Emodin-8-O-beta-D-glucoside extracted from the traditional Chinese medicinal herb Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc, which is used to treat fractures, rheumatoid arthritis, muscle injury and pain possible by antioxidative mechanism. Emodin-8-O-beta-D-glucoside can be a promising antitumor agent for cancer treatment, because experiments with cervical cancer SKOV3 cells have shown, that it can inhibit the proliferation of cells and promote apoptosis by down regulation of Bcl-2 expression and up regulation of Bax expression, as well as the increase of relative activity of caspase 3 and caspase 9. In addition, emodin-8-O-beta-D-glucoside is able to provide neuroprotection against cerebral ischemia-reperfused injury and glutamate induced neuronal damage through exerting antioxidative effects and inhibiting glutamate neurotoxicity.