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Improved isolation procedure for shikonin from the root of the Chinese medicinal plant Lithospermum erythrorhizon and its solubilization with cyclodextrins

Authors Azuma, Hideki; Li, Jiawei; Youda, Ryota; Suzuki, Toshio; Miyamoto, Kazuhide; Taniguchi, Taizo; Nagasaki, Takeshi

Journal JOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH ON MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS , MAY 2016,2:3

DOI 10.1016/j.jarmap.2016.01.002

Abstract In this study, we improved the method for the isolation and purification of the bioactive compound shikonin from the dried root of the traditional Chinese medicinal plant Lithospermum erythrorhizon without a tedious chromatographic separation. Furthermore, we also attempted the solubilization of shikonin in water with cyclodextrins (CDs) using a solid phase high-speed vibration milling. Among the various CDs, sulfobutylether-beta-CD (SBE beta-CD) showed a highest solubilizing ability and 52.5% of shikonin was solubilized with equimolar amount of SBE beta-CD. In addition, the SBE beta-CD shikonin complex showed higher apoptogenic activity than that of the same concentration of free shikonin against murine primary peritoneal macrophages. These results indicate that SBE beta-CD is a suitable excipient for clinical application of shikonin. (C) 2016 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Species covered 紫草 Lithospermum erythrorhizon