Objective: To study the chemical constituents from the aerial parts of Rheum officinale and get knowledge of the chemical constituents in these parts to evaluate its potential in sustainable utilization. Method: The 5 kg aerial parts of the dry R. officinale were extracted sequentially with 95%ethanol and 75%ethanol

then the solvent was decompressed and recovered to no alcohol flavor

and extracted with petroleum ether (PE) and ethyl acetate (EtOAc) respectively to yield ethyl acetate and water soluble fractions. The two parts were subjected to various column chromatography methods for isolation and purification respectively. The structures of these compounds were elucidated based on their physical and chemical properties

as well as 1H-NMR

13 C-NMR

2D-NMR

MS and other spectroscopic methods. Result: Sixteen compounds were isolated from R. officinale

and were identified as 4-methyl-6

8-dihydroxy-7H-benz[de]anthracen-7-one (1)

questin (2)

emodin bianthrones B (3)

emodin bianthrones A (4)

emodin-8-O-β-D-(6'-O-acetyl) glucoside (5)

physcion-8-O-β-D-(6'-O-acetyl)glucoside (6)

pinobaksin (7)

rumexneposides B (8)

fallacinol (9)

quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (10)

myricetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (11)

2"-O-galloylvitexin (12)

quercetin-3-O-robinobioside (13)

kaempferol-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside (14)

1-methyl-1

2

3

4-tetrahydro-β-carboline-3-carboxylic acid (15)

and kaempferol-3-O-[6"-O-(3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaroyl) glucoside] (16)

including six anthraquinones

seven flavonoids

one indole and two phemolic compounds. Conclusion: Compounds 1-16 were isolated from the genus Rheum for the first time. The conducted study showed that the chemical constituents from the aerial parts of R. officinale were quite similar with those from the roots and rhizomes of traditional medicinal parts

mainly including anthraquinones

flavonoids

phenolic compounds

etc. Overall

the results described in this study could provide certain chemical basis for further resources exploitation and utilization of the aerial parts of R. Officinale.