gloriosa superba linn. – a pharmacological review - International ...

Publication Ref No.: IJPRD/2010/PUB/ARTI/VOV-2/ISSUE-8/OCT/004 ISSN 0974 – 9446
The forest of India is Pandora's box being
having rich collection of medicinal and aromatic
plants which could be utilize to prepare drugs
and perfumes. Ayurvada, the bible of Indian
medicinal science has codified about 8000
herbal remedies used for various therapeutic
purposes. the other ancient epical health books
like, The Rigveda, Yajurveda, Atharvaveda,
Charak Samhita and Sushrut Samhita has
described the use of various medicinals plants
which are steel found in many of ayurvedic
formulations. But unfortunatly a lot of valuable
ancient knowledge is being lost in alarming rate.
Green plants are biosynthesize and preserve a
large number of biochemical products, many of
which are extractable and used for various
scientific investigations. Secondary metabolites
of plants showed number of role in modern
medicine. it is the potential of ancient herbal
medicinal system which provide base to
synthesis of lead structures for the development
of modified derivatives with increased efficiency
and/or reduced toxicity.
Some miraculous useful chemical from plants
include vinblastine, vincristine, taxol,
podophyllotoxin, camptothecin, digitoxigenin,
gitoxigenin, digoxigenin, tubocurarine,
morphine, codeine, aspirin, atropine,
pilocarpine, capscicine, allicin, curcumin,
artemesinin and ephedrine. The crude extract
from medicinal plants could be used as medica
ment. On the other side, the isolation and
identification of active principle along with
elucidation of their mechanism of action of drug
is of extreme importance. [2,3]
Gloriosa superba is one of the oldest ingredient
of species from ancient time. Being native form
Indian specially Southern India it is known as
glory lily and climbing lily- in English; Karihari- in
Hindi; Langli- in Sanskrit. [4,5]
The plant lies in Phyllum – Gimnospermae,
Class – Liliposida and Genus – Gloriosa,
herbaceous, tall with tendril, rootstock are solid,
flaeshy and cylindric, naked & v-shaped.
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The genous gloriosa as is comprised of 8-15
species which include, Gloriosa superba Linn,
G luteo, G plantii, G.latifolia, G magnifica,G
rothschildiana, G abysstinica, G longifolia, G
simplex. [6,7]
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS
A wide varieties of phytochemicals are found in
glory lily. In the world market glory lily
considered as rich source of colchicines and
gloriosine. Silosterol, its Glucoside and beta and
Gamma Lumicolichicines. Beta silosterol, its
Flucoside and 2-H-6-MeO benzoic acid.
(Table No. 01)
Table: 1- Chemical constituents of plant. [7,8,9,10]
The tubers or dried roots contain colchicines,
benzoic and salicylic acid, sterols and resinous
substances-colchicines, 3-demethyl colchicine,
1,2-didemethyl colchicine, 2,3- didemethyl
colchicine, N-formyl, N-deacetyl colchicines,
colchicocide, gloriosine, tannins and superbine.
[11]
Tubers roots and seeds are two most important
part of glory lily used for variety of purpose. The
roots are digged, washed thoroughly, dried and
store properly for further use. Seed and pericarp
are separated and dried in shade later in
sunlight to dry completely.
Glory lily is also known for its colchicine content
which finds used to treat arthritis, therefor glory
lily is plant of choice for isolation of colchicine. [6]
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