AIM:To investigate the effects of rhubarb on severe acutepancreatitis (SAP) in rats.METHODS:Severe acute pancreatitis was induced by twointraperitoneal injections of cerulein (40 μg/kg body weight)plus 5-h restraint water-immersion stress.Rhubarb (75-150 mg/kg) was orally fed before the first cerulein injection.The degree of pancreatic edema,serum amylase level,local pancreatic blood flow (PBF),and histologicalalterations were investigated.The effects of rhubarb onpancreatic exocrine secretion in this model were evaluatedby comparing with those of somatostatin.RESULTS:In the Cerulein+Stress group,severe edemaand diffuse hemorrhage in the pancreas were observed,the pancreatic wet weight (11.60±0.61 g/Kg) and serumamylase (458 490±43 100 U/L) were markedly increased(P<0.01 vs control).In the rhubarb (150 mg/kg) treatedrats,necrosis and polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN)infiltration in the pancreas were significantly reduced(P<0.01),and a marked decrease (50%) in serum amylaselevels was also observed (P<0.01).PBF dropped to 38%(93±5 mL/min per 100 g) of the control in the Cerulein+Stressgroup and partly recovered in the Cerulein+Stress+Rhubarb150 mg group (135±12 mL/min per 100 g) (P<0.01).Thepancreatic exocrine function was impaired in the SAP rats.The amylase levels of pancreatic juice were reduced in therats treated with rhubarb or somatostatin,comparing withthat of untreated SAP group.The bicarbonate concentration ofpancreatic juice was markedly elevated only in the rhubarb-treated group (P<0.01).CONCLUSION:Rhubarb can exert protective effects onSAP,probably by inhibiting the inflammation of pancreas,improving pancreatic microcirculation,and altering exocrinesecretion. AIM: To investigate the effects of rhubarb on severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) in rats. METHHODS: Severe acute pancreatitis was induced by two in trastineal injections of cerulein (40 μg / kg body weight) plus 5-h restraint water- immersion stress. Rhubarb -150 mg / kg) was orally fed before the first cerulein injection. Degree of pancreatic edema, serum amylase level, local pancreatic blood flow (PBF), and histologicalalterations were investigated.The effects of rhubarb onpancreatic exocrine secretion in this model were evaluatedby comparing with those of somatostatin .RESULTS: In the Cerulein + Stress group, severe edema and diffuse hemorrhage in the pancreas were observed, the pancreatic wet weight (11.60 ± 0.61 g / Kg) and serumamylase (458 490 ± 43 100 U / L) were markedly increased (P <0.01 vs control) .In the rhubarb (150 mg / kg) treatedrats, necrosis and polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) infiltration in the pancreas were significantly reduced serum amylaselevels wa The PBF dropped to 38% (93 ± 5 mL / min per 100 g) of the control in the Cerulein + Stressgroup and partly recovered in the Cerulein + Stress + Rhubarb 150 mg group (135 ± 12 mL / min per 100 g) (P <0.01). The pancreatic exocrine function was impaired in the SAP rats. The amylase levels of pancreatic juice were reduced in therats treated with rhubarb or somatostatin, comparing with the untreated SAP group. bicarbonate concentration of pancreatic juice CONCLUSION: Rhubarb can exert protective effects on SAP, probably by inhibiting the inflammation of pancreas, Improving pancreatic microcirculation, and altering excretion.