1. Anti-rheumatics
Colchicum

2. 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

3. 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

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

5. Colchicum autumnale
Fig.42.1 Colchicum plant

6. 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

7. 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

8. Collection & Preparation
In Europe and Jammu & Kashmir it is propagated by seeds
Sowing of seeds at an altitude of m
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

9. MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS
SEEDS
Size : mm 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

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

11. 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

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

13. 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

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

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

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

17. 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