Abstract
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.
