An overview of the chemical composition, biological activities and traditional uses of Alkanna Tausch species

Medicinal plants are rich sources of natural chemical products used as traditional medicines and they produce many modern medicines from these plants. Secondary metabolites produced by plants are often responsible for the biological properties of plant species used worldwide. The main components of Alkanna species are Alkannin and its derivatives, as well as alkaloids, flavonoids and other secondary compounds. According to the results of scientific studies, Alkanna species should be standardized under appropriate conditions and supported by toxicity, in vitro and in vivo studies. It was thought that they could be a promising source for the discovery of a new herbal medicine as antimicrobial, antitumor, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents