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Trillium – toward Sustainable Utilization of a Biologically Distinct Genus Valued for Traditional Medicine

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Abstract

Trillium has fascinated the botanical world with its peculiar biology and high medicinal value. The genus appears in North America and Asia, and is widely used for traditional medicine on both continents. Medicinal value has been validated recently through the isolation and ex situ testing of constituent compounds. This study reviews biology, medicinal value, ecological threats and knowledge gaps, and offers suggestions for conservation and sustainable utilization. Findings indicate that the biology of the genus is well explored and the reproductive constraints are well recognized. Steroidal compounds and pharmaceutical potential of the genus are reported, but controlled clinical trials on humans are yet to be conducted. High medicinal value and the peculiar biology have made the genus susceptible to several threats.

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Acknowledgements

H.K. Chauhan and A.K. Bisht are also thankful to the Head of the Department of Botany, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital, India for providing the necessary facilities to complete this work. H.K. Chauhan acknowledges the financial support by the University Grants Commission, New Delhi, India under the UGC-BSR scheme (Grant No. F.7-318/2011 BSR).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital, 263001, India

    Harsh K. Chauhan & Anil K. Bisht

  2. G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment & Sustainable Development, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora, 263643, India

    Harsh K. Chauhan & Indra D. Bhatt

  3. Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P. O. Box 24885, 13109, Safat, Kuwait

    Arvind Bhatt

  4. College of Integrative Sciences and Arts, Arizona State University, Mail Code 2780, 7272 E Sonoran Arroyo Mall, Mesa AZ 85212, USA

    David Gallacher

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  1. Harsh K. Chauhan
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Chauhan, H.K., Bisht, A.K., Bhatt, I.D. et al. Trillium – toward Sustainable Utilization of a Biologically Distinct Genus Valued for Traditional Medicine. Bot. Rev. 85, 252–272 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12229-019-09211-0

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