Emodin (1,3,8-trihydroxy-6-methylanthraquinone) is a derived anthraquinone compound extracted from roots and barks of pharmaceutical plants,including Rheum palmatum,Aloe vera,Giant knotweed,Polygonum multiflorum and Polygonum cuspidatum.The review aims to provide a scientific summary of emodin in pharmacological activities and toxicity in order to identify the therapeutic potential for its use in human specific organs as a new medicine.Based on the fundamental properties,such as anticancer,anti-inflammatory,antioxidant,antibacterial,antivirs,anti-diabetes,immunosuppressive and osteogenesis promotion,emodin is expected to become an effective preventive and therapeutic drug of cancer,myocardial infarction,atherosclerosis,diabetes,acute pancreatitis,asthma,periodontitis,fatty livers and neurodegenerative diseases.This article intends to provide a novel insight for further development of emodin,hoping to reveal the potential of emodin and necessity of further studies in this field.