Objective: To conduct a comparative study on anti-inflammatory effect and its mechanism of Rheum tanguticum cultivated in Ganan state(RT-GN). Method: The SPF KM mice and SPF male Wistar rats were selected

and with the methods of xylene-induced mice ear swelling

formaldehyde-induced mice foot swelling and carrageenan-induced rats foot swelling

they were compared with high and low doses R. tanguticum cultivated in south of Gansu(4.5

1.5 g·kg-1 for mice

and 3.0

1.0 g·kg-1 for rats)

high and low doses R. tanguticum cultivated in Xining(4.5

1.5 g·kg-1 for mice

and 3.0

1.0 g·kg-1 for rats) and high and low doses R. palmatum cultivated in Lixian County(4.5

1.5 g·kg-1 for mice

and 3.0

1.0 g·kg-1 for rats) for anti-inflammatory effects. Mice airbag synovitis was replicated

and the determination of total protein and leukotriene B4(LTB4) in the inflammatory exudate was done to comparatively investigate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of high and low dose rhubarb. Normal group was also set in the experiment. Result: Compared with the normal group

R. tanguticum cultivated in south of Gansu(RT-GN)

R. tanguticum cultivated in Xining(RT-XN)

and R. palmatum cultivated in Lixian(RP-LX) could remit degree of auricular swelling in mice and foot swelling in mice and rats(1.0

3.0 g·kg-1)(P<0.05

P<0.01). Compared with the model group

1.5

4.5 g·kg-1RT-GN

RT-XN

and RP-LX could significantly reduce total protein and LTB4 in airbag synovitis exudates

and the effects of RT-GN and RT-XN on total protein and LTB4 in inflammatory exudates were superior to that of RP-LX(P<0.05

P<0.01). Conclusion: Three kinds of cultivated Rhubarb have obvious anti-inflammatory effect

part anti-inflammatory effect of R. Tanguticum was superior to that of R. palmatum

but there was no significant difference in anti-inflammatory effect between RT-GN and RT-XN

and one of their mechanisms is to inhibit the production of LTB4.