Revised phytochemical study of arnebia hispidissima.

Chemical investigations into the constituents of the roots of Arnebia hispidissima have yielded 3 new naphthaquinone which possess antibiotic and anticancerous properties. A flavonoid, characterised as vitexin, has been isolated from the fresh flowers of Arnebia hispidissima. A dye, commonly known as RATANJOT in Indo-Pakistan medicine, is obtained from the roots of A. hispidisaima. Other compounds, alkannin monoacetate, alknannin alpha-dimethylacrylate, (+/-) - alkannnin and three new naphthaquinones having antibiotic and anticancerous activities have been reported from its roots 1-4. Phytochemical studies into the constituents of fresh flowers of A. hispidissima have been carried out for the first time. A flavonoid, characterised as vitexin, has been isolated.