International Journal of Economic Plants (May 2015)
Gloriosa: A High Demanding Pharmaceut ical Plant in Near Future
Abstract
Gloriosa superba L. wavy-edged mostly red flowers is an important indigenous medicinal plant growing in different region of India. Different phyto chemicals have been extracted and identified from the various plant parts mainly tubers and seeds, viz., colchicine, colchicoside, 3-demethyl-N-deformyl-N-deacetylcolchicine etc. Colchicine, the main alkaloid of G. superba, is a useful agent chiefly in the treatment of acute attacks of gout but is also valuable in other inflammatory diseases such as familial Mediterranean fever. Apart from gout it is also used for cancer, leprosy, swelling, piles, chronic ulcers and act as antipyretic, antidote in snake bite, anti helmintic, purgative and anti abortive. Other than inhibiting the assembly of microtubules, the major biological effects of colchicine include leukocyte diapedesis, lysosomal degranulation, and inhibition of proliferation of fibroblasts as well as collagen transport to the extracellular space. In this way it relieves the pain associated with acute gout, decreases interleukin-l production in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, and is used in the prevention or treatment of amyloidosis, scleroderma, and chronic cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Colchicine is available as tablets and, in some countries, as injectable solutions. Tablets contain mostly 0.5–0.65 mg colchicine. Due to excessive use of the plants for diverse medicinal purposes, the species is on the edges of extinction and included in Red Data Book. The overall aim of this study was to review the genus Gloriosa over its documentation of the origin and distribution, botanical description, genetic resource, pharmaceutical importance, phytochemical constituents, cultivation practices, horticultural potentialities and also future prospect of G. superba.
