverse effects when prescribing Kampo medicines in clinical practice.

The Chemopreventive Effects of Natural Products Against Human Cancer Cells

There is accumulating scientific evidence that many of the natural herbs have medici- nal properties that can alleviate symptoms or prevent disease. A growing number of researches have demonstrated that commonly used herbs such as green tea, licorice, Cirisium rhinoceros Nakai, cloves, Terminalia arjuna Linn., Euphorbia jolkini Bioss, Polygonum cuspidatums, Myrica rubra Sieb et Zucc, Centella asiatica, Bupleurum kaoi , Ochrosia elliptica Labill, Stephania tetrandra, and Rhei Rhizoma possess chemopreventive properties that, in some cases, can be used therapeutically. These herbs have been found to possess significant antiproliferative activity against various cancer cells and this activity is supposed to be associated with the modu- lation of cell cycle progression and induction of apoptosis. In this review, we summarize our findings from studies performed to date regarding the chemopreventive activities of the above-mentioned herbs and their ingredients on the various types of cancer cells.

Rhei rhizoma and citri pericarpium mixture regulates oxidative stress and tight junction proteins on acute reflux esophagitis

The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of a Rhei Rhizoma and Citri Pericarpium (RC) mixture on esophageal mucosal injury in rats with acute reflux esophagitis (ARE). An experimental model of ARE was established surgically. RC mixture was administered at a dose of 100 or 200 mg/kg body weight 90 min prior to induction of ARE, and its effects were compared with those of the Control group, which underwent the ARE procedure without treatment. Administration of the RC mixture significantly ameliorated the severity of the histopathological changes compared with the ARE control group. Elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the esophageal tissues of reflux esophagitis-induced rats was significantly decreased by the RC mixture. Moreover, the increased ROS production induced by the increase in NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) and p22phox was down-regulated by the RC mixture. The protein expression of inflammatory mediators and cytokines together with nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) through the degradation of inhibitor of NF-κB was modulated by the RC mixture treatment. The levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10, were significantly increased. Additionally, RC mixture supplementation improved esophageal barrier function through upregulating claudin −1, −3 and −4 protein expression levels. Taken together, these results suggest that RC mixture treatment may attenuate the esophageal mucosal injury, possibly through suppression of ROS formation, inhibiting NF-κB inflammatory signaling, and up-regulating the expression of proteins associated with tight junction formation, including claudin −1, −3 and −4.

Effect of a Mixture of Rhei Rhizoma and Scutellariae Radix Extract on Acute Reflux Esophagitis Rats

Effect of a Mixture of Rhei Rhizoma and Scutellariae Radix Extract on Acute Reflux Esophagitis Rats

The active ingredients in the anti‐obesity drug bofutsushosan in high‐fat‐diet‐fed obese mice

ABSTRACTAimCombined effects on the body weights and white adipose tissues in high‐fat‐diet‐fed obese mice due to bofutsushosan (BTS) were investigated.MethodsMale ICR mice (four weeks old) were fed a 60% kcal fat diet for five weeks and fed the same diet with administration of aqueous extracts (2.0 g/kg/day) of BTS, component‐removed BTS, and a mixture of the ingredients and the component‐removed BTS for 28 days.ResultsThe BTS extract reduced the body weight from 2 to 28 days after administration while also reducing the weight of the subcutaneous and visceral white adipose tissues after administration for 28 days. Extracts of BTS with Glycyrrhizae radix (Glycyrrhiza root; abbreviated as glycyrrhiza) removed, Rhei rhizoma (rhubarb rhizome; rhubarb) removed, Gardeniae fructus (Gardenia fruit; gardenia) removed, Ephedrae herba (Ephedra herb; ephedra) removed, or Sal mirabilis (sodium sulfate hydrate; mirabilite) removed reduced the anti‐obesity and fat‐loss activity compared to that of the BTS extract after administration for 28 days. Glycyrrhizic acid (0.89% [w/w]) and 0.046%(w/w) sennoside AB calcium salt ameliorated the anti‐obesity activity of BTS with glycyrrhiza removed and rhubarb removed eight days after administration, respectively. Geniposide (0.78% [w/w]) and 0.16% (w/w) ephedrine hydrochloride ameliorated the anti‐obesity and fat‐loss activity of BTS with gardenia removed and with ephedra removed respectively after administration for 28 days.ConclusionGlycyrrhiza, rhubarb, gardenia, ephedra and mirabilite were the active components responsible for the effect of BTS. Glycyrrhizic acid and sennoside AB induced the early phase while geniposide and ephedrine hydrochloride induced the later phase of the anti‐obesity activity of BTS.

Determination of anthraquinone glycosides in Rhei rhizome, Polygoni multiflori radix, and Cassia torae semen

Polyphenols are predominantly present as glycosides in Chinese herbs, and many of them are hydrolyzed to less polar aglycones by enzymes or bacteria in the intestines and then became absorbable. Therefore, it is more appropriate to use the amount of total glycosides as the standard for the quality control of Chinese herbs since most glycosides are assimilated with the aglycone form after oral administration. Currently there are limited requirements for the quality control of crude drugs in pharmacopoeias in many countries, and assays for only one glycoside or aglycone are required. However, these requirements cannot ensure the efficacy of Chinese herbs. This study attempted to determine aglycones in Rhei rhizome (RR), crude Polygoni multiflori radix (cPM), processed Polygoni multiflori radix (pPM), and Cassiae torae semen (CS) after acid hydrolysis in order to investigate the total amount of absorbable components. The decoctions of these four Chinese herbs were hydrolyzed by hydrochloric acid in water bath. Before and after hydrolysis, the contents of aloe-emodin, rhein, emodin, chrysophanol and physcion from RR, emodin and physcion from cPM and pPM, and chrysophanol and physcion from CS were determined by HPLC. The total glycoside contents were calculated by subtracting the amounts of aglycones in decoction from those in hydrolysate. The results showed that the contents of aloe-emodin, emodin, chrysophanol and physcion in RR after acid hydrolysis increased by 154%, 145%, 127% and 95%, respectively. Emodin and physcion in cPM increased by 1174% and 800%, respectively. Chrysophanol and physcion in CS existed solely as glycoside forms. However, emodin and physcion in pPM displayed no significant difference between decoction and hydrolysate. The methods developed in this study are suitable for the determination of total glycosides in RR, cPM, and CS, whereas pPM was suggested to determine the contents of aglycones directly.

Progress and application of chemical evaluation of crude drugs

Progress in chemical evaluation of six crude drugs, Paeoniae Radix, Rhei Rhizoma, Astragali Radix, Cnidii Rhizoma, Angelicae Radix and Gardeniae Fructus, is briefly summarized. Information on preparation methods, storage conditions, origin and the production areas of the crude drugs, were obtained by various chemical evaluation techniques. Moreover, these methods were also useful in establishing cultivation techniques and breeding new strains of medicinal plants.

Simultaneous analysis of ten components in patch preparation of Wan-Yin-Gau by high performance liquid chromatography

A facile HPLC method for the reduction and quantitative measurement of ten marker substances, the active ingredients in formula preparation of Wan-Yin-Gau, was established under the gradient elution in the reversed-phase mode. These marker substances included cinnamic acid, cinnamaldehyde (Cinnamomi Cortex), isoimperatorin (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix and Notopterygii Rhizoma), ferulic acid (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), paeoniflorin (Paeoniae Radix), glycyrrhizin (Glycyrrhizae Radix), harpagoside (Scrophulariae Radix), emodin, sennoside A, and sennoside B (Rhei Rhizoma). The ingredients in the water-based and oil-based patches from different manufactures were also analyzed for quality evaluation. Extracted samples were analyzed with reverse-phase column (Inertsil 5 ODS-2, 4.6 i.d. × 250 mm) at 30°C, eluted with a mixture of 20% and 70% acetonitrile aqueous solution in gradient manner at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min, and detected at 250 nm. Relative coefficients of variation of intra- and inter-day analysis were less than 5%. All the recoveries were 96.29-103.46%. This method could be applied for the simultaneous determination of ten marker substances in "Wan-Yin-Gau".

Gut Bacteria Selectively Altered by Sennoside A Alleviate Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity Traits

Accumulating evidences implicate that gut microbiota play an important role in the onset and prolongation of fat inflammation and diabetes. Sennoside A, the main active ingredient of Rhizoma Rhei (rhubarb), is widely used for constipation as a kind of anthranoid laxative (e.g., senna). Here, we put forward the hypothesis that the structural alteration of gut microbiota in obesity mice may be involved in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes (T2D) which may be ameliorated by Sennoside A. We investigated the appearance of obesity, insulin resistance, host inflammation, and leaky gut phenotype with or without Sennoside A in db/db mice. Horizontal fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) was used to confirm the critical roles of gut microbiota in the amelioration of the indices in T2D mice after Sennoside A treatment. As a result, we found that Sennoside A administration markedly improved the indices in T2D mice and obesity-related traits including blood glucose level, body weight, lipid metabolism disorder, and insulin resistance. The gut microbiota changed quickly during the onset of T2D in db/db mice, which confirmed the hypothesis that gut microbiota was involved in the pathogenesis of T2D. Sennoside A altered gut microbial composition which might mediate the antiobesogenic effects in T2D remission. Sennoside A also reduced inflammation and increased tight junction proteins in the ileum in gene-deficient mice via gut microbiota alteration. FMT lowered the blood glucose level and improved insulin resistance, corroborating that Sennoside A perhaps exerted its antiobesogenic effects through gut microbiota alteration. Chemical Compounds Studied in This Article. Compounds studied in this article include Sennoside A (PubChem CID: 73111) and metformin hydrochloride (PubChem CID: 14219).

Scanning Electron Microscopy and Liquid Chromatography for Physical and Chemical Inspection of Industrial Pharmaceutical Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine.

Multiherbal preparation of Coptidis rhizoma, Scutellariae radix, and Rhei rhizoma is a well-known herbal formula, which is widely used in the prescription for relieving heat toxicity, inflammation of the intestine, and eczema. However, little is known about the characteristics of the physical and chemical qualities of industrial pharmaceutical products. The aim of the study is to develop a liquid chromatography system to examine the quality and quantity of pharmaceutical products. Besides scanning electron microscopy, light microscopy photographs with Congo red staining and iodine–KI staining were used for physical examination of the quality of the pharmaceutical products. A reverse-phase C18 column was used to separate the analytes of baicalin, berberine, rhein, and p-hydroxybenzoate (internal standard) with a gradient eluent mobile phase of acetonitrile and 10 mM NaH2PO4 (pH 3.0, adjusted by orthophosphoric acid). The results demonstrated that a large variety of content range presents among the testing herbal pharmaceutical products. The contents of rhein, baicalin, and berberine were around 0.22–22.46, 0.44–50.79, and 0.41–2.48 mg/g, respectively. The physical examination data demonstrated that different brands of industrial pharmaceutical products have different shapes of granules or rods. In summary, to ensure the clinical efficacy of complicated herbal medicine, both quality and quantity controls are all very important. This study provides a reference standard operating procedure guide for the quality control (QC) with chemical and physical examination for the Chinese herbal pharmaceutical products of San–Huang–Xie–Xin–Tang (SHXXT).