Ethnomedicinal, phytochemistry, toxicity and pharmacological benefits of poison bulb – Crinum asiaticum L.

Abstract

Crinum asiaticum L. (Amaryllidaceae), also known as poison bulb or spider lily, is a perennial bulbous herb bearing feathery green leaves, employed to induce emesis during poisoning. In Ayurveda, it is called ‘naagadami’, in Malaysia, the natives refer to it as ‘bakong’, ‘morabau’ is its name in Papua New Guinea, and it is known as ‘lys’ or ‘lis sauvage’ in Mauritius. In ethnomedicine, it is employed to relieve anguish from a plethora of ailment conditions such as boils, contusions, earache, edema, fever, fractures, gastrointestinal complaints, hernia, mumps, rheumatism, tonsillitis, urinary difficulties and vomiting, amongst others. It is economically valuable due to its medicinal and ornamental attributes. Given the lack of an updated comprehensive one stop documentation on this species, this review aims to compile its morphological characteristics, geographical distribution, as well as its traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological properties and toxicity potential. While the extracts of C. asiaticum were found to be particularly rich in alkaloids, chemical analysis of essential oils obtained from C. asiaticum revealed the presence of miscellaneous components including alcohols, phenolics, fatty acids, esters, aldehydes, terpenoids and terpenes. Extracts and compounds from C. asiaticum have been evaluated for their antioxidant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-plasmodial, cytotoxicity, anti-cancer and antimicrobial properties. Only one clinical study has showed that repeated and single cutaneous applications of the extract under the occlusive patch did not provoke any cumulative irritation and sensitization reactions. In conclusion, this plant holds promising pharmacological properties that deserves renewed attention, especially with regard to its toxicity that could be significant in the development of phytopharmaceuticals.