Alkannin
Oxford Dictionary of Biochemistry:
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alkannin
(S)-5,8,-dihydroxy-2-(1-hydroxy-4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-1,4-naphthalenedione; a red pigment derived from the root of the alkanet plant, and used as a dye in cosmetics and food. The (+)(R) enantiomer is also a natural product, shikonin, and the racemate is known as shikalkin.
| alkanet, alkane, alkalosis | |
| alkatriene, alkatrienyl, alkenyl |
Wikipedia on Answers.com:
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Alkannin
| Alkannin | |
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5,8-Dihydroxy-2-[(1S)-1-hydroxy-4-methylpent-3-en-1-yl]naphthalene-1,4-dione |
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Other names
C.I. Natural Red 20; Alkanet extract |
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| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | 517-88-4  |
| PubChem | 72521 |
| ChemSpider | 65430 |
| KEGG | C10292 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL28457 |
| Jmol-3D images | Image 1 |
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| Properties[1] | |
| Molecular formula | C16H16O5 |
| Molar mass | 288.29 g/mol |
| Appearance | Red-brown crystalline prisms |
| Melting point |
149 °C, 422 K, 300 °F |
| Solubility in water | Sparingly soluble |
| Hazards | |
| LD50 | 3.0 g/kg (mice) |
 (verify) (what is:  / ?)Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) |
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| Infobox references | |
Alkannin is a natural dye that is obtained from the extracts of plants from the borage family Alkanna tinctoria that are found in the south of France. The dye is used as a food coloring and in cosmetics. It is used as a red-brown food additive in regions such as Australia,[2] and is designated in Europe as the E number E103, but is no longer approved for use..[3]
The chemical structure as a naphthoquinone derivative was first determined by Brockmann in 1936.[4] Alkannin has a deep red color in a greasy or oily environment and a violet color in an alkaline environment. Biosynthetically, alkannin is produced in plants from the intermediates 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and geranyl pyrophosphate.[5]
Alkannin is an antioxidant[6] and has an antimicrobial effect against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. It is also known to have wound healing, antitumor, and antithrombotic properties.[5]
References
- ^ The Merck Index, 11th Edition, 243
- ^ Additives, Food Standards Australia New Zealand
- ^ "Current EU approved additives and their E Numbers", Food Standards Agency website, retrieved 15 Dec 2011
- ^ H. Brockmann (1936). "Die Konstitution des Alkannins, Shikonins und Alkannans". Justus Liebigs Ann. Chem. 521: 1–47. doi:10.1002/jlac.19365210102.
- ^ a b Vassilios P. Papageorgiou, Andreana N. Assimopoulou, Elias A. Couladouros, David Hepworth, and K. C. Nicolaou (1999). "The Chemistry and Biology of Alkannin, Shikonin, and Related Naphthazarin Natural Products". Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 38 (3): 270–300. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1521-3773(19990201)38:3<270::AID-ANIE270>3.0.CO;2-0.
- ^ A.N. Assimopoulou, D. Boskou, V.P. Papageorgiou (2004). "Antioxidant activities of alkannin, shikonin and Alkanna tinctoria root extracts in oil substrates". Food Chemistry 87 (3): 433–438. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2003.12.017.
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