Poisonous, flowering plant, Colchicum autumnale L., Liliaceae; used since ancient times to treat inflammatory conditions. Medicinal parts are the seeds, flowers, or corm. Habit. Central and Southern Europe, North Africa. Constit. Colchicine, colchicoside, N-deactyl-N-formyl-colchicine, demecolcine, colchiceine. Determn of colchicine in medicinal formulations: P. A. W. Self, C. E. Corfield, Q. J. Pharm. Pharmacol. 5, 347 (1932). Stability and QC testing of extracts by HPLC: A. K"orner, S. Kohn, J. Chromatogr. A 1089, 148 (2005) DOI PubMed. Description and medicinal uses: K. R. Fell, D. Ramsden, Lloydia, 30, 123-140 (1967); J. Gruenwald et al., PDR for Herbal Medicines (Medical Economics, Montvale, 3rd Ed., 2004) pp 217-218.
Gout suppressant.