BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF THE GENUS RUMEX (POLYGONACEAE) PLANTS
The review provides information on the biological activity of 26 species of the genus Rumex L. based on the results of studies for the period of 2014-2019. Information search and scientometric analysis were carried out using the resources of the Scopus scientific database. The annual number of scientific publications related to plants of the genus Rumex persists at a fairly high level (more than 100 publications per year). It was found that the most studied species in terms of biological activity and composition are R. acetosa, R. crispus, R. dentatus, R. nervosus, R. obtusifolius, R. vesicarius, which showed the presence of antihypertensive, antiosteoporotic, antiviral, nephro- and hepatoprotective and other types of activity in pharmacological studies. Articles describing mechanisms of the extracts’ active substances’ biological effects are presented, but this information is fragmentary. The chemical composition has been studied mainly for officinal species. A number of species - R. alveolatus, R. aquaticus, R. conglomeratus, R. hastatus, R. lunaria, R. maritimus, R. occidentalis, etc. - are promising for further study as the various extracts of these plants showed antibacterial, cytoprotective, antitumor, antihyperglycemic activity, the ability to stimulate hair growth and fight hyperpigmentation.