Plumbaginaceae

The Plumbaginaceae is a family well known for species adapted to a wide range of arid and saline habitats. It includes ca 30 genera and about 725 species. The root of Plumbago zeylanica (also called Chitrak), a major source of plumbagin, has been used in traditional Indian medicine since 750 BC as an anti-atherogenic, cardiotonic, hepatoprotective, and neuroprotective agent. P. zeylanica has also been used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, dysmenorrhea, injury by bumping, and cancer. Plumbagin has been shown to possess anti-cancer, anti-proliferative, chemopreventive, radiosensitizing, anti-angiogenic, and anti-metastatic activities.