Arnebia pulchra (Willd. ex Roem. & Schult.) Edm. is an endangered, perennial member of Boraginaceae family. Spectrophotometric and LC-Mass analysis confirmed the existence of shikalkin derivatives in its root skin and polyphenolic compounds in the inner part of its root. Studies on the regeneration of A. pulchra from its callus resulted in successful callus induction in the root explants excise...

Background: There is a growing demand for mass production of shikalkin (a natural pigment consisted of shikonin and alkannin) due to its increasing applications in cosmetics, pharmaceutical and nutrition industries. The root of Iranian Arnebia euchroma produces shikalkin. The promising capability of this plant for shikalkin production has already been demonstrated in cell culture studies. Obje...

Arnebia euchroma is from Boraginaceae family. Various therapeutic effects have been reported for different species of this plant. The aim of this study was to investigate antioxidant activity of hydroalcoholic extract of the root of A. euchroma and its protective effect on hepatotoxicity induced by CCl4 in mice. In this experimental study, A. euchroma was extracted with ethanol solvent by macer...

BACKGROUND The inhabitants of mountainous terrains depend on folk therapies to treat various ailments; however lack of plant based research and geographical constraints set the traditional knowledge in jeopardy. Present study is the first documentation on traditional uses of plant species by the inhabitants of the Shigar Valley, Karakorum Range, Northern Pakistan. METHOD Ethnobotanical data w...