Planta Med 2011; 77 - PL93
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1282742

Determination of alkannin/shikonin derivatives in endemic Greek Alkanna species

AN Assimopoulou 1, J Tappeiner 2, M Ganzera 2, A Vasiliou 1, H Stuppner 2, VP Papageorgiou 1
  • 1Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
  • 2Institut für Pharmazie, Pharmakognosie, Leopold-Franzens-Universität Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria

Alkannin and Shikonin (A/S) derivatives are optical antipodes of plant origin with a verified wide spectrum of antimicrobial, wound healing, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity. Although the aforementioned antipodes were originally introduced as wound healing agents, recent studies on cancer chemotherapy revealed that A/S also exhibit antitumor activity. A/S have been found in roots of several Boraginaceous species[1–3]. Determination of A/S, their esters and the total A/S content in Boraginaceous roots of different origin was reported in several papers[4–7].

Alkanna species grown wild in Greece have been analysed for their A/S esters by LC-PDA-MS previously [5], whereas the total A/S content (A/S and their derivatives) has not been reported. In the present study endemic Alkanna species (tinctoria (L.) Tausch, pindicola Hausskn., orientalis (L.) Boiss., methanea Hausskn., calliensis Boiss., graeca Boiss. & Spruner, primuliflora Griseb., stribrnyi Velen., sieberi DC., noneiformis Griseb.) grown in various Greek regions were collected and analyzed for their total A/S content for the first time. A comparison was additionally performed among species and different regions.

Quantitative analysis revealed that specific root samples of A. tinctoria, A. pindicola and A. sieberi showed the highest amount of A/S and derivatives (1.41, 1.38, 1.00mg/100mg root respectively), but the A/S content varied from one region to another even within the same species. Yet, a significant difference in A/S content was observed among species. With this study it can be concluded that some of the examined Alkanna species of the Greek flora could serve as alternative sources for medicinally valuable A/S derivatives.

Keywords: Alkannin, shikonin, Alkanna, Boraginaceae, naphthoquinones, wound healing

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