The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is a cAMP-activated chloride channel expressed in intestinal exocrine glands, which plays a key role in intestinal fluid secretion. A natural anthraquinone activator of CFTR Cl- channel, rhein, was identified by screening 217 single compounds from Chinese herbs via a cellbased halide-sensitive fluorescent assay. Rhein activates CFTR Cl- transportation in a dose-dependent manner in the presence of cAMP with a physiological concentration. This study provides a novel molecular pharmacological mechanism for the laxative drugs in Traditional Chinese Medicine such as aloe, cascara and senna.