A Comprehensive Review of the Chemistry, Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacology, Clinical Applications, Adverse Events, and Quality Control of Indigo Naturalis.

Quan Sun,Chaomei Fu,Ling Tang,Jing Leng,Lijuan Wang

doi:10.3389/fphar.2021.664022

Abstract

Indigo naturalis (IN), which is derived from indigo plants such as Strobilanthes cusia (Nees) Kuntze, Persicaria tinctoria (Aiton) Spach, and Isatis tinctoria L., has been traditionally used in the treatment of hemoptysis, epistaxis, chest pain, aphtha, and infantile convulsion in China for thousands of years. Clinical trials have shown that the curative effect of IN for psoriasis and ulcerative colitis (UC) is remarkable. A total of sixty-three compounds, including indole alkaloids, terpenoids, organic acids, steroids, and nucleosides, have been isolated from IN, of which indole alkaloids are the most important. Indirubin, isolated from IN, was used as a new agent to treat leukemia in China in the 1970s. Indirubin is also an active ingredient in the treatment of psoriasis. Pharmacological studies have confirmed that IN has inhibitory effects on inflammation, tumors, bacteria, and psoriasis. Indigo, indirubin, tryptanthrin, isorhamnetin, indigodole A, and indigodole C are responsible for these activities. This review provides up-to-date and comprehensive information on IN with regard to its chemistry, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, clinical applications, adverse events, and quality control. This review may also serve a reference for further research on IN.

Highlights

Indigo naturalis (IN), called “Qingdai” in Chinese, is a dark blue powder, mass, or particle made from the leaf or stem of Strobilanthes cusia (Nees) Kuntze, Persicaria tinctoria (Aiton) Spach, and Isatis tinctoria L
It was recorded in other classics of traditional medicine, such as “Kai Bao Ben Cao,” “Ben Cao Gang Mu,” and “Ben Cao Xin Bian,” which were written in the Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties in China, respectively
We provide a comprehensive overview of studies on the chemistry, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, clinical applications, adverse events, and quality control of IN for further research

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Indigo naturalis (IN), called “Qingdai” in Chinese, is a dark blue powder, mass, or particle made from the leaf or stem of Strobilanthes cusia (Nees) Kuntze, Persicaria tinctoria (Aiton) Spach, and Isatis tinctoria L. IN was first recorded in the materia medica book “Yao Xing Lun”, which was compiled during the Tang dynasty of China, approximately 1,400 years ago. It was recorded in other classics of traditional medicine, such as “Kai Bao Ben Cao,” “Ben Cao Gang Mu,” and “Ben Cao Xin Bian,” which were written in the Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties in China, respectively Pharmacological studies have confirmed that IN has an inhibitory effect on inflammation, tumors, bacteria, and psoriasis. We provide a comprehensive overview of studies on the chemistry, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, clinical applications, adverse events, and quality control of IN for further research

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Included Methods Animals Interventions study

DISCUSSION

Findings

Results