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

Snehlata Yadav; 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

doi:10.3389/fphar.2022.905755

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

Front Pharmacol. 2022 Jul 1:13:905755. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2022.905755. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemistry, Chandigarh University, Mohali, India.
² University Centre for Research and Development, Department of Chemistry, Chandigarh University, Chandigarh- Ludhiana Highway, Mohali, India.
³ Department of Food Science & Technology, Govt. Degree College Shopian, Srinagar, India.
⁴ Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China.
⁵ Department of Chemistry, Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology, Longowal, Sangrur, India.
⁶ Department of Chemistry, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India.
⁷ Professional School of Agroindustrial Engineering, National University of Huancavelica, Huancavelica, Peru.
⁸ Doctoral School of Food Science, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Budapset, Hungary.
⁹ Institute of Food Science, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary.
¹⁰ Faculty of Forestry, University of Khartoum, Khartoum North, Sudan.

Abstract

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: biosynthesis; chemical synthesis; medicinal plant; pharmacology; secondary metabolites; shikonin; toxicology.

Publication types

Review