Several　hydroxyanthraquinones　(emodin,　rhein　and　physcion)　were　found　to　strongly　enhance　the　cathodic　electrochemiluminescence　(ECL)　of　the　lucigenin　by　scanning　under　the　mode　of　differential　pulse　voltammetry.　The　enhanced　intensity　was　linear　with　the　concentrations　of　rhein,　emodin　and　physcion.　The　linear　calibration　ranges　of　8.0　x　10(-8)　to　2.0　x　10(-6),　3.0　x　10(-7)　to　8.0　X　10(-6)　and　1.0　x　10(-7)　to　1.0　X　10(-6)　mol/L,　the　detection　limits　of　2.1　x　10(-8),　1.6　x　10(-7)　and　5.2　x　10(-8)　mol/L　were　obtained　for　rhein,　enlodill　and　physcion,　respectively.　Potential-resolved　ECL　was　used　to　Study　the　possible　mechanism　of　the　enhancement　effect.　An　electron　transfer　pathway　was　found　to　be　involved　in　the　ECL　process.　It　has　been　confirmed　that　the　reduced　hydroxyanthraquinones　reacted　with　dioxygen　to　give　Superoxide　radical　anion　which　increased　the　ECL　of　the　lucigenin.　Furthermore,　these　three　hydroxyanthraquinones　revealed　the　different　enhanced　ECL　efficiency　in　the　following　order:　rhein　＞　physcion　＞　emodin.　(c)　2005　Published　by　Elsevier　B.V.