Gloriosa superba L.: A comprehensive review of ethnomedicinal uses, pharmacological potential, ecological significance, cultural importance and conservation efforts
Gloriosa superba L. (flame lily or glory lily) is a perennial herbaceous climber renowned for its striking appearance and multifaceted significance. It is often regarded as a medicinal herb for treating numerous ailments such as gout, rheumatism, wounds, snakebite, skin disease, leprosy, inflammation, etc. Besides its medicinal properties, the plant plays an important role in ecological interactions with the surrounding environment by being pollinated by various insects and associated with various microorganisms. It is also a part of tribal culture, influencing daily routines and festivals. Driven by escalating global demand for colchicine, excessive industrial exploitation has resulted in documented local extinctions in regions such as the Darjeeling Himalaya. This pressure is compounded by poor natural propagation, characterised by an inherently low seed set, reduced seed germination and a strict dependency on specialist pollinators like sunbirds and butterflies. This synergy of intense commercial reaping and biological reproductive bottlenecks indicates that the plant is now on the verge of extinction within several of its primary wild habitats. Diverse bioactive compounds were analysed and compiled, with colchicine and gloriosine being the key substances that account for the therapeutic benefits of this plant. Additionally, 13 other biomolecules are reported to possess the anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, antioxidant, anti-microbial, anti-gout, anti-pox, anti-coagulant and antirheumatic activities. It is economically important due to the production of many drugs and biochemicals in pharmaceutical industries. It is also an endangered medicinal plant used to cure various ailments from ancient times to the modern pharmaceutical era. Therapeutic uses, ecological interactions and cultural values make this plant unique. Conservation efforts must be implemented to preserve this plant from extinction.