Alkanna tinctoria , Ratanjot, Alkanet, Dyer's bugloss, Hoary puccoon, Orchanet, Spanish bugloss

Alkanna tinctoria (Common name: Ratanjot, Alkanet, Dyer's bugloss, Hoary puccoon, Orchanet, Spanish bugloss) - Boraginaceae,

 a perennial, herbaceous flowering plant native to the Mediterranean region. It has bright blue flowers and dark red roots. The roots are used to produce a red dye. Alkanna tinctoria is rich in naphthoquinone enantiomers, such as Alkannin and Shikonin. These have a wide range of pharmaceutical properties and are used as cosmetics, food additives, and natural dyes. An important plant of Ayurveda.