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HENNA
Source:Lawsonia inermisL. (syn.L. alba
Lam.) (Family Lythraceae).
Common/vernacular names:Egyptian privet.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
A glabrous much branched shrub, up to about
6 m high, lateral branches four gonus, often
ending in a spinous point with opposite
leaves, elliptic or broadly lanceolate; flowers
many in paniculate cymes fragrant white or
rose colored; generally considered a native
of Africa and Asia; widely cultivated in
tropical regions of the world (e.g., Egypt,
Sudan, China, India, Florida, and the West
Indies). Part used is the dried leaf. Major
producing countries include Sudan, Egypt,
and India.
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
Contains 0.55–1.0% lawsone (2-hydroxy-1,4-
naphthoquinone);1,2 1,4-naphthoquinone;^3
2-methoxy-3-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone;^4
flavonoids, coumarins, and phenolic acids;^4
5–10% gallic acid and tannin; about 11% su-
gars;resin;andothers(LISTAND HO ̈RHAMMER).2,3
Two xanthones (laxanthone-I and lax-
anthone-II) and a substituted coumarin named
lacoumarin (5-allyloxy-7-hydroxycoumarin)
have been isolated from the whole plant and
are probably present in the leaves.5,6The
aerial parts also contain the triterpenes law-
sonin (3-a-E-ferulyloxy-urs-11-en-13-b-ol)
and lawsonic acid (3-a-E-ferulyloxy-lup-20
(29)-en-28-oic acid).^7
Lawsone is the major active principle (col-
oring and pharmacological) in henna. It is not
present in the bark, stem, or root of the henna
plant. Its concentrations in the leaves vary
with climatic conditions; hot localities yield
henna with higher lawsone content than
temperate areas.^1 There has been a report
indicating lawsone to be a degradation and
autoxidation product of primary glycosides
called hennosides A, B, and C.^8
PHARMACOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL
ACTIVITIES
Lawsone has various biological activities, in-
cluding antifungal (fungicidal and fungistatic)
activities toward Alternaria, Aspergillus,
Absidia,Penicillium, and other species, being
Henna 355
