Phyto Constituents and Pharmacology of Gloriosa superba L.: A Medicinally Potent Plant Species

Vinod S. Undal

Abstract: The Gloriosa superba L. is a persistent climber and is used as an ayurvedic therapeutic herb to treat diseases in several parts of Africa and Southeast Asia. Because of its irresponsible harvesting from wild as it is expansively utilized by medicinal business for its colchicines substance, the plant was under vulnerable category. It is listed in the red data book. With searching of different reports on FT-IR investigation, GC-MS analysis and other techniques found numerous phytoconstituents that contributed more or less for pharmacological activities, miscellaneous uses including toxic consequences. The entire plant keeps numerous biological activities such as antioxidant, antibacterial, antimicrobial, anti-fungal, hepatoprotective, anti-diabetic and many more properties. The number of bioactive constituents with total 14 pharmacological activities have been assembled with available literature. Therefore, based on the aforementioned consideration, this article reviews the most updated information of the phytochemical properties and pharmacological effects of G. superba extract, including its miscellaneous uses.

Keywords: Colchicines, phyto constituents, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, pharmacology