CHAPTER 5 



Sources of the Drug 



5.1: Scope of Study 



In this chapter we shall discuss the pharmacognosy of Colchuuin 

 and other plants that produce colchicine. Origins, geography, history, 

 commerce, cultivation, preparation, and applications to biology are 

 explained in greater detail for Colchicum than is usual in standard 

 works for pharmacists. 



The Greek words pharmakon, meaning drug or medicine, and 

 gnosis, a knowing, are combined to form the term pharmacognosy. 

 Literally, the meaning is a knowledge of drugs. This word is iTot so 

 old as the study of drugs since it was introduced in 1815 by Seydler 

 through his work, Analecta Pliarmacognostica. A much older name 

 for this subject is materia medica. and while this is still preferred in 

 medicine to pharmacognosy, pharmacists prefer the latter word. The 

 two are not entirely synonymous, for the newer term has a more 

 limited meaning. Biologies, such as vaccines, sera, and similar com- 

 pounds, do not fall within the scope of pharmacognosy but are a part 

 of materia medica. On the other hand, compounds such as waxes, 

 gums, oils, resins, sjiices, and fibers are included with drugs. 



There was much disctission in centuries past as to whether CohJii- 

 cum should be an official drug in the standard formularies of various 

 nations. At certain times Colchicinn Avas made official, then dropped, 

 only to be taken up again in a later issue of the formiUary. Its ex- 

 tremely poisonous natiae and the lack of proper methods to assay the 

 drug caused much of the trouble. It was realized that Colchicinn was 

 a good cure for gout. Medical men also realized the danger associated 

 with administering the drug. The expressions official or nonojjicial. 

 acceptance or rejection, are based on the inclusion of a drug in 

 standard ])harmacopeias of a particular government. The drug may 

 be official for one country and not another. Today, the standardiza- 

 tion of colchicine is accinate, and the drug is official in every national 

 work on pharmacy.'^" Because of its availability, Colchicum luteiim 



[140] 



