Anti-rheumatics Colchicum

DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION ANDHRA PRADESH Name : R.D.L.P.Christian Designation : Lecturer in pharmacy Branch : Pharmacy Institute : GPW, Srikakulam(088) Year : I year Subject : Pharmacognosy Subject Code : PH-103 Topic : Anti-rheumatics Sub-Topic : Colchicum Duration : 50 min. Teaching Aids : PPT, Photographs

Recap In the last class we learnt about The monograph of the Anti-rheumatic drug GUGGUL Guggul contains oleo-gum resin containing steroids and essential oils Can be used for variety of purposes apart from anti-rheumatic activity

OBJECTIVES On completion of this period you would be able to learn about The monograph of the Anti-rheumatic drug COLCHICUM

Colchicum autumnale Fig.42.1 Colchicum plant

COLCHICUM Syn: Meadow saffron seed, Wild saffron Autumn crocus Biological Source : Dried ripe seeds & corms of Colchicum autumnale Colchicum luteum Family : Liliaceae Geographical Source : Many European countries, In India found in West Himalayas & Kashmir region Fig.42.2 Colchicum flower

Cultivation, Collection & Preparation Repeats life cycle with the corm which is present as a swollen underground stem Towards the end of summer the fully grown corm develops the daughter corms in the axile of scale leaves The daughter corms develop parasitically on the parent corm The parent corm withers and the daughter corms develop into new plants Fig.42.3

Collection & Preparation In Europe and Jammu & Kashmir it is propagated by seeds Sowing of seeds at an altitude of 1000-3000m Seedilings transplanted to open fields at a distance of 1m Plants (bear capsular fruits) Fruits collected before dehiscence & dark seeds are separated, processed and graded Corms are isolated Corms are sliced transversely and dried below 650 C

MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS SEEDS Size : 2-3mm in diameter Taste : Bitter and acrid Odour : No odour Very hard and have reddish-brown testa Have a projection at the hilum and develops a strophiole (outgrowth of testa) Fig.42.4 Colchicum flower

MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS CORMS: Size : 2-3 cm diameter Shape : Reniform and ovate with short fracture Taste : Bitter taste Odour : No odour Fig.42.5 Dried Colchicum

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS Contains Amino alkaloids : Colchicine, Cholchicein, Demecolcine, Colchicoresine The alkaloids containTropolone or Cycloheptatrien-ol-one ring structure Seeds contain 0.8% Colchicine and corms contain 0.6% Colchicine On exposure to UV light Colchicine changes to Lumicolchicine

CHEMICAL TESTS Drug + 60-70% H2SO4 or HCl Yellow colour (due to Colchicine) Alc. Soln. of Colchicine + FeCl3 Red colour

USES Specific for the treatment of Gout and Rheumatism Demecolcine is effective against epidermal cancer and Myeloid leukaemia Colchicine is used to induce Polyploidy Used in Horticulture and cultivation of medicinal plants

SUMMARY In this class we learnt about The Anti-rheumatic plant drug COLCHICUM The important constituent of Colchicum is the Amino alkaloid COLCHICINE

QUIZ The plant part that is useful in colchicum is a) Seed b) Corm c) Both d) None of the above

QUIZ 2.The important chemical constituents of colchicum a) Amino alkaloids b) Quinoline alkaloids c) Indole alkaloids d) None of the above

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What are Anti-rheumatics? Write the Botanical source and Morphology of Colchicum Write the Chemical constituents and uses of Colchicum Write the Botanical source and Uses of Colchicum