Planta Med 2007; 73 - P_185
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-986966

Shikonin pigments from hairy root culture of Lithospermum canescens

H Damianakos 1, K Graikou 1, A Pietrosiuk 2, K Sykłowska-Baranek 2, IB Chinou 1
  • 1Dept. of Pharmacognosy and Chemistry of Natural Products, School of Pharmacy, University of Athens, Zografou, 15771, Athens, Greece
  • 2Dept. of Biology and Pharmaceutical Botany, Warsaw Medical University, Banacha 1, 02–097 Warsaw, Poland

Pigments of shikonin type, beyond cosmetic applications, show inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, immunosti- mulating and anticancer activities [1]. Lithospermum canescens (Michx.) Lehm. (Boraginaceae) is a common plant in northern America also known as Indian paint. Recently, the natural roots of L. canescens have been found to contain the red pigments acetylshikonin, isobutyl shikonin as well as isovalerylshikonin and α-methyl butyrylshikonin [2]. In the pesent study, hairy root cultures of L. canescens were established using three strains of Agrobacterium rhizogenes: ATCC 15834, LBA 9402 and NCIB 8196. In the n-hexane extract of the hairy root culture of L. canescens [3]) the presence of acetylshikonin (ACS), isobutylshikonin (IBS) and β-hydroxyva- lerylshikonin (HO-IVS) has been confirmed so far, by means of 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and COSY techniques. Antioxidative, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities assays are under research

Acknowledgements: This study has been financially supported by the project 70/3/7596 and the PENED 2005 (70/3/8586).

References: [1] Couladouros, E. et al.1997 Tetrahedron Lett. 38: 7263; [2] Pietrosiuk, A. and Wiedenfeld, H. 2005 Pharm. Biol.43: 189. [3] Pietrusiuk, A. et al. 2006 Plant Cell Rep. 25: 1052