Evidence supporting the use of: Shikonin
For the health condition: Infection (viral)
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Shikonin is a naphthoquinone compound isolated from the roots of Lithospermum erythrorhizon, a plant commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Historically, Shikonin and its source herb, known as "Zi Cao" in TCM, have been used for centuries to treat a variety of ailments, including skin infections, burns, and wounds. The traditional rationale for its use in viral infections is tied to its "heat-clearing" and "detoxifying" properties as described in TCM literature, rather than modern scientific understanding of virology.
Some in vitro studies have demonstrated that Shikonin exhibits antiviral activity against a limited number of viruses, such as herpes simplex virus and possibly hepatitis B virus, but these findings are preliminary and largely limited to cell culture experiments. There are no robust human clinical trials confirming its efficacy or safety in treating viral infections. As a result, the justification for using Shikonin to support or treat viral infections is primarily traditional, with only limited and low-quality scientific evidence to support these claims. Therefore, the strength of evidence is rated as 2 out of 5, reflecting some historical use and very preliminary laboratory data, but a lack of convincing clinical validation.
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