PHYTOCHEMICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL REVIEW OF SURANJAN SHIREEN (Colchicum autumnale)

Colchicum autumnale has been known as Suranjan shireen in Unani Medicine. It belongs to the family Liliaceae and commonly known as the autumn crocus, a wild saffron and naked lady. It has been used in Unani system of medicine for various therapeutic actions as Mushil (Purgative), Mushil-e-Balgham /Mukhrij-e- Balgham (Phlegmagogue) Qabiz (Constipative), Muhallil (Resolvent), Mufatte-e-Sudad (Deobstruent) Muqawwi-e-Baah (Aphrodisiac) Mujaffif-e-Qurooh (Desiccant ulcer) Musakkin-e-Alam/ Dafi'-e-Alam (Analgesic), Dafi'-e-Niqris (anti-gout, to relieve inflammation and pain of acute gout), Mukhaddir (Anaesthetic), Muharrik e-Baah (Stimulant of sex) etc. in Unani medicine since centuries. The present article has provided a review of pharmacological actions and therapeutic uses of suranjan shireen in Unani and ethno-botanical literature in the light of available pre-clinical and clinical experimental data on Colchicum autumnale.