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Agnikarna

Gloriosa superba L. (Agnikumarika/Agnimukhi); also associated with Litsea species in some texts

Agnikarna (Gloriosa superba L. (Agnikumarika/Agnimukhi); also associated with Litsea species in some texts) is a plant drug, also called Agnimukhi, Agnisikha and Langaliki, from the Colchicaceae (Liliaceae sensu lato) family. Colchicine (derived compound) is on WHO Model List of Essential Medicines for gout treatment; whole plant not in WHO herbal monographs; Gloriosa superba listed in CITES and IUCN endangered species databases.

Key facts
Botanical nameGloriosa superba L. (Agnikumarika/Agnimukhi); also associated with Litsea species in some texts
FamilyColchicaceae (Liliaceae sensu lato)
OrderLiliales
Pharmacopoeia statusColchicine (derived compound) is on WHO Model List of Essential Medicines for gout treatment; whole plant not in WHO herbal monographs; Gloriosa superba listed in CITES and IUCN endangered species databases
Taxon identifiersGBIF 2740024 · Wikidata Q2175092 · NCBI Taxonomy 41220
Names in other languages
Sanskritअग्निमुखी (agnimukhī), अग्निशिखा (agniśikhā), लाङ्गलिकी (lāṅgalikī)
Hindiकलिहारी (kalihārī)
Tamilகாந்தள், செங்காந்தள்

Sources: Flowers of India, 'Glory Lily' page (Gloriosa superba): "Sanskrit: अग्निमुखी (Agnimukhi), अग्निशिखा (Agnisikha), ailni, गर्भघातिनी (garbhaghatini), कलिकारी (Kalikari), लाङ्गलिकी (Langaliki), हली (Hali)", Devanagari.; Flowers of India, 'Glory Lily' page: "Tamil: செங்காந்தள் (Chenkantal), கலப்பை கிழங்கு (Kallappai kilangu)", Tamil script.; Flowers of India, 'Glory Lily' page: Sanskrit "अग्निमुखी (Agnimukhi)", Devanagari; also MMPND Gloriosa, Sanskrit "Agnimukhi".; Flowers of India, 'Glory Lily' page: Sanskrit "लाङ्गलिकी (Langaliki)", Devanagari; MMPND gives "Langalika".; MMPND Gloriosa page: Hindi "बचनाग Bachnag, Kadyanag, Kalihari, करी हरी Kari hari, Kathari, Kulhari, Languli, उलट चन्दल Ulatchandal".; MMPND Gloriosa page: Tamil "Anaravan, Iradi, Kaandhal, Kallappai kilangu, Kalappai kizhangu, Kannoru, Kannovu, Tonri"; Flowers of India (Glory Lily) prints Tamil "செங்காந்தள் (Chenkantal), கலப்பை கிழங்கு (Kallappai kilangu)".. How we source.

The evidence at a glance

12papers on this site for this drug, published 2017 to 2025, every one with a DOI.

  • 4Other clinical studies and reviews
  • 8Laboratory and animal studies

A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Everything listed here is laboratory or animal work, which does not show an effect in people. Each paper is listed with what it measured on the page below. See the research index for how papers are tiered.

Names and identification

LanguageName
EnglishAgnikarna
Latin/BotanicalGloriosa superba L. (Agnikumarika/Agnimukhi); also associated with Litsea species in some texts

Key Phytochemical Constituents

  • Colchicine (major alkaloid, 0.1-0.8%)
  • Gloriosine
  • N-formyl-deacetylcolchicine
  • Beta-sitosterol
  • Colchicine glycoside
  • Beta- and gamma-lumicolchicines

How does it work?

  • Anti-inflammatory and anti-gout action via colchicine-mediated disruption of microtubule assembly and inhibition of neutrophil migration
  • Antitumor activity through colchicine and gloriosine-mediated mitotic arrest (tubulin binding prevents spindle formation)
  • Antithrombotic effect via inhibition of platelet aggregation and modulation of coagulation cascade
  • Analgesic activity through peripheral and central pain modulation mechanisms

Which traditional uses are supported by research?

These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.

  • Vatarakta (gout and arthritic conditions): traditionally used for gout and arthritic conditions.
  • Kushtha (wounds and skin diseases): traditionally used for wounds and skin diseases. Studies have reported antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity.
  • Prasava-janana (labor induction): used in classical practice as a uterine stimulant to induce labor. This use is dangerous. Colchicine is a known uterine stimulant, and use is strictly contraindicated without medical supervision.
  • Krimighna (anthelmintic): traditionally used against worms. In vitro studies have reported antiparasitic activity.

What do recent studies show?

Only studies that could be traced to a published paper are listed here. An absence here means we could not identify the source, not that no work exists.

Recent safety updates

  • HIGHLY TOXIC - Classified as Upavisha (semi-poison) in Ayurveda; colchicine has a very narrow therapeutic index; fatal dose in adults is 0.8 mg/kg; symptoms of overdose include multi-organ failure
  • Mandatory Shodhana (purification by boiling in cow’s milk - Ksheera Swedana for 3 hours) before any Ayurvedic use; raw plant parts should never be consumed
  • FDA-approved colchicine (purified) used for gout treatment with strict dosing protocols; listed as endangered species (IUCN); poisoning cases reported from accidental ingestion and suicidal use

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Churna (powder), Kashayam (decoction), Taila (medicated oil for external use), Lepa (paste for topical application)

Standard Dosage: Internal use only after Shodhana and under qualified supervision; no safe self-administered dose is given here. External oil application as needed

Optimal Timing: After meals with warm water for internal use; topical application as needed, typically twice daily

Storage: Cool, dry place away from light and moisture. Temperature below 30°C, RH < 65%.

Marker Compounds: Colchicine, gloriosine (Alkaloids, total alkaloid content)

Synergistic Combinations

  • With Nimba for skin conditions
  • With Haridra for anti-inflammatory applications
  • With Eranda taila for joint disorders

Published research

Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.

Other clinical studies and reviews4

  1. Sakkaravarthi V, Somasundaram A, Aithal S. 2025. Gloriosa superba Poisoning-induced Anagen EffluviumInternational journal of trichology. PMID 41306838 · doi:10.4103/ijt.ijt_41_24
  2. Sanyal R, Nandi S, Pandey S and others. 2022. In vitro propagation and secondary metabolite production in Gloriosa superba LApplied microbiology and biotechnology. PMID 35941253 · doi:10.1007/s00253-022-12094-8
  3. Sivakumar G. 2018. Upstream biomanufacturing of pharmaceutical colchicineCritical reviews in biotechnology. PMID 28399663 · doi:10.1080/07388551.2017.1312269
  4. Sivakumar G, Alba K, Phillips GC. 2017. Biorhizome: A Biosynthetic Platform for Colchicine BiomanufacturingFrontiers in plant science. PMID 28713407 · doi:10.3389/fpls.2017.01137

Laboratory and animal studies8

  1. Zhao H, Wang D, Li H and others. 2024. Fluorescence in situ Hybridization Analysis of Oligonucleotide 5S Ribosomal DNA, 45S Ribosomal DNA, and (TTTAGGG)3 Locations in Gloriosa superba LCytogenetic and genome research. PMID 39396512 · doi:10.1159/000541706
  2. Subashri M, Sujit S, Thirumalvalavan K and others. 2023. Rhabdomyolysis-associated Acute Kidney InjuryIndian journal of nephrology. PMID 37234438 · doi:10.4103/ijn.ijn_247_21
  3. Kiros T, Ebu SM, Melaku Y and others. 2023. Isolation and identification of endophytic bacteria and associated compound from Gloriosa superba and their antibacterial activitiesHeliyon. PMID 38045151 · doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22104
  4. Sun Y, Hu P, Jiang Y and others. 2023. Integrated Metabolome and Transcriptome Analysis of Petal Anthocyanin Accumulation Mechanism in Gloriosa superba 'Rothschildiana' during Different Flower Development StagesInternational journal of molecular sciences. PMID 37894715 · doi:10.3390/ijms242015034
  5. Balachandar M, Koshila Ravi R, Muthukumar T. 2022. Vegetative anatomy and endorrhizal fungal morphology of an endangered medicinal plant Gloriosa superba LMicroscopy research and technique. PMID 35751598 · doi:10.1002/jemt.24183
  6. Pandey DK, Kaur P, Kumar V and others. 2021. Screening the elite chemotypes of Gloriosa superba L. in India for the production of anticancer colchicine: simultaneous microwave-assisted extraction and HPTLC studiesBMC plant biology. PMID 33546591 · doi:10.1186/s12870-021-02843-8
  7. Daniels RJ, Johnson SD, Peter CI. 2020. Flower orientation in Gloriosa superba (Colchicaceae) promotes cross-pollination via butterfly wingsAnnals of botany. PMID 32188969 · doi:10.1093/aob/mcaa048
  8. Wijerathna TM, Gawarammana IB, Mohamed F and others. 2019. Epidemiology, toxicokinetics and biomarkers after self-poisoning with Gloriosa superbaClinical toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.). PMID 30888889 · doi:10.1080/15563650.2019.1581939

Reference lists that include it

Flavonoids, Tannins

Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.

Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.

Educational reference only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything. Traditional uses and research findings are reported as published, not as claims about what any product does. If you take prescribed medication, raise any interaction with the prescriber rather than acting on a page. See our editorial standards.