 Gen info
- Gloriosa is a genus of 12 species in the plant family Colchicaceae. It includes the formerly recognized genus Littonia. They are native in tropical and southern Africa to Asia, and naturalized in Australia and the Pacific, as well as being widely cultivated.
- Gloriosa superba is the national flower of Zimbabwe.
- Historical snippet: In 1947, Queen Elizabeth II received a diamond brooch in the shape of the flower for her 21st birthday while traveling in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). (26)
- Tamil snippets: In Tamil, the flower is known as Karthigaipoo, because it grows during the Tamil month of Karthigai (November-December). It is the state flower of Tamil Nadu in India. It was also designated the national flower of the de facto state of Tamil Eelam by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), as it contains all the colors contained in the Tamil Eelam nation flag, and also, because it grows during November, coinciding with the Maaveerar Naal (remembrance day observed by Sri Lankan Tamils to remember the deaths of militants who fought for Tamil homeland independence). (26)
- Some list the plant as "LC" (Least Concern Status), while some sources lists list it as "Endangered" due to
over-exploitation as natural source of colchicene.
Botany
• Climbing lily is a striking tuberous climbing plant. Rootstock is a chain of fleshy arched tubers, budding from the convexity above, cylindrical, flattened, often 15 to 20 centimeters long. Stem grows to 3 meters or more. Leaves are 15 to 20 centimeters long, variable in width, 3 to 5 centimeters across. Flowers are solitary or subcorymbose, towards the ends of the branches, 8 to 10 centimeters across. Petals are linear-lanceolate, spirally twisted, greenish when young, yellowish-orange as they mature, and reddish when fully mature. Filaments are stout and golden yellow, the connective being green. Capsules are about 5 centimeters long.
Distribution
- A recent introduction in the Philippines.
- Cultivated as ornamental.
- Native to Andaman Is., Angola, Assam, Bangladesh, Benin, Borneo, Botswana, Burkina, Burundi, Cabinda, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Provinces, Caprivi Strip, Central African Republic, Chad, China South-Central, Congo, DR Congo, East Himalaya, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gulf of Guinea Is., India, Ivory Coast, Jawa, Kenya, Laccadive Is., Laos, Lesser Sunda Is., Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaya, Maldives, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Northern Provinces, Pakistan, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Sudan-South Sudan, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, Vietnam, West Himalaya, Zambia, Zimbabwe. (8)
- In some places becoming extinct; in some, becoming invasive.
 Constituents
- Phytochemical analysis yielded flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids and glycosides in an aqueous extract.
- Study of ethanol and aqueous extracts yielded carbohydrates, alkaloids, phytosterols, fixed oil, fats, saponins, gum, mucilage, phenolic compounds, and tannin-like phytoconstituents.
-
Root yields a neutral bitter principle, superbine, which is toxic.
- Root yields three resins, a fluorescent principle, and salicylic acid.
- Phytochemical analysis of tubers and seeds yielded
flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, phenols, steroids, and terpenoids. Seeds alone yielded saponins. Glycosides were absent in both.
- Seeds and tubers contain alkaloids viz., colchicine and colchicoside as major constituents.
- A 1991 Sri Lankan analytical study on different plant parts showed the seeds with the highest content of total alkaloids and colchicene. The yams, leaves, and pericarp also yielded alkaloids.
- Alcoholic extract of the dried tuber yielded organic acid, choline, dextrose, a hydrocarbon, a fatty alcohol, a mixture of phytosterolins, a mixture of alkaloids, chiefly colchicine (0.3% of the tubers), and small amounts of two other crystalline bases.
- Tubers and dried roots yield 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.
- Study describes two important alkaloids--colchicene and gloriosine--in the seeds and tubers.
- Colchicene: It is the conventional drugs for the treatment of gout obtained from the corms of Gloriosa superba and Colchicum autumnale. Colchicene derives from the area Colchis near the black sea.
- In a study of quantitative sterol content in various plant parts, the maximum amount of total sterols (ß-sitosterol and stigmasterol) was observed in flowers (22.12 mg/gdw) and minimum in rhizome (15.82 mg/gdw). (24)
Properties
- Plant is poisonous, with potential to cause animal or human fatalities.
-
Pharmacologic action of the main alkaloid, colchicine, is identical with that of colchicene from Colchicum autumnale.
- Root is tonic, antiperiodic, alterative, purgative, and anthelmintic.
- Tubers are covered with a brown epidermis, except at the point which is tapering and nearly white, like the growing part of a young kidney potato. Internally, they are juicy, white, farinaceous, with a faint acrid odor; the taste mucilaginous, feebly bitter and a little acrid.
- Studies have suggested anti-inflammatory, oxytoxic, abortifacient, antithrombotic, anticoagulant, antimicrobial, antivenom, anthelmintic, larvicidal, hepatoprotective, mutagenic, anti-fertility, antioxidant, antiulcerogenic, anti-implantation, antioxidant, toxicity, polyploid properties.
 Toxicity
• Plant is a violent emetic, and the tubers, when eaten, can cause death within a few hours.
• Every part of the plant is poisonous, especially the tuberous rhizomes.
• Poisoning events: Use with suicidal intent, overdose during medicinal use, or confusion of its tubers with other edible species, like sweet potatoes or yams. (31)
• As with other members of Colchicaceae, the plant contains high levels of colchicene, a toxic alkaloid. It also contains the alkaloid gloriocine.
• Manifestations: Toxicity manifests within a few hours of ingestion as nausea, vomiting, numbness, numbness around the mouth, burning in the throat, abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, which leads to dehydration. Progression includes rhabdomyolysis, ileus, respiratory depression, hypotension, coagulopathy, hematuia, seizures, coma, and death. (26) Peripheral neuropathy, bone marrow suppression, and multi-organ failure in severe cases. (31)
• Management: Suported treatment.
• Roots, stalks, and leaves act as an acrid narcotic poison, and reportedly frequently used in India for suicidal purposes.
• Plant can be dangerous for cats, dogs, horses, and livestock.
• Case Report / Death Related to Gloriosa Superba Poisoning: A case report is made of an elderly woman who consumed tubers of G. superba for treatment of joint pains and who died of its toxicity. Colchicine, the major active alkaloid, is assumed to be the cause of toxicity. The usual presenting toxicity complaints are perioral numbness and tingling and throat burning, 2 to 6 hours after ingestion. Acute poisoning usually present as acute and severe gastroenteritis, with nausea, vomiting and bloody diarrhea, dehydration, shock and acute renal failure. (5)
• Colchicene Cardiotoxicity Report: Report of colchicene toxicity following ingestion of tubers described gastroenteritis, acute renal failure, cardiotoxicity, and hematological abnormalities as main manifestations. (9)
Parts used
Tuber roots, seeds.
Uses
Folkloric
- In Ceylon root is used to treat bruises and sprains.
- In India used in blood diseases, swellings, wounds, abscesses, pains and for treatment of gonorrhea. Also used as a tonic.
- Tuberous root stocks boiled with Sesamum oil is applied twice daily to painful arthritic joints. Also used to treat intestinal worms, bruises, infertility, skin problems and impotence.
- Sap from leaf tip used as smoothening agent for pimples and skin eruptions.
- Tuberous roots used for scrofula, baldness, intermittent fever and debility.
- Used in promoting labor and expulsion of the placenta.
- Seeds used to relieve rheumatic pain and as muscle relaxant.
- Tubers used in the treatment of cancer, malaria, stomachaches, piles and leprosy.
- Tubers used as abortifacient; also as antidote for snakebites and scorpion-stings.
- Leaves used for asthma.
- Used for the treatment of gout and other inflammatory diseases.
- In Persia used in the treatment of nose bleeds and impotence.
- Root is used in leprosy, piles and colic.
- Root also used in form of paste as an application for parasitic skin diseases.
- White powder obtained by repeated washing and grinding is given in gonorrhea, up to 12 grains, mixed with honey.
Others
- Murder and suicide: In Burma, reported use of roots by lovelorn girls to commit suicide.
 Studies
• Anti-Inflammatory / Colchicene / Tubers: Study in carrageenan-induced animal models showed the methanol and aqueous extracts of tubers of Gloriosa superb possessed good anti-inflammatory activity in a dose-dependent manner. Further screening of the extracts confirmed the presence of colchicines. (1)
• Oxytoxic / Abortifacient: Study of aqueous extract showed oxytoxic activity and early abortifacient activity which may be due to the presence of alkaloids such as colchicine. (2)
• Antimicrobial: Study has showed excellent antifungal activity against C. albicans and C. glabrata.
• Antithrombotic / Anticoagulant: Methanol and aqueous extracts have exhibited anticoagulant property which may be due to inhibition of thrombin-induced clotting.
• Antivenom: Various fractions have shown potent neutralizing activity on rattlesnake venom in mice.
• Anthelmintic: Ethanol and aqueous extracts of the whole plant of GS were evaluated for activity against Indian earthworms Pheretima posthuma. Both extracts exhibited significant anthelmintic activity when compared with piperazine citrate. (6)
• Antimicrobial / Mutagenic: Study showed the petroleum ether extracts to be highly active against Gram-negative bacteria (E Coli, Proteus vulgaris and Salmonella typhi) and against Gram-positive bacteria. All extracts showed strong inhibition of Aspergillus niger and Mucor. Tubers exhibited mutagenic properties by Ames Salmonella mutagenicity test due to the presence of colchicines. (7)
• Hepatoprotective: Study showed Gloriosa superba tuber extracts to possess hepatoprotective activity against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity. (12)
• Antibacteria / Seeds and Tubers: Study evaluated various extracts of seeds and tubers for antibacterial activity against five gram positive and five gram negative bacteria. Of the three tested extracts, the methanol extract had the highest antibacterial potential showing maximum inhibition in Bacillus cereus, followed by E. coli, Streptococcus faecalis, K. pneumonia, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, P. vulgaris. (13)
• Larvicidal Against Chickungunya Mosquito, Aedes aegypti: Study evaluated the larvicidal effect of Gloriosa superba seed extract against Ae aegypti. Results showed higher mortality in lower doses against different developmental stages of Aedes aegypti. 3rd instar larvae were more susceptible than 4th instar larvae. (14)
• Colchicene Like Activity: Study evaluated four fractions of G. superba for colchicene like activity using a mosquito cytogenetic assay. Three fractions (dichlormethane1 and 2, methane) exhibited high colchicene-like activity. (15)
• Antibacteria / Leaves: Study confirmed the antibacterial potential of G. superba leaves using various solvents/extracts, with the acetone extract showing the most effective antibacterial potential. (16)
• CuO Nanoparticles / Antibacterial: Study investigated the synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO Nps) using G. superba plant extract as fuel by solution combustion synthesis. The formed CuO Nps exhibited significant antibacterial activity against various pathogenic strains viz. Gram negative K aerogenes, Pseudomonas desmolyticum, and E coli, Gram positive Staph aureus. (17)
• Corrosion Inhibition of Aluminum / Gum Exudate: Study showed Gloriosa superba gum exudate is an inhibitor for the corrosion of aluminum in solution of HCl, probably through physiosorption followed by chemisorption. Gum adsorption on the Al surface was facilitated by amide and hydroxyl functional groups in stigmasta-5,22-dien-3-ol and 1-piperoylp. (18)
• Antifertility / Anti-Implantation / Tuber Extract: Study evaluated the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of tubers for anti-fertility activity using an anti-implantation model in female albino rats. Results showed dose-dependent anti-implantation activity with reduction in the number of litters born. The antifertility activity was reversible on withdrawal of extract treatment. Activity was attributed to combined effects of alkaloids, tannins and phytosterols in the extract. (19)
• Anti-Anxiety: Study evaluated petroleum ether and ethanol extracts of powdered aerial parts of G. superba for anti-anxiety activity of G. superba using Elevated Plus Maze model in albino mice. Results showed significant anti-anxiety activity compared to standard drug diazepam (2 mg/kg). (20)
• Bioactive Compounds / Tubers and Seeds: Phytochemical analysis of methanol extract of plant showed 5 bioactive compounds in tuber and 4 bioactive compounds in seed. The alkaloid content of colchicene was highly present in the seed. (21)
• Anti-Ulcerogenic / Anthelmintic: Study investigated the anti-ulcerogenic activity of an ethanolic extract of G. superba rhizomes on experimental ulcers induced by aspirin coupled with stress and pylorus-ligated ulcers in wistar rats. Results showed good antiulcerogenic effect comparable to ranitidine. The gastroprotective action was better than other test extracts viz Zingiber officinale rhizomes and Glycyrrhiza glabra roots extracts. The extracts also showed anthelmintic activity in vitro against two types of intestinal worms—earthworms and Ascardia galli, a parasitic roundworm. (22)
• Anti-Inflammatory / Colchicinoids / Seeds: Study isolated alkaloids from the seeds: Colchicine, 2- demethylcolchicine, 3-demethylcolchicine, and N-formyl-N-deacetylcolchicine. On anti-inflammatory study using the formaldehyde inflammagen-induced inflammation model, results clearly showed colchicene to be a more effective anti-inflammatory agent compared to phenylbutazone. The other compounds showed very poor activity. (23)
• Antioxidant / CCl4-Hepatotoxicity: Study investigated the antioxidant activity of Gloriosa superba leaves against CCl4-induced hepatotoxic model. The alcoholic extract showed significant dose dependent antioxidant activity. The effect was similar to standard Silymarin. (25)
• Anti-Inflammatory / Root Tubers: Study evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of root tubers by cyclooxygenase inhibition assay and 5-lipoxygenase inhibition assay. The % inhibition in cyclooxygenase assay were 3.38%, 26.27%, and 43.22% at concentrations of 100, 500, and 1000 µg/ml respectively; and 49.23%, 76.92%, and 84.61% in the lipoxygenase inhibition assay. (27)
• Potential Source of Biomutagens / Polyploidy / Natural Colchicene: All parts of G. superba, especially tubers and seeds, contain alkaloids colchicene and gloriosine. Colchicene and colchicides in tubers and other plant parts is about 0.1 - 0.9% and 0.8% respectively. Colchicene has strong affinity for tubulin and is used in biological studies and plant breeding to induce mutations that produce polyploidy individuals. As mutagen, it is used to develop superior properties of some plants. Polyploid plants have advantages such as larger cells, higher plants, wider leaves, larger fruits, higher production and more resistance to disease. Colchicene is considered as potential source of biomutagens (natural colchicene). (28)
• Effect of Pre-Treatment of Roots on Colchicene Levels: Lethal doses of colchicene has been reported at 7-26 mg. It is a major active chemical constituents in roots. In Thai traditional medicine, the roots of Gloriosa superba are treated prior to use as herbal medicine. The amount of colchicine in roots before and after pre-treatment by roasting, burning, boiling, stewing, and grilling methods were significantly reduced by 45.61, 37.35, 44.55, 76.40 and 30.35% respectively. The stewing method showed greatest decrease in amount of colchicene. (30)
Availability
- Cultivated.
- Seeds in the cybermarket.
|
_in_Hyderabad,_AP_W_IMG_0224.jpg/120px-Gloriosa_superba_(Glory_Lily)_in_Hyderabad,_AP_W_IMG_0224.jpg&imgrefurl=http://commons.wikimed)
_in_Hyderabad,_AP_W_IMG_0224.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}