Shikonin: The Ancient Purple Healer from the Roots of Lithospermum
Introduction: A Millennium-Old Pigment with Modern Therapeutic Promise Shikonin, the vibrant crimson-purple naphthoquinone pigment extracted from the roots of Lithospermum erythrorhizon and related species like Arnebia euchroma, represents one of the most fascinating intersections of traditional medicine and cutting-edge pharmaceutical research. For over two thousand years, this compound has colored silk, treated wounds, and symbolized vitality in East [...]