Alkanet is a herb in the borage family, whose roots yield a dark red dye. Although the plant’s flowers are blue, it has a dark red root of blackish appearance externally but blue-red inside, with a whitish core. The main chemical compound found in alkanet root is called alkannin, which is soluble in alcohol, ether, and oils, but is insoluble in water. Keep in mind however that alkanet is toxic for internal use (hepatotoxic), so is best avoided for formulations such as lip balms.