Frontiers in Pharmacology (Jul 2022)

Review of Shikonin and Derivatives: Isolation, Chemistry, Biosynthesis, Pharmacology and Toxicology

  • Snehlata Yadav,
  • Ajay Sharma,
  • Ajay Sharma,
  • Gulzar Ahmad Nayik,
  • Raymond Cooper,
  • Garima Bhardwaj,
  • Harvinder Singh Sohal,
  • Vishal Mutreja,
  • Ramandeep Kaur,
  • Franklin Ore Areche,
  • Mohannad AlOudat,
  • Ayaz Mukarram Shaikh,
  • Béla Kovács,
  • Abdelhakam Esmaeil Mohamed Ahmed,
  • Abdelhakam Esmaeil Mohamed Ahmed

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.905755
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13

Abstract

Read online

Shikonin and its derivatives, isolated from traditional medicinal plant species of the genus Lithospermum, Alkanna, Arnebia, Anchusa, Onosma, and Echium belonging to the Boraginaceae family, have numerous applications in foods, cosmetics, and textiles. Shikonin, a potent bioactive red pigment, has been used in traditional medicinal systems to cure various ailments and is well known for its diverse pharmacological potential such as anticancer, antithrombotic, neuroprotective, antidiabetic, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-gonadotropic, antioxidants, antimicrobial and insecticidal. Herein, updated research on the natural sources, pharmacology, toxicity studies, and various patents filed worldwide related to shikonin and approaches to shikonin’s biogenic and chemical synthesis are reviewed. Furthermore, recent studies to establish reliable production systems to meet market demand, functional identification, and future clinical development of shikonin and its derivatives against various diseases are presented.

Keywords