Lithospermum erythrorhizon
Red gromwell
Lithospermum erythrorhizon, commonly known as Shikon, is a perennial herb prized in traditional medicine. Its roots contain unique naphthoquinones, which impart a deep red color. Renowned for their potent anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and wound-healing properties, these bioactive compounds make it a vital ingredient in various dermatological and restorative treatments.
- Scientific name: Lithospermum erythrorhizon
- Family: Boraginaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae in the order Boraginales and the family Boraginaceae. Finally, it is identified by its genus, Lithospermum.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Boraginales | WCVP |
| Family | Boraginaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Lithospermum | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Lithospermum erythrorhizon, is known by various common names depending on the linguistic and regional context. In Japanese, it is referred to as ムラサキ (murasaki), while in Chinese, it is called 紫草 (zǐcǎo). Similarly, in the Lzh language, it is identified as 紫草. In Korean, the plant is known as 지치 (jichi), and in Estonian, it is called puna-rusujuur.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ja | ムラサキ | Wikidata |
| zh | 紫草 | Wikidata |
| ko | 지치 | Wikidata |
| et | puna-rusujuur | Wikidata |
| lzh | 紫草 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 紫草 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 紫草 | Wikidata |
| fa | گرومول بنفش | Wikidata |
| en | red gromwell | Wikidata |
| en | purple gromwell | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several key regions in Northern and Eastern Asia. In the vast expanse of Siberia, it can be found specifically in the areas of Chita and Yakutiya. Moving toward the Russian Far East, the species is also established in the Amur and Primorye regions. Its range extends significantly further south into the territory of China, particularly within the China South-Central region. Collectively, these locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive across diverse continental landscapes.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Siberia | Chita | WCVP |
| Siberia | Yakutiya | WCVP |
| Russian Far East | Amur | WCVP |
| Russian Far East | Primorye | WCVP |
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | Inner Mongolia | WCVP |
| China | Manchuria | WCVP |
| China | China North-Central | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| Eastern Asia | Japan | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, known for its significant pharmacological properties, relies primarily on its specialized underground structures for medicinal use. The most vital components are the roots, which are harvested to obtain their potent bioactive compounds. Once processed, the dried root is often utilized in various traditional preparations to ensure stability and potency. These characteristic red roots are highly valued in herbal medicine, specifically because they serve as the primary source for concentrated red pigment extracts. Ultimately, the medicinal value of the root lies in these deep, colorful tissues that hold the essence of the plant's healing potential.- Total parts
- 9
- Scientific sources
- 18
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| roots | 9 | ★★★★☆ |
| dried root | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| root | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| red roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| red pigment extracts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gromwell root | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| green leaves/stems | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dried roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| callus | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Lithospermum erythrorhizon has 28 reported phytochemicals identified across 69 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include shikonin, acetylshikonin, Shikonin, alkannin, beta-hydroxyisovalerylshikonin.
- Total chemicals
- 28
- Scientific sources
- 69
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| shikonin | 21 | ★★★★★ |
| acetylshikonin | 10 | ★★★★★ |
| Shikonin | 8 | ★★★★☆ |
| alkannin | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| beta-hydroxyisovalerylshikonin | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dihydroechinofuran | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lithospermic acid B | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| p-hydroxybenzoic acid | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| (22E)-Ergosta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 3-geranyl-4-hydroxybenzoic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Lithospermum erythrorhizon has 7 reported activities identified across 8 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiviral, Analgesic, Antibacterial, Antiinflammatory, Antimicrobial.
- Total activities
- 7
- Scientific sources
- 8
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antiviral | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Analgesic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antibacterial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiinflammatory | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antimicrobial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antioxidant | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antithrombotic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Lithospermum erythrorhizon has 12 reported medicinal uses identified across 16 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, inflammation, antiviral, infections, infectious diseases.
- Total uses
- 12
- Scientific sources
- 16
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| cancer | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| inflammation | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| antiviral | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| infections | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| infectious diseases | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lymphoproliferative disorders | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| nonalcoholic fatty liver disease | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rheumatism | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tumor cell lines | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| viral infections | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |