What is Alkanna?
alkanna , commonly known as an alkaneta, is the family of the Boraginaceae family, which includes 50 species of two -year and permanent herbal plants. These plants can be found in the wild and in cultivation around the Mediterranean and throughout Europe. Plants have many uses, from medicinal purposes to traditional and modern cosmetics. While most species in this family are quite common, several are critically endangered in some countries. The leaves are bicuspid, elongated and alternative. Usually in pairs, the flowers of these plants are small and destroyed in terminal rags that stretch when the flower expands. The color of the trumpet flowers ranges from blue to purple, arranged on one -sided, scorpion stops. The fruit located at the base is made of four different nuts.
Spicy plants alkanna are the only parts that have significant use. Outwardly, these roots seem dark purple, spongy and pliable. The bark dried, smashed and cylindrical rhizomes whoThey are fragile and exfoliating. There are pieces of stems and remains of bristle leaves near the crown area.
Plantsalkanna are stripping and are used in cosmetics due to red pigment produced by their roots. Growed species are not as rich in red pigment as wild varieties. They are used for the purposes of colored producers of ointments, hair oils and pomads. The red color also serves as a dye for a substance. Other uses include the treatment of minor burns, although severe burns are reportedly not responding.
All organs of plants alkanna contain pyrrolizidine alkaloid, but this alkaloid is more concentrated in the roots. Due to this harmful compound, pregnant and lactjeny, alkanna roots should not be used to prevent adverse effects. Other known side effects on people include liver failure, pulmonary hypertension and heart failure. TheThis alkaloid, although it represents harmful effects for humans, serves as a plant defense against herbivores such as insects.
If you want to get a red pigment from the roots of plants alkanna , it is necessary to exhaustive water to remove the matters of rubber and foreign color. Exhausted roots are then dried, ground and percolted with alcohol. The hydrochloric acid is mixed with an alcoholic tincture, which is later distilled and evaporated to achieve the consistency of a soft extract. The lower liquid is separated from the mixture by adding ether and water.