SHIKONIN - IMPROVEMENT OF SKIN CARE

Abstract

Shikonin, a naphthoquinone pigment sourced from the roots of Lithospermum erythrorhizon, has a rich history of use in traditional Oriental medicine, known as Zicao. This natural compound, extracted from Lithospermum erythrorhizon roots, finds its place in Chinese herbal medicine. Shikonin boasts several skin-related benefits such as skin hydration, antioxidant protection, anticancer properties. In the current study, the structure of Shikonin was modified to reveal the direction of modification of a more promising compound by evaluating physicochemical parameters, skin penetration and intestinal absorption, and toxicity. In this work, it was found that compounds 11-13 showed the best parameters, unfortunately, structures 12 and 13 had a low absorptive capacity in the intestine. Thus, out of more than 20 possible modifications, one structure was identified.