Shikonin is a naphthoquinone pigment present in the hairy roots of the plant species from the Boraginaceae family. The compound has been well investigated for its highly efficient medicinal, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. Various extraction methodologies have been employed to maximise yield while minimising waste production of shikonin and its derivatives. Despite substantial research on shikonin and Boraginaceae plants, a research gap persists in the food industry and extraction technologies. This review addresses crucial aspects of shikonin deserving of further exploration. It begins by elucidating the attributes of the Boraginaceae plants and their medicinal traits in folklore. It proceeds to focus on the roots of the plant and its medicinal properties, followed by extraction procedures explored in the last fifteen years, emphasising the novel technologies that have been chosen to improve the yield extract while minimising extraction times. Furthermore, this review briefly outlines studies employing cell culture techniques to enhance in vitro shikonin production. Lastly, attention is directed towards research in the food industry, particularly on shikonin-loaded biodegradable films and the antioxidant activity of shikonin. This review concludes by summarising the future potential in food science and prominent research gaps in this field.

• Keywords
• Boraginaceae, acetylshikonin, naphthoquinone, shikonin,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH

Chemical characterization of the bulbs of Drimia pancration was conducted to isolate four steroidal saponins (1-4). Earlier, we focused on the structural elucidation of compounds 1-3. Herein, by means of 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, Nuclear Overhauser Effects (NOE), and 2D-NMR spectra, the full stereochemical structure of 4 is reported, and all the 1H and 13C signals are assigned. Compounds 1-4 were tested for their acaricidal properties against the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae. Our results showed excellent activity of compound 1, with an LD50 (µg/cm2) of 0.29 and a LD90 (µg/cm2) of 0.96, whereas compounds 2, 3, and 4 showed moderate activity. Furthermore, the acaricidal and cytotoxic properties of the crude extract were also investigated. Of note, after 96 h of exposure, the acaricidal activity of compound 1 was higher than that of the positive control, hexythiazox. Indeed, for compound 1, LD50 and LD90 were 0.29 and 0.96 µg/cm2, respectively, while hexythiazox LD50(90) was 18.7 (132.5) µg/cm2. Additionally, D. pancration extract, after 72 h, induced a high cytotoxic effect in HaCaT and THP-1 cell lines, with an IC50 of 7.37 ± 0.5 µg/mL and 3.50 ± 0.15 µg/mL, respectively. Overall, D. pancration can be considered as a green source of novel acaricides effective against mites of agricultural importance, such as T. urticae, pending proper field validation and the assessment of non-target effects on other invertebrate species.

• Keywords
• Integrated Pest Management, NMR, botanical acaricide, crop pest, steroidal saponins,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH