Drimia maritima. D. indica, Urginea maritima    White squill, Scilla    Family: Liliaceae   
Red and white squill are derived from different varieties of D. maritima.
PART USED: Bulb. Collected soon after flowering.
ACTIONS
1. Expectorant.[1,2]
2. Cathartic.[1]
3. Emetic- in large doses.[1,2]
4. Cardioactive.[1] Cardiac tonic.[2]
5. Diuretic.[1,2]
INDICATIONS- Squill is used mainly for its expectorant activity; it is a common ingredient of cough mixtures.[2]
1. Chronic bronchitis.[1] Asthma with bronchitis.[1] Whooping cough.[1]
SPECIFIC INDICATIONS: Chronic bronchitis with scanty sputum.[1]
COMBINATIONS
- Bronchitis- use with White Horehound and Tussilago.
- Whooping cough- use with Ipecacuanha.
PREPARATIONS:  3X /day
Dry bulb  60-200 mg or by infusion.[1]
Liquid extract (BPC1973) 1:1 in 70% alcohol  0.03-0.2 ml.[1,2]
Tincture (BPC1973) 1:10  in 60% alcohol  0.3-2 ml.[1,2]
Vinegar (BPC1973) 1:10 in dilute acetic acid  0.6-2 ml.[1,2]
Oxymel BPC 2.5-5 ml.[2]
   
ORIGIN: Mediterranean region.
DESCRIPTION: The bulbs are pear shaped, about 15-30 cm in diameter, but rarely seen whole in commerce as they tend to start growing; they are sliced and dried. White squill is cream colored, red squill has a reddish tinge. Indian squill is usually darker in color and several pieces may be joined together unlike the other tkypes. Fracture short, tough, flexible.
References
Inner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Safety and herb-drug interactions.
Constituents
References
Red squill was formerly used as a rat poison and have been used topically as a hair tonic for dandruff and seborrhea- the active constituents is thought to be scilliroside.[1]
The diuretic effects, common with other cariac glycosides, are considerable, and squill has been used for dropsy. it is an ancient meidicine; Pliny was conversant with it and knew the two varieties and Dioscorides descirbed a method of making squill vinegar which is similar to that used today.[1]
References
[1] Potter's New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations  R.C. Wren Revised by Elizabeth M. Williamson and Fred J Evans. First published in Great Britain in 1988 and reprinted in 1989 and 1994 by the C. W. Daniel Company Limited. 1 Church Path, Saffron Walden Essex. Published 1988 Printed and bound by Biddles, Guildford ISBN 085207 1973.

Drimia indica: A Plant Used in Traditional Medicineand Its Potential for Clinical Uses pdf

Squill Oxymel, a traditional formulation from Drimia Maritima (L.) Stearn, as an add-on treatment in patients with moderate to severe persistent asthma: A pilot, triple-blind, randomized clinical trial.
Nejatbakhsh F, Karegar-Borzi H, Amin G, Eslaminejad A, Hosseini M, Bozorgi M, Gharabaghi MA.
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE:
In Traditional Iranian Medicine (TIM), Squill (Drimia maritima (L.) Stearn) Oxymel was utilized in the treatment of asthma. Squill has been reported to exert anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-cholinergic, and mucus secretion modulating effects.
OBJECTIVE:
This study aimed to make a preliminary evaluation of the efficacy and safety of an add-on Squill Oxymel treatment in patients with moderate to severe persistent asthma.
METHODS:
In a 6-week, triple-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 60 patients with stable moderate to severe persistent asthma were randomly allocated to receive either 10ml syrup of Squill Oxymel, simple oxymel, or a placebo 2 times a day, as an add-on to their routine treatment (inhaled corticosteroids and ß2 agonists). Spirometry and plethysmography were performed on patients to evaluate the effect of the treatment at baseline and end of intervention. Forced Expiratory Volume in first second (FEV1) was considered the primary outcome. St. George's respiratory questionnaire (SGRQ) was also used for the subjective evaluation of patients' responses.
RESULTS:
Fifty-four patients completed the study. The results showed significant improvement in spirometry parameters, especially FEV1 (1.54±.38 vs. 2.11±.49l), in the Squill Oxymel group compared with the other groups. The increases in FEV1 liter, FEV1%, FEV1/FVC%, and MEF 25-75% during the intervention were significantly higher in the Squill Oxymel group than in the other groups (p<.001). However, the improvement of plethysmographic parameters showed no significant difference between the study groups (p>.05). The SGRQ scores (symptoms, activity, and total score) were significantly improved after intervention in both the Squill Oxymel and the simple honey oxymel groups (p<.001), but not in the placebo group. Nausea and vomiting was reported in 5 patients in Squill oxymel and simple oxymel groups. No other serious adverse event was observed.
CONCLUSIONS:
The results of the current study show preliminary evidence for the efficacy and safety of the add-on treatment of Squill Oxymel in patients with moderate to severe persistent asthma.
PMID: 27998692 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2016.12.032  J Ethnopharmacol. 2017 Jan 20;196:186-192. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2016.12.032. Epub 2016 Dec 18. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Squill Oxymel, a traditional formulation from Drimia Maritima (L.) Stearn, as an add-on treatment in patients with moderate to severe persistent asthma: A pilot, triple-blind, randomized clinical trial.
Nejatbakhsh F, Karegar-Borzi H, Amin G, Eslaminejad A, Hosseini M, Bozorgi M, Gharabaghi MA.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2017 Jan 20; 196:186-192
ABSTRACT
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: In Traditional Iranian Medicine (TIM), Squill (Drimia maritima (L.) Stearn) Oxymel was utilized in the treatment of asthma. Squill has been reported to exert anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-cholinergic, and mucus secretion modulating effects.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to make a preliminary evaluation of the efficacy and safety of an add-on Squill Oxymel treatment in patients with moderate to severe persistent asthma.
METHODS: In a 6-week, triple-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 60 patients with stable moderate to severe persistent asthma were randomly allocated to receive either 10ml syrup of Squill Oxymel, simple oxymel, or a placebo 2 times a day, as an add-on to their routine treatment (inhaled corticosteroids and ß2 agonists). Spirometry and plethysmography were performed on patients to evaluate the effect of the treatment at baseline and end of intervention. Forced Expiratory Volume in first second (FEV1) was considered the primary outcome. St. George's respiratory questionnaire (SGRQ) was also used for the subjective evaluation of patients' responses.
RESULTS: Fifty-four patients completed the study. The results showed significant improvement in spirometry parameters, especially FEV1 (1.54±.38 vs. 2.11±.49l), in the Squill Oxymel group compared with the other groups. The increases in FEV1 liter, FEV1%, FEV1/FVC%, and MEF 25-75% during the intervention were significantly higher in the Squill Oxymel group than in the other groups (p< .001). However, the improvement of plethysmographic parameters showed no significant difference between the study groups (p>.05). The SGRQ scores (symptoms, activity, and total score) were significantly improved after intervention in both the Squill Oxymel and the simple honey oxymel groups (p< .001), but not in the placebo group. Nausea and vomiting was reported in 5 patients in Squill oxymel and simple oxymel groups. No other serious adverse event was observed.
CONCLUSIONS: The results of the current study show preliminary evidence for the efficacy and safety of the add-on treatment of Squill Oxymel in patients with moderate to severe persistent asthma.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2016.12.032   PMID: 27998692 f1000.com

Cytotoxic effect of Drimia maritima bulb extract and induction of mitochondrial apoptotic signaling in human breast cancer cells, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-468
Maryam Hamzeloo-Moghadam, Mahmoud Aghaei, Mohammad Hossein Abdolmohammadi, Amir Khalaj, Faranak Fallahian
Abstract
Background: Drimia maritima (D. maritima) is a plant belonging to the family Asparagaceae, which has been used for the treatment of several ailments including cancer around the world. To our knowledge, there is no comprehensive study about the molecular mechanisms of anticancer activity of this plant, yet.
Materials and methods: In the current study, cell viability, apoptosis induction, ROS production, mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, and ER stress mediators have been evaluated in breast cancer cells, MCF7, and MDA-MB-468 treated with D. maritima.
Results: Significant cytotoxic effects were observed in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-468 cells after exposure to D. maritima. Apoptosis induction was determined using Annexin-V-FITC and propidium iodide staining. Furthermore, an increase of ROS, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, the release of cytochrome c, activation of caspases, and elevation in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was determined. D. maritima dose-dependently increased the mRNA expression of ER stress markers such as CHOP, ATF-4, GADD34, and TRIB3 in MCF-7, and MDA-MB-468 cells.
Conclusion: These data suggest that D. maritima induces apoptosis in human breast cancer cells via the mitochondrial-mediated pathway. In addition, endoplasmic reticulum stress seems to be involved in D. maritima-induced cell death.
Onco Targets Ther 2018 Oct 31;11:7669-7677. doi: 10.2147/OTT.S182786. eCollection 2018. PMID: 30464515 PMCID: PMC6217182 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov