Abstract

Gloriosa superba L. (Liliaceae) is an important medicinal herb of Asia and Africa. The plant is used to cure ulcers, piles, cancer, gout, scrofula and act as abortifacient, anthelmintic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory drug. The main aim of the proposed work is to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of G. superba and also conserve the same plant through the in vitro propagation. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by cycloxygenase inhibition assay and 5- lipoxygenase inhibition assay. In the cycloxygenase inhibition assay, the percentage inhibition were found to be 3.38%, 26.27%, 43.22% for sample concentration 100µg/ml, 500µg/ml, 1000µg/ml respectively and in the lipoxygenase inhibition assay percentage inhibition were found to be 49.23%, 76.92%, 84.61% for sample concentration 100µg/ml, 500µg/ml, 1000µg/ml respectively. In lipoxygenase inhibition assay the methanol extract of G. superba tuber showed close percentage inhibition with that of the standard aspirin. The present study thus confirmed that methanol extract of root tubers of G. superba possessed good anti-inflammatory activity. At present, the plant is on the way of extinction due to its misuse, over exploitation and unscientific collection. Micro propagation is an important method to conserve this highly anti-inflammatory medicinal plant. In vitro studies of G. superba includes induction of callusing and organogenesis, using various explants. The results indicated that medium supplemented (MS) with auxin (NAA) (0.15 mg/l) and Benzylamino purine (BAP) (0.25 mg/l) induced callusing, with 2,4-D (0.5 mg/l) and Kinetin (0.25 mg/l) induced somatic embryogenesis, NAA (0. 5mg/l) and BAP (0.25 mg/l) promoted the formation of the maximum number of shooting and with NAA (0.25 mg/l) and BAP (0.15 mg/l) rooting was induced. Micro propagation will be helpful for the conservation and maximum utilization of this plant with high antiinflamatory potential along with the identification and isolation of useful bioactive molecules.

Key words: Colchicine, colchicoside, gloriosine, lipoxygenase, cycloxygenase.