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G. superba have wide variety of uses especially in traditional system of medicine. The tuber is used for the treatment of bruises and sprains, colic, chronic ulcers, haemorrhoids, cancer, impotence, nocturnal seminal emission, and leprosy and also for including labour pains and abortions . Gloriosa superba also used in wounds, skin related problems, Fever, Inflammation, piles, blood disorders, Uterine   contractions, General body toner, Poisoning . Roots are acrid, anthelmintic, antipyretic, bitter, digestive, expectorant, highly poisonous and promoting expulsion of the placenta. Root paste is effective against paralysis, rheumatism, snake bite and insect bites. This plant has gained the importance in medicine in recent years for the production of colchicine in large scale. The aim of this study was to identify and determine the phytochemicals present in G. superba leaves, flowers, seeds and tubers.

 Medicinal properties

The plant has been used in the Indian system of medicine since time immemorial. It’s rhizomes are reported to have been used as a tonic, anti-periodic, anti- helminthic and also against snake bites and scorpion stings. It is used in local applications against parasitic skin diseases and as a cataplasm in urological pains. The drug is sometimes used for promoting labour pains and conversely also as an abortifacient. It is considered useful in colic, chronic ulcers, piles and gonorrhoea. The leaves when applied in the form of a paste to the forehead and neck, are reported to cure asthma in children. The leaf juice is used against head lice.The medicinal properties of the plant are due to presence of alkaloids chiefly colchicine and gloriosine. It is used in the treatment of gout, a common disorder in the temperate parts of the world. The colchicine content varies from 0.15 to 0.3% in the rhizomes and 0.7 % to 0.9% in the seeds. The discovery of high colchicine content in seeds led to surge in demand in domestic and international markets.

 Chemical constituents:

Rhizomes and seeds contain colchicine, isoperlolyrine and related tropolane alkaloids. Air dried  rhizomes contain β- sitosterol and its glucoside, 2-hydroxy 6-methoxy benzoic acid.

Gloriosa superba L. (Glory Lily, Liliaceae) is an endangered,  herbaceous, perennial climbing medicinal plant found throughout India. Colchicine is the major compound isolated from the seed and rhizome of this plant. It has abortifacient anti-leprotic properties. Gloriosa superba L. a member of the Liliaceae family is a very important medicinal plant due to the presence of alkaloids, mainly colchicines and colchicoside. Poor seed germination, susceptibility towards many pests, and excessive collection in habitats for medicinal purposes have pushed this taxon to endanger. The seeds of this taxon are highly prices in the world market as they are the main source of colchicines and colchicoside of colchicines.  

A world wide search for an alternative plant source is being carried out but no suitable raw material has yet found. Among the Indian plants the corns of Colchicun luteum and the seeds of Iphigenia Stellata containing 0.25% and 0.9% of Colchicines respectively  are not available insufficient quantities to warrant any commercial utilization. On the other hand the ripe seeds of the plant gave a yield of 0.81% of total alkaloid and 0.60 % of colchicines.

The tubers of the plants from which the seeds were obtained, on similar analysis yielded 0.57% of total alkaloids and only 0.05% of Colchicines. Hence the present investigation has been taken up for the possible correlation between different manure treatments and the status.

Chemical constituents

The tubers are extremely toxic due to the presence of a highly active alkaloid, Colchicine. The species also contains another toxic alkaloid, Gloriosine.

Other compounds such as lumicolchicine, 3-demethylN-deformyl-N-deacetylcolchicine, 3-demethylcolchicine, N-formyldeacetylcolchicine have been isolated from the plant.

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.

Toxic effect

A pale yellow to greenish yellow alkaloid Colchicine is mainly responsible for the toxic effect. The toxins in G. superba have an inhibitory action on cellular division resulting in diarrhoea, depressant action on the bone marrow and alopecia. After ingestion of tubers, initial symptoms develop within two to six hours. Intense vomiting, numbness and tingling around the mouth, burning and rawness of the throat, nausea, abdominal pain and bloody diarrhoea leading to dehydration etc. are some of the primary symptoms developed initially in the victim. The other important complications include respiratory depression, shock, hypotension, marked leucopenia, thrombocytopenia, coagulation disorders, oliguria, haematuria, confusion, seizures, coma and ascending polyneuropathy.

Ethno-medicinal importance

The sap from the leaf tip is used for pimples and skin eruptions. Tribals of Patalkot apply the powder of

rhizome with coconut oil in skin eruptions and related diseases for 5 days. This combination is said to be

effective in snake and scorpion bites too. Tribals crush roots of the plant in water and apply on head for curing baldness. To avoid painful delivery, tribals, apply rhizome extract over the navel and vagina. It induces labour pain and performs normal delivery.

In traditional medicine system, tuber is used for the treatment of bruises and sprains, colic, chronic ulcers, hemorrhoids, cancer, impotence, nocturnal seminal emissions and leprosy. Many cultures believe the species to have various magical properties. The plump roots of the plant have been used in the treatment of parasitic skin infections, leprosy, and internal worms.

In Ayurveda and Yunani systems of medicine, the tuber of plant is well known due to its pungent, bitter,

acrid, heating, anthemintic, laxative, alexiteric and abortifacient nature. It is widely used in the treatment of ulcers, leprosy, piles, inflammations, abdominal pains, intestinal worms, thirst, bruises, infertility and skin problem. However, ingestion of all parts of the plants is extremely poisonous and can be fatal.