Colchicum autumnale

Saffron. Saffron spice is the dried stigmas of Crocus sativus L. (Iridaceae), a bulbous perennial native to southern Europe and Asia Minor and cultivated in the Mediterranean countries, particularly Spain. Tme saffron should not be confused with either meadow saffron, ie, Colchicum autumnale L. (Lihaceae) also called safflower, or bastard saffron, ie, Carthamus tinctorius L. (Compositae), both of which are occasionally used to adulterate tme saffron. 

Colchiciae (23) is a toxic substance occurring ia Colchicum autumnale, it coataias the aucleus of pyrogaUol trimethyl ether. Colchiciae has beea used ia the treatmeat of acute gout, and ia plant genetics research to effect doubling of chromosomes. 

Fig. 1 Fluorescence scan of a chromatogram track with an extract of Colchicum autumnale (A) and of a reference track (B, 1 tg colchicine) start (1), colchicine (2).

The active principle of the autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale), colchicine (48), is one of the very few drugs that have remained in reputable medical use since ancient times. This drug was the only useful treatment available for the excruciating pain associated with crystallization of uric acid in the joints characteristic of gout until the advent of allopurinol. Although the precise mechanism by which colchicine gives this dramatic relief remains undefined, the antimitotic activity of this agent is... 

In addition, the alkaloid colchicine (from Colchicum autumnale) blocks tubulin polymerization by binding to heterodimeric (3-tubulin between amino acids 239 and 254. Since it inhibits the MT-dependent migration of granulocytes into areas of inflammation and their MT-dependent release of proinflammatory agents, it is used to treat attacks of gout. Its antimitotic effect in the gastrointestinal system induces diarrhoea. Nocodazole competes for the binding site of colchicine and has similar effects on heterodimeric (3-tubulin. 

Several groups of drugs that bind to tubulin at different sites interfere with its polymerization into microtubules. These drugs are of experimental and clinical importance (Bershadsky and Vasiliev, 1988). For example, colchicine, an alkaloid derived from the meadow saffron plant Colchicum autumnale or Colchicum speciosum), is the oldest and most widely studied of these drugs. It forms a molecular complex with tubulin in the cytosol pool and prevents its polymerization into microtubules. Other substances such as colcemid, podophyllotoxin, and noco-dazole bind to the tubulin molecule at the same site as colchicine and produce a similar effect, albeit with some kinetic differences. Mature ciliary microtubules are resistant to colchicine, whereas those of the mitotic spindle are very sensitive. Colchicine and colcemid block cell division in metaphase and are widely used in cytogenetic studies of cultured cells to enhance the yield of metaphase plate chromosomes. 

YAMADA M, KOBAYASHi Y, FURUOKA H, MATSUIT (2000) Comparison of enterotoxicity between autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale L.) and colchicine in the guinea pig and mouse enterotoxicity in the guinea pig differs from that in the mouse. . 1 Vet Med Sci. 62 809-13. 

Colchicine (9) Colchicum autumnale L. (autumn crocus), Gloriosa superha L. (glory lily) Anti-gout... 

Podophyllotoxin (38) Podophyllum peltatum L.), colchicine (9) Colchicum autumnale L.), vinblastine (4), and vincristine (5) Catharan-thus roseus (L.) G. Don] are standard microtubule-destabilizing agents used in cancer research. Paclitaxel (21), from Taxus brevifolia Nutt., acts as a promoter of stabilization of microtubules and causes mitotic arrest in an unusual fashion. ... 

SOURCE - Extracted from Autumn Crocus flower (Colchicum autumnale). Also available from many chemical companies. 

Colchicine is an alkaloid of Colchicum autumnale. Colchicine can produce dramatic relief from acute gout. Its mechanism of action is based on disappearance of microtubules in granulocytes, thereby inhibiting their migratory capacity, which is brought forward by the ability of colchicine to bind to tubulin. Colchicine is rapidly absorbed after oral administration and then metabolized to several metabolites which are excreted in the bile. Elimination from the body is slow. 

Although NSAIDs are now the first-line drugs for acute gout, colchicine was the primary treatment for many years. Colchicine is an alkaloid isolated from the autumn crocus, Colchicum autumnale. Its structure is shown in Figure 36-6. 

Colchicine is a poisonous tricyclic tropane alkaloid from the autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale) and gloriosa lily (Gloriosa superba). This alkaloid is a potent spindle fiber poison, preventing tubulin polymerization.25 Colchicine has been used as an effective anti-inflammatory drug in the treatment of gout and chronic myelocytic leukemia, but therapeutic effects are attainable at toxic or near toxic dosages. For this reason, colchicine and its analogs are primarily used as biochemical tools in the mechanistic study of new mitotic inhibitors. 

Bulbs and corns are modified underground stems. They are collected when they are fully grown. Bulbs of Allium cepa and Allium sativa are used. Corm of Colchicum autumnale is the source of the drug. Dried seeds provide source of drugs such as Nux vomica and Ignatia. Lycopodium is produced from spores of the plant Lycopodium clavatum, Opium from the latex of the capsules of the poppy plant, Papaver somniferum and Carbo vegetabilis from the charcoal. Whole plants are also used for the preparation of drugs like Aconitum napellus, Calendula officinalis, Chamomilla, Phytolacca decandra (Cook, 1988). 

Colchicine is an alkaloid isolated from the autumn crocus, Colchicum autumnale. Its structure is shown in Figure 36-6. 

The chemistry and pharmacology of colchicine, the major alkaloid from Colchicum autumnale, have been repeatedly reviewed (/), and findings made since 1984 have been reported (2a-d). Recent developments in the... 

Colchicum autumnale 17). With the isolation of monophenol androbiphe-nyline (13) and the diphenol colchibiphenyline (14) from Colchicum ritchii from southern Jordan (72), two more representatives of this group of alkaloids became available. 

A. Komhauser, International Center of Chemical Studies, Ljubjana, Yugoslavia, personal communication. This compound was isolated by D. Glavac from Colchicum autumnale (Acta Pharm. Jugosl.,in press). 

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