Anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity of Shikonin derivatives from Arnebia hispidissima (Lehm.) DC

Arnebia hispidissima roots have been used traditionally for the treatment of ulcers, boils, cuts, heart ailments and headache, fever, tongue and throat troubles. The purpose of this study was to characterize the most potent phytochemicals present in the ethyl acetate extract having anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity using carrageenan and CFA model. The observed results revealed that shikonin isovalerate showed most potent anti-inflammatory effects (60.5%) at the dose of 5.0 mg/kg at 6 h after carrageenan injection. Moreover, the maximum inhibition rate was observed of isovaleryl shikonin (61.2%) at the dose of 10 mg/kg at 8 day after CFA injection. The strong antibacterial activity was showed by shikonin isovalerate at 20 g/ml dose against E. cloacae and ,-dimethylacryl shikonin demonstrated maximum antifungal activity against C. albicans at the dose of > 65 g/ml.