Abstract
Lawsone a coloring component of the Henna (Lawsonia inermis) leaves was found to bind with proteins. Present study has suggested a new rapid method for the isolation of lawsone from L. inermis through the calcium ion using the Flash and Disc Counter Current Chromatography (DCC). The purified pigment structurally characterized by 2D, TLC and NMR spectroscopy, was found to be active against reactive oxygen species (ROS) by Chemeluminiscence assay using lymphocytes. Purified lawsone showed remarkable inhibitory activity on the oxidative burst response of the whole blood, polymorphonuclear cells (PMNCs), Mononuclear cells (MNCs) with IC50 as 13 +/- 1.6 mu g/ml, 11 +/- 2.7 mu g/ml. and 10 +/- 4.2 mu g/ml respectively.