We have examined the relaxative response to the water extract of Rheum undulatum L. (ERU) and water extract of alcohol steamed Rheum undulatum L. (SRU) with isolated thoracic aorta from sprague dawley (SD) rat. Rat thoracic aorta was investigated in vessel segments suspended for isometric tension recording by polygraph. Responses to ERU and SRU were investigated in vessels precontracted with 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT). We found that the thoracic aorta segments responded to ERU and SRU with a dose-dependent vasorelaxation : The thoracic aorta segments responded to ERU and SRU with a dose-dependent vasodilation. The amounts of emodin were 0.063%, 0.076% and 0.145% in ERU and SRU, respectable. The 5-HT induced contraction at 10-4M were inhibited by 85.2±4.76% and 84.0±2.91% after addition of the 0.1mg/mL water extract of ERU and SRU. The 5-HT induced contraction at 10^-3M were inhibited by 100% after 10^-3M emodin. In conclusion, vasodilation effect of the water extract of Rheum undulatum L. in rat thoracic aorta was not decreased according to the processing of alcohol steamed Rheum undulatum L.