MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC CROPS (2+1)

Importance and chemical composition

Glory lily or the lily flower (Gloriosa superba Linn,) belongs to the family Colchicaceae. In Kannada, it is called ‘Agnishike’,’ Indrana huvu’, while in Hindi it is called ‘Kalihari’. In tamil, it is commonly known as ‘Kanvazhipoo’, ‘Kanvazhikizhangu’. The plant has been used in the Indian system of medicine since time immemorial. Its tubers are reported to have been used as a tonic, antiperiodic, antihelminthic and also against snake bites and scorpion stings. The drug is a gastro intestinal irritant and may cause vomiting and purging. It is sometimes used for promoting labour pains and conversely also an abortifacient. It is considered useful in colic, chronic ulcers, piles and gonorrhea. It is used in local applications against parasitic skin diseases and as a cataplasm in urological pains. 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 drug are due to the presence of alkaloids, chiefly colchicine and gloriosine.
  
• Colchicine is used in the treatment of gout; a common disorder in the temperate parts of the world.
  
• Gout is caused by the deposition of microcrystals of uric acid in the joints.
  
• In addition, these alkaloids are also used as polyploidizing agents in polyploid breeding in crop research.
  
• The colchicine content varies from 0.15 to 0.3% in the tubers, and in the seeds it ranges from 0.7 to 0.9%. The crop is grown mainly for its seeds which are in great demand within the country and in the international market.