Gloriosa superba (Lis-bégen) : medicinal properties in alcoholic extraction

Gloriosa superba (Lis-bégen, Lys Béguin) — family Colchicacées.

Scientific synonyms : Gloriosa carsonii-B, G rostchildania-O ‘Brien, G simplex-L, G verschuurii-H.

This database documents alcoholic (ethanol) extractions of active substances. Our monograph currently lists 18 indications in alcoholic extraction for this species. The Lapo v2 catalogue records 69 scientific references for this species (full detail in the application).

Important — scientific references on this public page: only a short excerpt of each cited source is shown (selected abstract sentences), kept in the original language of the publication (most often English), without translation. These excerpts are not the full article text and are not a complete bibliography. The full reference records and complete monographic detail are available in the Lapo v2 application (free 30-day trial).

1. 1

   Type II diabetes mellitus

   Plant part used: leaf.

   Scientific references (short excerpts)

   Short excerpts only (not the full article). Full reference records are in the Lapo v2 application.

   • According to Thakur V (2015)

     Excerpt The present study was conducted to investigate the anti-diabetic potential of Gloriosa superba Linn leaves extract. Streptozotocin induced diabetic rats were also investigated with same doses of the extract for 21 days.

   • According to SHRUTI S (2025)

     Excerpt Gloriosa superba (Glory Lily), belonging to the family Liliaceae, is a perennial climbing herb widely used in traditional medicine. These compounds exhibit diverse pharmacological activities, including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, antifertility, & neuroprotective effects.

2. 2

   Abnormal serum levels: LDL, urea, SGPT & SGOT, bilirubin, etc.

   Plant part used: leaf.

   Scientific references (short excerpts)

   Short excerpts only (not the full article). Full reference records are in the Lapo v2 application.

   • According to SAMAL PK (2013)

     Excerpt The objective of this study was to investigate the hepatoprotective activity of alcoholic extract of Gloriosa superba leaves against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepatotoxicity. Alteration in the levels of biochemical markers of hepatic damage like SGOT, SGPT, ALP, Billirubin & Protein were tested in both CCl4 treated and untreated groups.

   • According to Author (2011)

     Excerpt Indhumathi.T, Hepatoprotective efficacy of Gloriosa superba against paracetamol treated experimental rats-An in vivo study, Mohandas, I, IX, 2011,.

   • According to Angunawela RM (1971)

     Excerpt This patient had watery diarrhoea, hypokalemia, moderately elevated liver enzymes & clotting defects (elevated international normalized ratio (INR) 2.76) & died due to sudden onset of severe respiratory failure. On day 2 of admission (around 35 hours after ingestion) the patient developed shortness of breath and mild dyspnoea (respiratory rate of 40/min), few bilateral crépitations in lungs and ABG analysis showed lowering of pO2 (68.6mmHg).

   • According to Premaratna R (2015)

     Excerpt Therefore, we feel that Clinicians practicing in tropical setting where Gloriosa superba is endemic should be aware of its clinical presentations and should always consider the possibility of ingestion of G superba when the patient has pancytopenia and develops shedding of hairs which results in total alopecia in a case of unexplained gastroenterocolitis, rather investigating. Gloriosa superba (GSb) is a highly poisonous plant & its toxicity is due to anti-mitotic effects of constituents such as colchicine and gloriosine on rapidly proliferating cells.

   • According to Thakur V (2015)

     Excerpt Various biochemical parameters like cholesterol, triglycerides, high density Lipoproteins (HDL), low density Lipoproteins (LDL), total proteins, urea, creatinine, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and body weight were also analyzed. The extract also showed significant increase in the body weight & HDL levels & decrease in serum cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, urea, SGPT & SGOT levels.

3. 3

   Bacterial infection: E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, K. oxytoca, B. subtilis

   Plant part used: tuber.

   Scientific references (short excerpts)

   Short excerpts only (not the full article). Full reference records are in the Lapo v2 application.

   • According to Raja Naika H (2015)

     Excerpt Further, as-formed CuO Nps exhibit significant antibacterial activity against pathogenic bacterial strains namely Gram −ve Klebsiella aerogenes, Pseudomonas desmolyticum, & Escherichia coli, Gram +ve bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. The investigation aims at the synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO Nps) using Gloriosa superba plant extract as fuel by solution combustion synthesis, their characterization & studies on antibacterial activities against selected pathogenic bacteria.

   • According to Suryawanshi S (2012)

     Excerpt To evaluate the antimicrobial & anthelmintic activity of alcoholic extracts of Gloriosa superba tubers. superba tubers extracts have significant antimicrobial & anthelmintic activity.

   • According to JOSHI CS (2024)

     Excerpt Moreover, this plant is reported to possess antimicrobial, larvicidal, antithrombotic, antitumor, analgesic & anti-inflammatory activity.

   • According to SHRUTI S (2025)

     Excerpt Gloriosa superba (Glory Lily), belonging to the family Liliaceae, is a perennial climbing herb widely used in traditional medicine. These compounds exhibit diverse pharmacological activities, including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, antifertility, & neuroprotective effects.

   • According to Hemaiswarya S (2009)

     Excerpt The methanolic, aqueous & petroleum ether extracts of the root tubers of Gloriosa superba were studied for antibacterial, antifungal &mutagenic activities. Results showed that the petroleum ether extracts were highly active against the Gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris & Salmonella typhi at 50 μg/ml & active at 1000 μg/ml against Gram-positive bacteria.

Further indications (including other extraction modes where applicable), dosages, precautions for use, and the <strong>full scientific references</strong> (complete records, not only the short excerpts above) are available in the complete monographic record in the Lapo v2 application.