Abstract
The sennosides A, B, C and D, being dianthrone glycosides based on rhein show the
highest purgative activity of the anthracene derivatives found in medicinal rhubarb.
They could be determined by spectrophotometry after separation from the other anthraquinone
derivatives using column chromatography on Sephadex LH–20. Results are given of the
sennoside content of commercial samples, different clones of Rheum palmatum that have been selected after continuing cultivation, rhubarb root of different age
and in different parts of the root.
