IngredientsLilium humboldtii, commonly known as Humboldt's lily, is a species of lily native to the US state of California and the Mexican state of Baja California. It belongs to the Kingdom Plantae, Order Liliales, Family Liliaceae, and Genus Lilium.
First described by Pierre Étienne Simon Duchartre in 1870, it was named in honor of the famed German naturalist and explorer Alexander von Humboldt. The species has also been known historically under the synonym Albert Kellogg, unaware that the plant had already been named by Roezl and Leichtlin, gave it the name Lilium bloomerianum. For some time afterward, the name was still applied to the southern California Lilium humboldtii subsp. ocellatum. The Plants of the World Online (Kew Science) also records the synonym Lilium canadense var. humboldtii (J.H.Krelage) Baker in Gard. Chron.
Two accepted infraspecific taxa are recognized: Lilium humboldtii subsp. humboldtii and Lilium humboldtii subsp. ocellatum (Kellogg) Thorne.
Lilium humboldtii is native to the South High Cascade Range, High Sierra Nevada, south Outer South Coast Ranges, and the Santa Monica Mountains and others in Southern California, growing at elevations from 600 metres (2,000 ft) to 1,200 metres (3,900 ft). It is closely associated with the dry, rugged rocky foothills and mid-mountain environments of California. It grows most often in mixed oak and pine woodlands, in chaparral dominated by manzanita and ceanothus, and along rocky canyon slopes where drainage is excellent. The soils are typically sandy or gravelly, often derived from decomposed granite or volcanic rock.
Lilium humboldtii grows up to 6 feet (1.8 m) tall, with flowers that are maroon-spotted, golden-orange with dark red splotches, with orange to brown stamens. The plant flowers in June, with flowers growing in a pyramidal inflorescence. The flowers are on stout stems, which are sometimes brown-purple. The subrhizomatous bulb is large, with yellowish-white scales, and grows very deep in the soil. The leaves grow in whorls, and are undulate, shiny, and oblanceolate.
Lilium humboldtii is sold as a garden bulb. It prefers dry summer dormancy, with no water after blooming, good drainage, and part shade. The principal plant part of commercial and ethnobotanical relevance is the bulb, which across the broader Lilium genus has been prepared in diverse ways. Lilium species are consumed in various culinary and processed forms, including steamed bulbs, flour, wine, and functional beverages. Specifically for L. humboldtii in traditional indigenous contexts (see Section 2), bulbs were reportedly consumed cooked or roasted, and also prepared as decoctions or poultices.
Its striking appearance and impressive height made it a prized ornamental species during the late nineteenth century, and it played a significant role in the early development of hybrid lilies for gardens worldwide. It was one of the parents, along with Lilium pardalinum, that produced the Bellingham hybrid lilies, which eventually resulted in the popular 'Shuksan' and 'Star of Oregon' lilies.
Today, Lilium humboldtii remains a botanical treasure, though wild populations have been greatly reduced over the past century. As development has expanded into the foothill regions of California, and as natural fire cycles have been suppressed, this species has seen many of its historic habitats diminish or disappear.
Lilium humboldtii ssp. humboldtii is ranked 4.2 by the California Native Plant Society (CNPS), meaning "Plants of Limited Distribution, A Watch List; Moderately threatened in California." Lilium humboldtii ssp. ocellatum is threatened by development, horticultural collection of mainland populations, and by feral herbivores on Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Islands (CNPS 2024). Both subspecies are tracked by the California Natural Diversity Database, each considered rare (ranked 'S3') by that database.
This conservation context is directly relevant to the ingredient's status as a supplement or natural product: wild collection of this rare species is ecologically unsustainable, and no large-scale cultivation for commercial supplement production has been documented in the peer-reviewed literature.
Documentation of the medicinal and food use of Lilium humboldtii specifically—as distinct from the broader Lilium genus—is limited in the primary ethnobotanical literature. A supplement-industry source (Caring Sunshine) makes claims about its indigenous use that cannot be independently verified against primary ethnographic records found in this review; those claims are noted here but flagged accordingly. The source states that Indigenous peoples of the western United States, including the Miwok and Pomo tribes, traditionally valued this plant for its edible bulbs, which were consumed as a nutritious food source, especially in times of scarcity. The bulbs were often cooked or roasted to enhance their flavor and digestibility. The same source states that medicinally, Lilium humboldtii bulbs were used to prepare remedies for a variety of ailments. Traditional applications included decoctions to soothe digestive complaints, relieve coughs, and address respiratory issues. The mucilaginous nature of the bulb was believed to help calm irritated mucous membranes, acting as a gentle demulcent. Native healers also used poultices made from the bulb to promote skin healing and reduce inflammation in cases of minor wounds or sores.
It should be noted explicitly that this information appears on a commercial supplement information site, and primary ethnographic sources confirming these specific tribal attributions for L. humboldtii could not be verified through peer-reviewed databases in the course of this review. Broader evidence regarding Lilium genus use by North American indigenous peoples is consistent with food use: in America, bulbs of Lilium species were used as food.
While species-specific ethnopharmacological records for L. humboldtii are sparse in the peer-reviewed literature, the medicinal traditions attached to the genus Lilium are rich and well-documented. These traditions are relevant context, though they should not be conflated with direct evidence about L. humboldtii itself.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the lily bulb has the longest and most thoroughly documented history. The bulb of Lilium brownii F.E.Br. ex Miellez, as a medicinal lily called "Bai-he," was first recorded in Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (神农本草经) of the Donghan Dynasty (25–220 AD) in China. According to TCM theory, medicinal lily has the effects of moistening the lung, dispelling fire, and calming the mind. It is also used for lasting cough, hemoptysis, anxiety, insomnia, and dreaminess (People's Republic of China Pharmacopoeia, 2015).
Historical records reveal that in ancient times, different Lilium spp. species were often used interchangeably. Notably, L. brownii var. viridulum Baker, L. lancifolium Thunb., L. pumilum DC., and L. concolor Salisb. were all utilized for medicinal purposes.
The literature survey revealed diverse traditional uses of the genus Lilium, mainly for the treatment of lung deficiency, hemostasis, anxiety, palpitations, asthma, and vomiting.
Uses across other world traditions include:
Lilium humboldtii itself has a limited documented history in Western herbalism compared to its Asian counterparts, where related lily species have been valued in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries, being believed to nourish the lungs and support overall vitality.
Important caveat: The phytochemical data that follows is drawn from research on the Lilium genus broadly, and predominantly from well-studied Asian species such as L. brownii, L. lancifolium, and L. pumilum. No published peer-reviewed phytochemical analysis specific to Lilium humboldtii was found in the course of this review. The genus-level data is presented to characterize the class of compounds that may be expected in L. humboldtii, given its membership in the Lilium genus, but direct extrapolation to this specific species is not scientifically validated.
Over 180 compounds have been isolated and identified from the genus Lilium, including steroidal saponins, polysaccharides, phenolic glycerides, flavonoids, and alkaloids. A more recent systematic review reported that to date, 123 chemical metabolites have been isolated and characterized, with saponins, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, and polysaccharides recognized as the principal bioactive metabolites.
Phytochemical investigations have revealed a diverse array of bioactive metabolites in Lilium spp., comprising polysaccharides, saponins, sterols, alkaloids, glycerolglycolipids, phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, and phenolic acids.
Steroidal saponins are the most extensively studied class of active compounds in the genus. At least 82 steroidal saponins have been found in the bulbs of Lilium species, including 13 spirostanol saponins, 39 isospirostanol saponins, 7 pseudospirostanol saponins, and 23 furostanol saponins. Bulbs of Lilium species are a rich source of steroidal saponins, accounting for about 13% of the total freeze-dried weight of Lilium bulbs, which have the activities of anti-inflammatory, inhibiting proliferation, and inducing apoptosis in various tumor cells. The aglycone of steroidal saponins is spirosterol or furosterol with 27 carbon atoms, which has six rings.
Lily bulbs are rich in nutrients, containing active metabolites such as polysaccharides (fresh weight 2.0–5.0 g/100 g), steroidal saponins (fresh weight 0.1–0.3 g/100 g), and dietary fiber (fresh weight 1.0–2.5 g/100 g), as well as abundant vitamins, amino acids, starch (dry weight 11.10%–19.54%), and pectin (dry weight 3.80%–5.61%). Polysaccharides from Lilium species have attracted significant pharmacological research attention for their antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties.
According to the Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine (1985), lily bulbs contain various bioactive constituents, including colchicine, alkaloids, starch, proteins, and lipids. However, a recent analytical study using LC-MS found that these findings indicate the entire absence of the colchicine biosynthetic pathway in lilies, providing conclusive evidence that Lilium species do not contain colchicine. This represents a correction to older TCM-derived references that incorrectly attributed colchicine content to lily bulbs.
The anthers of Lilium longiflorum are particularly rich in carotenoids, with flavonoids accounting for approximately 91.7%–94.0% of the total pigments. Phenylpropanoids and phenolic acids are also part of the genus's chemical repertoire and contribute to its antioxidant capacity.
Nutritionally, Lilium spp. bulbs are rich in polysaccharides, saponins, dietary fibers, vitamins, amino acids, starch, pectin, phospholipids, and essential minerals such as calcium and iron.
Again, the following mechanistic data derives from research on the Lilium genus and its most-studied species; it is not established for L. humboldtii specifically.
The main active substances in Lilium — steroidal saponins, flavonoids, and polysaccharides — exert anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and other pharmacological activities. Steroidal saponins have been reported to inhibit the proliferation of and induce apoptosis in tumor cells, consistent with interference in pro-inflammatory signaling pathways.
Recent studies have revealed that the primary metabolites of Lilium are saponins, which exhibit antidepressant, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and regulatory properties on the cerebral and gut axis. In animal models, monoamine neurotransmitter modulation has been proposed as a mechanism: studies have demonstrated that acteoside (from related plants used in combination with Lilium) substantially elevates the serum concentrations of 5-HT, GABA, and DA in depressed mice, with the mechanism believed to involve augmentation of monoamine neurotransmitters and attenuation of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Steroidal saponins from Lilium species exhibit a wide range of pharmacological activities, including sedative-hypnotic effects, and inhibition of cAMP phosphodiesterase and Na⁺-K⁺ ATPase.
Lilium polysaccharides can enhance immunity. An animal experiment confirmed that Lilium polysaccharide can promote the proliferation of splenocytes and increase the level of serum hemolysin in mice by enhancing the phagocytosis of macrophages, and increasing the thymus index and the spleen index.
Lilium, as a nutraceutical, is very likely to change the microecosystem of the body after eating. Lilium can affect the distribution of intestinal microflora after entering the intestinal tract and plays a therapeutic role through the interaction of multiple organs.
Critical preface: Scientific research specifically focusing on Lilium humboldtii is currently limited. No human clinical trials examining L. humboldtii as an isolated ingredient have been identified in peer-reviewed databases (PubMed/PMC, Cochrane). The evidence summarized below pertains to the Lilium genus and predominantly its Asian medicinal species. The strength of any extrapolation to L. humboldtii is low, and all such extrapolation is explicitly noted.
Traditional claim: In TCM, Lilium spp. is characterized as a cold-natured botanical drug with a sweet taste, and is used to moisten the lungs, clear heat, and calm the mind. Its applications include the treatment of cough, blood-tinged sputum, anxiety, insomnia, and disturbed sleep.
Scientific evidence: Modern research on the genus Lilium centers on its core traditional uses, such as "nourishing Yin and moistening the lungs, clearing the heart, and calming the spirit." Alkaloids, polysaccharides, steroidal saponins, and other metabolites isolated from Lilium species have demonstrated anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, sedative-hypnotic, and lung-protective effects in pharmacological studies, aligning with traditional Chinese medicine records for treating Yin-deficiency cough, insomnia, and palpitations.
Evidence strength: Preclinical (in vitro and animal model) evidence only for respiratory/lung-protective effects. No controlled human clinical trials on L. humboldtii or the broader lily bulb specifically for respiratory endpoints were identified.
Traditional claim: Lilium has the effects of nourishing yin to moisten the lung, clearing away heart fire, and tranquilizing the mind. It is also used for yin deficiency, lasting cough, hemoptysis, anxiety, insomnia, dreaminess, and spirit trance.
Scientific evidence: Modern pharmacological studies have shown that the compounds and extracts from the genus Lilium exert diverse bioactivities, including antidepressant activity (Guo, 2009). Numerous studies have disclosed bioactivities in extracts or compounds of genus Lilium, in which the anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, and sedative effects are similar to traditional uses. In addition, some new pharmacological activities such as anti-tumor, antioxidant, antifungal, and hypoglycemic activities have been discovered.
Evidence strength: Evidence is predominantly from animal models and in vitro experiments. Current pharmacological researches into the traditional uses of the compounds and extracts are insufficient. The clinical applications and toxicity of Lilium need to be further studied. No human clinical trial specifically on L. humboldtii for anxiety, depression, or sleep was found.
Scientific evidence: Pharmacological studies have demonstrated a wide range of biological activities — anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, antidepressant, sedative, hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic, joint-protective, and immunomodulatory — observed in both in vitro and in vivo models. The antitumor effects of Lilium saponins, specifically their ability to inhibit the proliferation of and induce apoptosis in various tumor cell lines, have been reported in laboratory settings.
Evidence strength: Entirely in vitro and animal model data. Pharmacological activities of the genus Lilium have been studied, but more research of the mechanisms and targets, as well as toxicity tests, in vivo and in vitro experiments, need to be further studied. No human clinical evidence exists for anticancer activity of any Lilium species, let alone L. humboldtii.
Scientific evidence: The genus Lilium is rich in steroidal saponins, polysaccharides, phenolic acids, and other active components, with anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and other pharmacological activities. Polysaccharide extracts from related lily species have been tested in vitro for their capacity to scavenge free radicals, with methods including DPPH assay, hydroxyl radical scavenging, and ferrous ion chelation.
Evidence strength: In vitro and some animal model evidence. No human clinical trials for antioxidant endpoints using L. humboldtii.
Scientific evidence: Numerous studies have reported on the pharmacological activities of Lilium spp.; extracts from most of its effective chemical metabolites exhibit a wide range of pharmacological activities, including hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidepressant, antitumor, neuroprotective, immune-enhancing, lung function maintenance, intestinal protection, and anti-insomnia effects.
Evidence strength: Hypoglycemic effects have been reported in animal models. Clinical validation remains limited. Further well-designed clinical trials are required to confirm the efficacy, safety, and mechanisms of Lilium-derived preparations.
Different extracts and monomer compounds were so far evaluated for a number of pharmacological activities including anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, immunomodulatory, antidepressant, and hepatoprotective activities. Lilium polysaccharides have been specifically implicated in immunostimulant effects in animal models, including enhanced macrophage phagocytosis and increased serum hemolysin levels.
Evidence strength: Animal model and in vitro data only. No human clinical evidence available for L. humboldtii.
The external use of lily bulb poultices is documented ethnobotanically (for related European species such as L. candidum, used for wound healing and mastitis in European folk medicine). Some steroidal alkaloids and furosteroid saponins can promote wound healing. For L. humboldtii specifically, poultice use was described in the supplement industry literature reviewed, but primary peer-reviewed ethnobotanical sources confirming this use were not identified.
Evidence strength: Traditional use documented for related species; in vitro/animal model evidence for wound healing activity of related compounds. No controlled evidence for L. humboldtii.
Based on the available genus-level evidence and the limited traditional use records for L. humboldtii, the following body systems and health areas are associated with this plant and its relatives:
No human clinical study reporting a specific dosage for Lilium humboldtii was identified in the peer-reviewed literature. Therefore, no species-specific dosage can be reported.
For the genus Lilium broadly (primarily Asian medicinal species as used in TCM formulations), the following nutritional context has been described in peer-reviewed sources: lily bulbs contain polysaccharides at fresh weight 2.0–5.0 g/100 g, steroidal saponins at fresh weight 0.1–0.3 g/100 g, and dietary fiber at fresh weight 1.0–2.5 g/100 g, along with starch (dry weight 11.10%–19.54%) and pectin (dry weight 3.80%–5.61%).
The absence of verified dosage data for L. humboldtii is itself a significant data gap. Any dosage figures appearing on commercial supplement products referencing this ingredient are not supported by published clinical or pharmacological studies specific to this species.
No dedicated safety or toxicology studies on Lilium humboldtii were identified in peer-reviewed databases. At the genus level, L. brownii var. viridulum and L. brownii F.E.Br. ex Miellez were first described as nontoxic in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing of the Donghan Dynasty (25–220 AD). However, more studies on the toxicity of Lilium are needed in the future to provide a reliable basis for clinical drug safety.
Older references attributed the presence of colchicine to lily bulbs, which would have been a significant toxicological concern given colchicine's narrow therapeutic index. However, recent analytical chemistry work has directly addressed this: findings indicate the entire absence of the colchicine biosynthetic pathway in lilies, providing conclusive evidence that Lilium species do not contain colchicine.
While the mechanism in humans has not been established as a concern, the nephrotoxicity of Lilium species to domestic cats is extensively documented and applies to all members of the genus, including L. humboldtii. Leaves and flowers from plants of the Lilium and Hemerocallis genera are highly toxic to cats. Deaths have been reported from ingestion of as little as two leaves. Thus, the causative agent in the plant material is either at a high concentration or highly toxic.
The first report of Lilium sp. nephrotoxicity was presented in 1992 and based on data generated at the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (ASPCA-APCC). Further observations now suggest that all species of the Lilium genera and plants in the Hemerocallis genera (day lilies) should be viewed as potentially nephrotoxic in cats. It is of special note that the only animal to date known to be susceptible to the nephrotoxicity of these plants is the domestic cat.
The lily toxin, which only affects cats, has not been identified. If dogs ingest lilies, they do not develop kidney failure, although they may have an upset stomach. Some species of the genus Lilium have been shown to be nephrotoxic to cats; dogs suffer from vomiting and gastrointestinal symptoms after eating lilies. But for rabbits and mice, nephrotoxicity did not occur even when fed up to 1.5 times the body weight.
Studies indicate that it is the water-soluble fraction of the lily that is nephrotoxic. In cats, clinical signs of lily intoxication include salivation, vomiting, anorexia, and depression. Polyuric renal failure leads to dehydration and anuric renal failure and death results.
Current pharmacological research into the traditional uses of the compounds and extracts of Lilium is insufficient. The clinical applications and toxicity of Lilium need to be further studied. The lack of human clinical trials or systematic toxicology studies for L. humboldtii specifically means that the safety profile in humans is not established.
Both subspecies of L. humboldtii are listed on the California Native Plant Society's Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants. Lilium humboldtii ssp. ocellatum is threatened by development, horticultural collection of mainland populations, and by feral herbivores on Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa Islands. Harvesting of wild bulbs for supplement production is therefore a significant conservation concern, separate from safety considerations for human consumers.
As a dietary supplement or natural ingredient, Lilium humboldtii occupies a very early and poorly characterized evidence tier. There are no published human clinical trials examining its efficacy or safety as an ingredient. Phytochemical investigations of this specific species are absent from the primary literature; published phytochemical and pharmacological data derive from related Asian Lilium species. Traditional use by California indigenous peoples has been reported in commercial supplement literature but lacks corroboration in primary ethnographic sources accessible through peer-reviewed databases.
Lilium spp. represent a valuable traditional medicinal and nutritional resource with promising potential for modern therapeutic and functional applications. Their integration into health products and cosmetics continues to expand; however, clinical validation remains limited. Further well-designed clinical trials are required to confirm the efficacy, safety, and mechanisms of Lilium-derived preparations.
Until species-specific phytochemical, preclinical, and clinical data for L. humboldtii are generated, all health effect claims associated with this species as a supplement ingredient must be characterized as unsubstantiated by direct scientific evidence.
Health conditions that Lilium humboldtii may help support.
Body systems that Lilium humboldtii may help support.
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