GLORIOSA SUPERBA L.: A DIMINISHING WONDER
Pallavi Sharma and Tulika Mishra*
ABSTRACT
Gloriosa superba (Flame lily) is a creeper plant belonging to the family Colchicaceae. This plant has been used asa remedy in classical times. In rustic regions of Asian continents, the plant has been used as ethnomedicine. It has antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, and anti-coagulant properties. This plant is a rich source of important phytochemicals like colchicines and colchicocides, which are very expensive, as these are used in modern medicine, this plant is also exported from India. Colchicine has the potential for treating fatal diseases like cancer and it is also used to treat the hyper-inflammatory phase in COVID-19 patients. It is also used in prevention of cardiac diseases like pericarditis. In recent years, G. superba is copiously used as a source of colchicine to treat gout because colchicine is a substitute for those who are unable to tolerate non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs used in gout. Literature data revealed that this species is also used to cure disorders like rheumatism, arthritis, cholera, impotence, typhus, etc. This species is on the border of extinction and is included in the „Red Data Book' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Current communication tried to cover an overall review of various medicinal and pharmacological aspects of G. superba.
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