Gout, colchicine cell division

Antimitotic (stops cell division) - nausea, vomiting, confusion, delirium Lily family, glory lily, crocus, may apple Colchicine (gout treatment)... 

Other approaches to induce gastrointestinal discomfort have far more serious toxic effects. The chemical colchicine stops cell division (an antimitotic), producing severe nausea, vomiting, and dehydration, which can lead to delirium, neuropathy, and kidney failure. On the other hand, colchicine is used in the treatment of gout and has been studied as an anticancer agent because it stops cell division. Most toxic of all are plants that produce lectins, and the most toxic of these is the chemical ricin produced by castor beans. Only 5 to 6 seeds are necessary to kill a small child. Fortunately, following oral consumption much of the ricin is destroyed in the stomach. Ricin is extremely effective at stopping protein synthesis, so much so that direct exposure to only 0.1 pg/kg can be fatal. 

Colchicine is an important naturally occurring tropolone derivative. It is isolated from the autumn crocus and is used in medicine for the treatment of gout. It also has an effect on cell division and is used in plant genetic studies to cause doubling of chromosomes. The structure has been confirmed by total synthesis. 

Colchicine is the oldest known mitosisinhibitor isolated from plants. The cytotoxic effect depends on its binding to the nucleus protein tubulin in the metaphase. It has been used therapeutically in the treatment of acute gout. (See also section M04A.) Colchicine inhibits cell division in metaphase and has thus a cytostatic effect. 

Corms and seeds are a sonrce for the alkaloid colchicine, which inhibits cell division, that is, cancer. The side effects are severe, negating its use against cancer, althongh it is sometimes nsed against gout. Also called naked lady, autumn saffron. 

Colchicine has been used to treat gout for over 2000 years. It relieves the pain and swelling of acute attacks. It works best if taken during the first two days of an attack. Colchicine interferes with the formation of tubulin necessary for cell division and cell motility and as such inhibits the formation and migration of leukocytes into the inflamed joint. It is not, however, useful for other types of inflammation. 

Colchicine exerts a variety of pharmacological effects, but how these occur or how they relate to its activity in gout is not well understood. It has antimitotic effects, arresting cell division in G1 by interfering with microtubule and spindle formation (an effect shared with vinca alkaloids). This... 

Colchicine interferes with cell division and gastrointestinal toxicity limits the amounts which can be given for the control of acute gout. It also has toxic effects on the blood and peripheral nerves. In overdosage, colchicine is a very dangerous drug. 

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