Emodin, one of the potent active compounds isolated from Rhubarb, was shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory effects in various diseases such as pancreatitis, arthritis, asthma, and atherosclerosis, by impinging on oncogenic inflammatory pathways and mediators, including NF-κB, TNFα, VEGF and chemokines (16). The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is asthma.