Ratanjot is the common name of a plant in India, almost certainly in the Boraginaceae family, that has medicinal properties and also yields a red dyestuff that is used in foods, cosmetics etc. The plant is commonly traded in markets through much of India. Arnebia speciosa Aitch. & Hemsl. (syn Arnebia nobilis) is probably the main source of ratanjot, though at least 15 different species share this common name and many of these also have medicinal uses and supply a similar red dye. Onosma hispida Wall. ex G.Don (often wrongly referred to as Onosma echioides) is probably often also used as a source of ratanjot and the following species in Boraginaceae are likely to be also used at times:- Alkanna tinctoria L.; Arnebia benthamii (Wall. ex G.Don) I.M.Johnst.; Arnebia euchroma (Royle) I.M.Johnst.; Arnebia hispidissima (Sieber ex Lehm.) A.DC.; Maharanga emodi (Wall.) DC.; and Onosma hookeri C.B.Clarke[].

Common Name: Arabian Primrose

General Information

Arnebia hispidissima is an annual herb growing up to 40cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for its roots, which are used as a dye and in traditional medicine[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Northern tropical Africa, through Egypt and Arabia, to northern India.

Habitat

Dry, stony or sandy soils, often in desert plains and disturbed localities along fields[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	0.40 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the drier tropics and subtropics.
Requires a well-drained soil and a position in full sun.

Edible Uses

An edible red dye, used to colour food, is obtained from the root[].

Medicinal

Compounds in the roots and aerial parts have showed antimicrobial activity that is more powerful against bacteria than against fungi[]..
In Indian traditional medicine root extracts are used to treat ulcers, boils, cuts, throat complaints, heart problems, headache and fever[].

Extracts of the whole plant are used as a stimulant, tonic, diuretic and expectorant[].

Other Uses

A purplish-red to purple dye is obtained from the roots[]. It is used to colour clothes and the body[]. In India the dye is included in the group of Boraginaceae species the roots of which are sold under the commercial name 'ratanjot', used to colour food and to dye silk[].
The red pigment in the roots is composed of a group of naphthoquinonic dyes including shikonin (and esters), its optical isomer alkannin (and derivatives) and their common racemic form shikalkin, as well as arnebifuranone which is another type of compound[]. They are poorly soluble in water but more easily so in alcohol and fats, which explains their uses as colourants in cosmetics[].

Propagation

Seed -

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