Raktamoola
Raktamoola is a substance used in the Ayurvedic materia medica. Shikonin undergoes hepatic metabolism via CYP450 enzymes. Topical bioavailability is good for wound healing and dermatological applications due to lipophilic nature penetrating skin barrier.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Raktamoola |
Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)
| Property | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Rasa (Taste) | Katu | Primary taste |
| Guna (Quality) | Laghu, Tikshna | Physical quality |
| Virya (Potency) | Ushna | Heating/Cooling effect |
| Vipaka (Post-digestive) | Katu | Post-digestive effect |
What is it made of?
Mineral/Elemental Profile
- Primary component: Mineral-derived preparation
- Note: Composition varies by specific preparation method
Analytical Methods: XRD, ICP-OES, SEM-EDS
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Churna (root powder), Kwatha (decoction), Capsule, Tablet, Lepa (paste), Taila (oil)
Standard Dosage: 1-3 g root powder twice daily; 15-20 mL decoction twice daily; 500 mg standardized extract twice daily
Bioavailability: Alkannin and shikonin (naphthoquinone enantiomers) from Raktamoola (Alkanna/Onosma species or Arnebia species) have moderate oral bioavailability (20-35%) due to lipophilicity. Shikonin undergoes hepatic metabolism via CYP450 enzymes. Topical bioavailability is good for wound healing and dermatological applications due to lipophilic nature penetrating skin barrier. Beta-hydroxy-isovalerylshikonin shows enhanced topical penetration compared to free shikonin.
Optimal Timing: Oral: after meals. Topical: apply to clean wound/skin area twice daily. Oil preparation: gentle massage on affected area at night.
Standardized Extract: Raktamoola root extract (8:1) standardized to total naphthoquinones >3% (as shikonin + alkannin). Oil preparation with red color index specification and validated HPTLC fingerprint.
Shelf Life: Dried root: 18-24 months; Root powder: 12-18 months; Extract: 24 months; Medicated oil: 18-24 months; Capsules: 24 months
Storage: Dried root: airtight, below 25 deg C, protected from light (naphthoquinone photodegradation). Extracts: amber containers, nitrogen-flushed, cool storage. Oil: amber glass, below 25 deg C.
Marker Compounds: Shikonin, Alkannin, Beta-hydroxyisovalerylshikonin, Acetylshikonin, Deoxyshikonin, Arnebinol, Beta-sitosterol
Extraction Methods
- Oil extraction (traditional red-colored medicated oil)
- Hydroalcoholic extraction (60-70% ethanol)
- Methanol extraction for naphthoquinone profiling
- Hexane extraction for lipophilic pigments
- Acetone extraction for shikonin isolation
- Supercritical CO2 for high-purity naphthoquinone fraction
Synergistic Combinations
- Yashtimadhu (wound healing synergy)
- Haridra (anti-inflammatory combination)
- Ghrita/Ghee (lipid vehicle enhances naphthoquinone absorption)
- Manjistha (blood purification and wound healing)
- Kumari/Aloe (topical wound healing formulation)
Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.
Educational reference only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything. Traditional uses and research findings are reported as published, not as claims about what any product does. If you take prescribed medication, raise any interaction with the prescriber rather than acting on a page. See our editorial standards.