Agnikarna

Names and identification

Language	Name
English	Agnikarna
Latin/Botanical	Gloriosa 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 (new)
• 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?

• Anti-gout and anti-arthritic (Vatarakta) - strongly validated through colchicine’s FDA-approved use for acute gout and familial Mediterranean fever
• Wound healing and skin diseases (Kushtha) - partially validated through antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory studies
• Labor induction and uterine stimulant (Prasava-janana) - validated but dangerous; colchicine is a known uterine stimulant; use strictly contraindicated without medical supervision
• Anthelmintic (Krimighna) - supported by in vitro studies showing antiparasitic activity

What do recent clinical trials show?

• 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 studies. BMC plant biology. PMID 33546591 · doi:10.1186/s12870-021-02843-8
  Identified elite chemotypes across India with highest colchicine content through HPTLC analysis, establishing parameters for sustainable medicinal sourcing of this endangered species.

2 further claims previously listed here could not be traced to a published paper and have been removed. 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: 1-3g powder twice daily; 30-50ml decoction twice daily; external oil application as needed

Bioavailability: Limited modern bioavailability data. Traditional texts suggest moderate absorption when taken with warm water or specific anupanas. The plant’s alkaloid and terpenoid constituents suggest reasonable lipophilic absorption. Co-administration with Trikatu may enhance absorption via piperine-mediated mechanisms.

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

Standardized Extract: Limited standardization data. Aqueous extract yield approximately 10-15%. TLC fingerprinting recommended for batch consistency.

Shelf Life: 2 years (powder); 3 years (oil preparations); 2 years (tablets/capsules)

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

Marker Compounds: Alkaloids (total alkaloid content), Tannins, Flavonoids (total flavonoid by UV spectrophotometry)

Extraction Methods

• Aqueous decoction (classical Kashaya vidhi)
• Hydroalcoholic extraction (50:50)
• Tila taila (sesame oil) based extraction for external preparations

Synergistic Combinations

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