Unraveling the medicinal potential and conservation of Indian Crinum (Amaryllidaceae) species
Swati Chahal, Manoj M. Lekhak, Harmeet Kaur, Monika K Shekhawat, Abhijit Dey, Priyanka Jha, Devendra Kumar Pandey, Vijay Kumar
Abstract
The commercialization of medicinal plants as recognized in their uses by nutraceutical, cosmeceutical and pharmaceutical industries is gaining more popularity and interest around the globe. The plant family Amaryllidaceae has a long history in the traditional medicinal system and used to treat diverse diseases. It is well known for its structurally-diverse alkaloids which exhibit a wide range of pharmacological activities. Crinum, an important bulbous geophyte is well known for its ornamental and therapeutic properties. In India, Crinum is represented by 15 different species which contain several alkaloids with biological properties. However, some of the medicinal uses of Indian Crinum species still require pharmacological analysis. In addition, more extensive research including different biotechnological approaches is needed in order to guarantee its sustainable utilization and long-term conservation. Further research is essential to improve our current knowledge about the bioactive components, toxicity, clinical relevance as well as its conservation status. The present review summarizes the research that has been done on the phytochemistry, pharmacology and in vitro studies of the Indian Crinum. Potential toxicity aspects as well as knowledge gaps and future perspectives are also discussed.