A concise review on Trillium govanianum (Wall. ex D. Don) Kunth. - An endemic endangered medicinal plant from the Western Himalayas

Diksha; S H Kim; T Dennis; V D Nair

doi:10.14719/pst.5811

Authors

Diksha Department of Plant Sciences, Central University of Himachal Pradesh, Shahpur Campus, Kangra 176 206, India https://orcid.org/0009-0003-6540-281X
S H Kim National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Wanju-gun, Ueollabuk-do 55 365, Republic of Korea https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3244-4266
T Dennis Department of Plant Sciences, Central University of Kerala, Tejaswini Hills, Kasaragod 671 325, India https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9283-5723
V D Nair Department of Plant Sciences, Central University of Himachal Pradesh, Shahpur Campus, Kangra 176 206, India https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1269-2836

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.5811

Keywords:

adulteration, ethnopharmacology, pharmacognosy, phytochemistry, Trillium govanianum

Abstract

Trillium govanianum (Wall.ex D.Don) Kunth., also called Nag Chhatri or Teen Patra, is a member of the Melanthiaceae family (Trilliaceae). It is a threatened, endemic, perennial, angiospermic herb primarily indigenous to the Himalayas. It is extensively found in Bhutan, Nepal, the Himalayan area, Pakistan, India and China, with elevations from 2500 to 4000 meters. In traditional medicine, T. govanianum rootstocks treat abscesses, dysentery and inflammation while addressing menstrual irregularities and sexual disorders. Functioning as an antiseptic, it contributes to the healing of wounds. The plant showcases pain relief, anti-inflammatory, anticancer potential and antifungal qualities. Analysis of its phytochemical composition has identified a range of compounds, including steroids, saponins, flavonoids, phenolics, terpenoids and fatty acid esters. Notably, the predominant active components are steroidal saponins. This review offers concise perspectives on a range of aspects such as taxonomy, origin and evolution, morphology, reproductive behavior, life cycle, geographical distribution, ecology, genetics, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacognosy, production and trading, conservation, propagation, adulteration and the utilization of T. govanianum.

Downloads

References

Chandola V, Chandra S, Kumar RR. Nautiyal AR. Reproductive behavior of an endangered Himalayan medicinal herb Trillium govanianum Wall. ex D. Don. Vegetos.2023;36:1437–45. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42535-022-00548-3

Chauhan HK, Bisht AK, Bhatt ID, Bhatt A, Gallacher D, Santo A. Population change of Trillium govanianum (Melanthiaceae) amid altered indigenous harvesting practices in the Indian Himalayas. J Ethnopharmacol. 2018;213:302-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2017.11.003

Rathore S, Walia S, Devi R, Kumar R. Review on Trillium govanianum Wall. ex D. Don: A threatened medicinal plant from the Himalaya. J Herb Med. 2020;24:100395. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hermed.2020.100395

Sharma A, Arora P. Anti fertility activity of hydro alcoholic extract of Trillium govanianum in ethinyl estradiol induced anti fertility model in rats. Asian J Pharm Res Dev. 2018;6(2):74-81. https://doi.org/10.22270/ajprd.v6i2.343

Sultan A, Raza AR. Steroids: A diverse class of secondary metabolites. Med Chem. 2015;5(7):310-17. https://doi.org/10.4172/2161-0444.1000279

Rahman SU, Adhikari A, Ismail M, Raza Shah M, Khurram M, Shahid M, et al. Beneficial effects of Trillium govanianum rhizomes in pain and inflammation. Molecules. 2016;21(8):1095. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules21081095

Mahmood A, Mahmood A, Malik RN. Indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants from Leepa valley, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. J Ethnopharmacol. 2012;143(1):338-46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2012.06.046

Shah A, Bharati KA, Ahmad J, Sharma MP. New ethnomedicinal claims from Gujjar and Bakerwals tribes of Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu and Kashmir, India. J Ethnopharmacol. 2015;166:119-28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2015.01.056

Kumar D, Joshi R, Sharma A, Nadda G, Kumar D. A Comprehensive search of the primary and secondary metabolites and radical scavenging potential of Trillium govanianum Wall. ex D. Don. Chem Biodivers. 2021;18(10):e2100300. https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.202100300

Sharma A, Parashar B. A review of Trillium govanianum. World J Pharm Res. 2017;6(2):500-11. 10.20959/wjpr20172-7824

Chauhan HK, Bisht AK. Trillium govanianum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T175804005A176257695 [Internet]. IUCN; 2020 [cited 2025 Jan 28]. Available from: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/175804005/176257695.https://dx.doi.org/1 0.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T175804005A176257695.en

Thapa S, Kunwar RM, Adhikari B, Paudel HR, Subedi S. Trillium govanianum (Himalayan Trillium): Production, distribution, use and conservation in Nepal. Nord J Bot. 2021;39(12):1-11. https://doi.org/10.1111/njb.03356

Hyde MH. Dr. George Govan and the Saharanpur botanical gardens. J R Asiat Soc. 1962;49:47-57. https://doi.org/10.1080/03068376208731764

Raga T, Watanabe H. Chromosomes of a Himalayan Trillium in relation to the Japanese and American species. Proc Jpn Acad. 1966;42(2):160-164. https://doi.org/10.2183/pjab1945.42.160

Kurosawa S. Cytological studies on some Eastern Himalayan plants and their related species. In: Hara H, editor. The flora of Eastern Himalaya. Second report. Tokyo: University of Tokyo Press; 1971. p. 356-64.

Chatterjee A. Cytological investigation on certain genera of Liliaceae. Folia Biol (Krakow). 1973;21(2):199-208.

Mehra PN, Sachdeva SK. Cytological observations on some W. Himalayan Monocots. II. Smilacaceae, Liliaceae and Trilliaceae. Cytologia. 1976;41(1):5-22. https://doi.org/10.1508/cytologia.41.5

Kumar V, Subramaniam B. Chromosome atlas of flowering plants of the Indian subcontinent. Vol. II. Monocotyledons and bibliography. Calcutta: Botanical Survey of India; 1989.

Rashid K, Rashid S, Ganie AH, Nawchoo IA, Khuroo AA. Meiotic studies pollen fertility and seed set of Trillium govanianum an endangered endemic plant species of the Himalaya.Cytologia. 2021;86(3):245-49. https://doi.org/10.1508/cytologia.86.245

Dumortier BC. Analyse des familles des plantes avec l’indication des principaux genres que s’y rattachent. Vol. 23. Tournay, Hainaut, Belgium; 1829.

Endlicher SL. Genera plantarum secundum ordines naturales disposita: Genera plantarum. 1836-1840. Vienna: Beck; 1840

Kunth CS. Enumeratio plantarum. Vol. 5. Stuttgardiae: Sumtibus JG Cottae; 1850.

de Jussieu AL. Genera plantarum secundum ordines naturales disposita juxta methodum in horto regio parisiensi exaratam, anno 1774. Paris: Veuve Herissant; 1789.

Watson S. Contributions to American botany: Revision of the North American Liliaceae; descriptions of some new species of North American plants. Proc Am Acad Arts Sci. 1878;14:213–303.

Bentham G, Hooker JD. Genera plantarum ad exemplaria imprimis in herbariis Kewensibus servata definite. London: Reeve & amp; Company; 1883.

Engler A. Versuch einer Entwicklungsgeschichte der Pflanzenwelt: Insbesondere der Florengebiete seit der Tertiärperiode. Die extratropischen Gebiete der nördlichen Hemisphäre. Leipzig, Germany: W. Engelmann; 1879.

Lindley J. Trilliaceae. In: Lindley J, editor. The vegetable kingdom. 3rd ed. London: Bradley and Evans; 1846. p. 218.

Hutchinson J. The families of flowering plants. I. Dicotyledons. Sci News- Lett. 1926;8(270):10.

Takhtajan A. Die Evolution der Angiospermen. Jena: G. Fischer; 1959.

Takhtajan A. Diversity and classification of flowering plants. New York: Columbia University Press; 1997. p. 643.

Zhao CC, Zhao P, Wang Y, Wang Y, Gao XX, Li X, Gao WY. Comparison of polysaccharides from 10 species of genera Paris, Trillium, Aspidistra, and Polygonatum. Tradit Med Res. 2023;8(5):27. https://doi.org/10.53388/TMR20220816001

Fukuda I. The origin and evolution in Trillium 1. The origin of the Himalayan Trillium govanianum. Cytologia. 2001;66(1):105-11. https://doi.org/10.1508/cytologia.66.105

Fukuda1. The biosystematics of Achys. Taxon. 1967;16:308-16.

Yang YL, Yang Z, Liu C, He Z, Zhang Z, Yang J, et al. Chloroplast phylogenomic analysis provides insights into the evolution of the largest eukaryotic genome holder, Paris japonica (Melanthiaceae). BMC Plant Biol. 2019;19:293. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-019-1879-7

Hara H. Variation in Paris polyphylla Smith with reference to other Asiatic species. J Fac Sci Univ Tokyo, Sect III. 1969;10:141-80.

Hara H. Botanical expedition to Eastern Himalaya (3: 1967), botanical expedition to Eastern Himalaya (4: 1969). The flora of Eastern Himalaya: second report: results of the botanical expeditions to Eastern Himalaya in 1967 and 1969 organized by the University of Tokyo. Tokyo: University of Tokyo Press; 1971.

Kubota S, Kameyama Y, Hirao AS, Ohara M. Adaptive significance of self- fertilization in a hermaphroditic perennial, Trillium camschatcense (Melanthiaceae). Am J Bot. 2008;95(4):482-9. https://doi.org/10.3732/ajb.95.4.482

Polunin O, Stainton A. Flowers of the Himalaya. New Delhi: Oxford University Press; 1984.

Ohara M. Life history evolution in the genus Trillium. Plant Species Biol. 1989;4:1-28. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-1984.1989.tb00044.x

Gates RR. A systematic study of the North American genus Trillium, its variability, and its relation to Paris and Medeola. Ann Missouri Bot Gard. 1917;4(1):43-92. https://doi.org/10.2307/2990062

Vidyarthi S, Samant SS, Sharma P. Dwindling status of Trillium govanianum Wall. ex D. Don—A case study from Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh, India. J Med Plants Res. 2013;7(8):392-97.

Kondo T, Mikubo M, Yamada K, Walck JL, Hidayati SN. Seed dormancy in Trillium camschatcense (Melanthiaceae) and the possible roles of light and temperature requirements for seed germination in forests. Am J Botany. 2011;98(2):215–26. https://doi.org/10.3732/ajb.1000151

Uniyal SK, Datta A. Nagchhatri – A plant in peril. J Biodivers Manage Forestry. 2012;1(1):1-2. http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2327-4417.1000101

Kala CP, Farooquee NA, Dhar U. Prioritization of medicinal plants on the basis of available knowledge, existing practices, and use value status in Uttaranchal, India. Biodivers Conserv. 2004;13:453-69. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:BIOC.0000006511.67354.7f

Chai J, Song X, Wang X, Mei Q, Li Z, Cui J, et al. Two new compounds from the roots and rhizomes of Trillium tschonoskii. Phytochem Lett. 2014;10:113-17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytol.2014.08.010

Lone PA, Bhardwaj AK, Bahar FA. Traditional knowledge on healing properties of plants in Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir, India. Int J Recent Sci Res. 2013;4(11):1755-65.

Ismail M, Shah MR, Adhikari A, Anis I, Ahmad MS, Khurram M. Govanoside A, a new steroidal saponin from rhizomes of Trillium govanianum. Steroids. 2015;104:270-75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.steroids.2015.10.013

Hanzawa FM, Kalisz S. The relationship between age, size, and reproduction in Trillium grandiflorum (Liliaceae). Am J Bot. 1993;80(4):405-10. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1537-2197.1993.tb13819.x

Ohara M, Kawano S. Life-history monographs of Japanese plants. 2: Trillium camschatcense Ker-Gawl. (Trilliaceae). Plant Species Biol. 2005;20(1):75–82. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-1984.2005.00126.x

Solt S. Propagation protocol for Trillium L. (Liliaceae). Native Plants J. 2002;3(1):18–20. https://doi.org/10.3368/npj.3.1.18

Samejima J. Studies on the eastern Asiatic Trillium (Liliaceae). Acta Horti Gotoburgensis. 1962;25:157–257.

Kumar P, Singh K, Lone JF, Bhushan A, Gupta P, Gairola S. Morpho-anatomical, molecular, and chemical standardization of Trillium govanianum Wall. ex D. Don: An endangered medicinal herb native to the Himalayas. Pharmacogn Mag. 2023;19(1):128-43. https://doi.org/10.1177/09731296221145070

Rai LK, Prasad P, Sharma E. Conservation threats to some important medicinal plants of the Sikkim Himalaya. Biol Conserv. 2000;93:27-33. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0006-3207(99)00116-0

Rahman SU, Ismail M, Khurram MU, Haq IU. Pharmacognostic and ethnomedicinal studies on Trillium govanianum. Pak J Bot. 2015;47:187-92.

Gairola S, Sharma J, Singh Bedi Y. A cross-cultural analysis of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh (India) medicinal plant use. J Ethnopharmacol. 2014;155(2):925–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2014.06.029

Rani S, Rana JC, Rana PK. Ethnomedicinal plants of Chamba district, Himachal Pradesh, India. J Med Plant Res. 2013;7(42):3151-3161.

Sharma P, Samant S. Diversity, distribution, and indigenous uses of medicinal plants in Parbati valley of Kullu District in Himachal Pradesh, Northwestern Himalaya. Asian J Adv Basic Sci. 2014;2(1):77-98.

Gyawali RR, Paudel HR. Plant bio-resources used in ethno-veterinary practices in Jumla District. Nepalese Vet J. 34:128-134.

Ijaz S, Perveen A, Ashraf S, Kousar S, Bibi A, Azhar N. Wild medicinal plants of Lawat village Neelum Valley, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan, and their uses in ethnomedicine. Wulfenia. 2019;26(12):27–55.

Ahmed MJ, Akhtar T. Indigenous knowledge of the use of medicinal plants in Bheri, Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. Eur J Integr Med. 2016;8(4):560–69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eujim.2016.01.006

Ali SI, Qaiser M. Flora of Pakistan. Karachi: Department of Botany, University of Karachi; 1995-2008.

Pant S, Samant S. Ethnobotanical observations in the Mornaula reserve forest of Komoun, West Himalaya, India. Ethnobot Leafl. 2010;14:193–217.

Christenhusz MJM, Byng JW. The number of known plants species in the world and its annual increase. Phytotaxa. 2016;261(3):201-17. http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.261.3.1

Nakano K, Nohara T, Tomimatsu T, Kawasaki T. A novel 18-norspirostanol bisdesmoside from Trillium tschonoskii. J Chem Soc Chem Commun. 1982;14:789-90. https://doi.org/10.1039/C39820000789

Yokosuka A, Kawakami S, Haraguchi M, Mimaki Y. Stryphnosides A–F, six new triterpene glycosides from the pericarps of Stryphnodendron fissuratum. Tetrahedron. 2008;64(7):1474-81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tet.2007.11.041

Ur Rahman S, Ismail M, Khurram M, Ullah I, Rabbi F, Iriti M. Bioactive steroids and saponins of the genus Trillium. Molecules. 2017;22(12):2156. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules22122156

Yan T, Wang A, Hu G, Jia J. Chemical constituents of Trillium tschonoskii Maxim. Nat Prod Res. 2021;35(20):3351-59. https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2019.1700245

Huang W, Zou K. Cytotoxicity of a plant steroidal saponin on human lung cancer cells. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2011;12(2):513-17.

Khan KM, Nahar L, Mannan A, Ul-Haq I, Arfan M, Khan GA, et al. Cytotoxicity in vitro anti-leishmanial and fingerprint HPLC photodiode array analysis of the roots of Trillium govanianum. Nat Prod Res. 2018;32(18):2193–2201. https://doi.org/10.1080/14786419.2017.1371164

Singh PP, Bora PS, Suresh PS, Bhatt V, Sharma U. Qualitative and quantitative determination of steroidal saponins in Trillium govanianum by UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS and UHPLC-ELSD. Phytochem Anal. 2020;31(6):861-73. https://doi.org/10.1002/pca.2951

Patil SS, Singh PP, Padwad YS, Sharma U. Steroidal saponins from Trillium govanianum as alpha-amylase, alpha-glucosidase, and dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitory agents. J Pharm Pharmacol. 2021;73(4):487-95. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpp/rgaa038

Khan SM, Page S, Ahmad H, Shaheen H, Ullah Z, Ahmad M, Harper DM. Medicinal flora and ethnoecological knowledge in the Naran Valley, Western Himalaya, Pakistan. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2013;9:4. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-9-4

Cullina W. Propagation of North American trilliums. Native Plants J. 2002;3(1):14–17. DOI: 10.3368/npj.3.1.14

Barton LV. Some seeds showing special dormancy. Contributions from Boyce Thompson Institute. 1944;13: 259–71.

Nivot NA, Olivier A, Lapointe L. Vegetative propagation of five northern forest understory plant species from either rhizome or stem sections. HortScience. 2008:43(5):1531-37. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.43.5.1531

Edgren M. Vegetative propagation of Trillium chloropetalum. Bull Amer Rock Garden Soc. 1993;51:169-72.

Pence VC, Soukup VG. Plant regeneration from Trillium spp. in vitro. HortScience. 1986;21(5):1211–13. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.21.5.1211

Jagdish S, Joginder S, Tewari VP. Screening and evaluation of superior chemotypes of Podophyllum hexandrum Royle from different geographical locations of north-west Himalayas. J Plant Chem Ecophysiol. 2018;3(1):1021.

Dhyani P, Sharma B, Singh P, Masand M, Seth R, Sharma RK. Genome-wide discovery of microsatellite markers and population genetic diversity inferences revealed high anthropogenic pressure on endemic populations of Trillium govanianum. Ind Crops Prod. 2020;154:112698. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2020.112698

Islam SU, Mangral ZA, Tariq L, Bhat BA, Tantray WW, Ahmad R, et al. Conservation genetics of endangered Trillium govanianum Wall. ex D. Don – A pharmaceutically prized medicinal plant from the Himalaya and implications for species recovery. Gene. 2023;888:147748. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gene.2023.147748

Sharma T, Thakar MK. Development of a standardized methodology for selecting candidate DNA barcodes of Trillium govanianum to combat biodiversity crime and environmental exploitation. Forensic Sci Int. 2024;5:100078. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsiae.2023.100078

Sheldon JW, Balick MJ, Laird SA, Milne GM. Medicinal plants: Can utilization and conservation coexist? Adv Econ Bot. 1997;12:i-104. ISBN 0893274062, 9780893274061

Callaway RM, Brooker RW, Choler P, Kikvidze Z, Lortie CJ, Michalet R, et al. Positive interactions among alpine plants increase with stress. Nature. 2002;417:844-8. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature00812

Thompson JA, Sharpe WE. Soil fertility, white-tailed deer, and three Trillium species: A field study. Northeast Nat. 2005;12(4):379-90. https://doi.org/10.1656/1092-6194(2005)012[0379:SFWDAT]2.0.CO;2

Tiffin P. Mechanisms of tolerance to herbivore damage: What do we know? Evol Ecol. 2000;14:523-36. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010881317261

Bown D. Encyclopaedia of herbs and their Uses. London: Dorling Kindersley; 1995.

Rashid K, Rashid S, Ganie AH, Nawchoo IA, Ahmad Khuroo AA. Reproductive biology of Trillium govanianum, an endangered plant species endemic to the Himalaya: Implications for conservation. Bot Lett. 2023;170(4):565–80. https://doi.org/10.1080/23818107.2023.2176355

Kumar V, Garima, Sharma R, Thakur A, Sharma P, Sharma YP, et al. Conserving industrially important endangered medicinal herb Trillium govanianum (Himalayan Trillium) through biotechnological based interventions. Plant Cell Tiss Organ Cult. 2024;159:3. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-024-02862-x

Kumar D, Kumari V, Kumar D. Organs-specific metabolomics and anticholinesterase activity suggests a trade-off between metabolites for therapeutic advantages of Trillium govanianum Wall. ex D. Don. Sci Rep. 2024;14:10675. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-61160-w

Khan KM, Nadeem MF, Mannan A, Chohan TA, Islam M, Ansari SA, et al. Biochemical, toxicological, and in silico aspects of Trillium govanianum Wall. ex D. Don (Trilliaceae): A rich source of natural bioactive compounds. Chem Biodivers. 2024;21(1):e202301375. https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.202301375