Abstract :
Echium italicum contained naphthoquinone pigments such as alkannin and shikonin derivatives. However, nine shikonin
pigments: shikonin, acetylshikonin, propionylshikonin, isobutyrylshikonin, tiglylshikonin, 3,3-dimethylacrylshikonin,
angelylshikonin, 2-methyl-n-butyrylshikonin and isovalerylshikonin were isolated from the root epidermis of Echium
italicum. The total phenolic content of the herb and root of Echium italicum was 11.46 ± 0.08 mg GA/g. The chemical
analysis of three different stages (early, middle and late stage) of maturity of the seeds of Echium italicum from Turkey
revealed that they contained total oil 15.22, 26.25 and 28.78 g/100 consisted of palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, α-
linolenic, Ï’-Linolenic, heneicosanoic acids, while stigmasterol and brassicasterol were recorded only in the last
stage. pharmacological studies showed that the plant possessed anxiolytic, sedative, antimicrobial, insecticidal,
antioxidant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, wound healing and other effects. The current review discussed the chemical
constituents and pharmacological effects of Echium italicum.
Keyword :
pharmacology, medicinal plant, chemical constituents, Echium italicum