Department of Basic Sciences, College of Forestry, Dr. YSP University of Horticulture & Forestry Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh-173230, India.
Department of Entomology, College of Horticulture, Dr. YSP University of Horticulture & Forestry Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh-173230, India.
Recent Pat Biotechnol. 2023;17(1):92-102. doi: 10.2174/1872208316666220718154341.
Trans-Himalayan region has been a major component of the India's opulent medicinal plant heritage that encompasses numerous critically endangered plant species. Arnebia euchroma (Royle ex Benth.) Johnston (common name: Ratanjot), a Trans- Himalayan native, is amongst them, and it belongs to the family Boraginaceae. Ratanjot has long been used as a colourant in food and cosmetics besides a major ingredient of traditional remedies prescribed for curing mild constipation, dermatitis, frostbite, and eczema like health disorders. Though principally harvested for its roots, almost all the parts of this plant have been used in pharmaceutical products, food, dyes and beverages since prehistoric times. Its roots are a rich source of naphthoquinone pigment(s) mainly shikonin, acetylshikonin and deoxyshikonin, accountable for its medicinal value as antimicrobial, wound healing, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antioxidant agent(s). Considering the medicinal importance and critically endangered status of this taxon, the need of the hour is to conserve and propagate it for supplying sufficient raw materials for its commercial exploitation.
横断山区一直是印度丰富药用植物遗产的重要组成部分，其中包含许多极危植物物种。Arnebia euchroma（Royle ex Benth.）Johnston（俗称：藏边大黄）就是其中之一，它属于紫草科。藏边大黄长期以来一直被用作食品和化妆品的着色剂，也是治疗轻度便秘、皮炎、冻伤和湿疹等健康问题的传统疗法的主要成分。尽管主要是为了收获其根部，但自古以来，这种植物的几乎所有部分都被用于制药产品、食品、染料和饮料。其根部是萘醌色素（主要是紫草素、乙酰紫草素和去氧紫草素）的丰富来源，这是其作为抗菌、伤口愈合、抗炎、抗癌和抗氧化剂的药用价值所在。考虑到该分类群的药用重要性和极危状态，当前的迫切需要是保护和繁殖它，以供应足够的原材料用于其商业开发。
