AUTHOR=Yadav Snehlata , Sharma Ajay , Nayik Gulzar Ahmad , Cooper Raymond , Bhardwaj Garima , Sohal Harvinder Singh , Mutreja Vishal , Kaur Ramandeep , Areche Franklin Ore , AlOudat Mohannad , Shaikh Ayaz Mukarram , Kovács Béla , Mohamed Ahmed Abdelhakam Esmaeil TITLE=Review of Shikonin and Derivatives: Isolation, Chemistry, Biosynthesis, Pharmacology and Toxicology JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology VOLUME=13 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.905755 DOI=10.3389/fphar.2022.905755 ISSN=1663-9812 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.