Abstract

Dr. Swati Kothiyal*, Dr. R. C. Tiwari, Dr. Bhawana Mittal, Dr. Manisha Dikshit and Dr. Ved Bhushan Sharma

ABSTRACT

Agadtantra is one among the Ashtanga of Ayurveda, which deals with all cases of poisoning. In Ayurveda, the concept of poison is vast and etiologically varied, if a poisonous plant is used accurately, it can become an excellent drug as there can be important source of chemical substances with great therapeutic effects. In Ayurvedic ancient literature, Gloriosa superba Linn. a plant from Liliaceae family, comes under the Upavisha category. Despite being a poisonous plant, roots, leaves and seeds of Langali are used in folklore medicine and nowadays it is grown for its high colchicine content to be used in gout. It is also used for the treatment of bruises and sprains, chronic ulcers, hemorrhoids, impotence, cancer, leprosy, inducing abortion etc. In this review an endeavor has been made to explore the poisonous effects and therapeutic utilities of langali according to modern as well as ayurvedic perspective from different available literature, where langali is described for its poisonous actions and also as a traditional drug. This comparative analysis will strengthen the ayurvedic knowledge and its use in the present scenario. This comprehensive review of Gloriosa superba includes information on phytochemistry, clinical effects of poisoning, therapeutic applications, ethnomedicinal uses and pharmacological activities.