ISOLATION AND BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF LAWSONE: A REVIEW

Lawsone also known as hennotannic acid, is a red-orange dye present in the leaves of the henna plant (Lawsonia inermis). The present review was based on the isolation and biological properties of lawsone. Lawsone is a 1,4-naphthoquinone derivative of hydroxyquinone containing one additional ring. It has a characteristic purple/brown coloration as opposed to the purple/blue associated with ninhydrin. Quinones are widely-distributed aromatic compounds present throughout nature, and can be found in several families of plants, as well as isolated of fungi, algae and bacteria. Hydroxynaphthoquinones have proved effective due to their chemical and pharmacological properties. Naphthoquinones are compounds present as secondary metabolites of plants and microorganisms; they confer activity in various biological oxidative processes and represent a chemical defence used by many plants. Lapachol, lawsone, juglone and plumbagin are examples of natural naphthoquinones isolated from plants, and can be distinguished by their use in traditional Indian medicine. In conclusion, lawsone and Lawsonia inermis have demonstrated for various pharmacological properties i.e., antifungal, antibacterial, effects on CNS, analgesic, anti-inflammatory & anti-pyretic, hepatoprotective, anti-parasitic, abortifacient, anti-urolithiasis, antidiabetic & hypolipidemic effects, anti-ulcer, wound healing, diuretic, anti-diarrhoeal, anticancer and antioxidant.