lawsone

Lawsone is a naturally occurring organic compound classified as a naphthoquinone derivative, specifically 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone. It is the principal pigment found in the leaves of *Lawsonia inermis* (henna) and is responsible for henna’s characteristic red-orange dye properties[3][7]. Lawsone reacts with keratin in skin and hair to produce a permanent stain and has been used for thousands of years as a natural dye[3][8]. Beyond its cosmetic uses, lawsone exhibits several biological activities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antifungal, antitumor, hepatoprotective effects and modulation of skin homeostasis[2][4][6][7]. Mechanistically, it acts as an agonist of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), influencing keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation[6]. Lawsone also inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokine production and induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in cancer cells[2]. It serves as both an active ingredient itself and a starting material for synthesizing various drug-like molecules with potential anticancer or anti-infective properties[7].

Other names

2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone2-hydroxynaphthoquinonehennotannic acid