750 Coichicine 



5.^-5; Other sources for colchicine. Numerous sources of colchi- 

 cine exist in nature (Table 5.1), and undoubtedly more will be dis- 

 covered. A notable case is Gloriosa superba producing 0.3 per cent 

 colchicine compared with 0.5 per cent for C. autumnale. The un- 

 usual demand for colchicine made by plant breeders should stimulate 

 search for other sources.""^ These are the problems that pharma- 

 cognosists are surveying, particularly in areas where plants have not 

 been thoroughly studied. 



When colchicine is extracted from Colchicum, other compounds 

 aj^pear in the residue, some of which have proved to be valuable. New 

 products of biological interest might well be revealed through ex- 

 amination of the species that yield colchicine. By new methods of 

 analysis a large amount of important work has been done in recent 

 years with compounds of colchicine and its derivatives.^^ 



5.4: Cultivation, Collection, and Preparation 



An important source of raw material has come from the plants 

 growing in natural habitats.^ A large area in southeastern Europe 

 supplied much raw material that was purified into colchicine and 

 distributed throughout the world. About 1939 the sudden demand 

 for large portions to be used by geneticists in creating j)olyploids 

 created a shortage in the market. Almost simultaneously, the war 

 interrupted production and trade in Colcliiciiin. The prices in- 

 creased and colchicine was difficult to obtain. 



There are standard practices for cultivating most drug plants, 

 and similar work has been done with Colchicum.-^ A general pro- 

 cedure is as follows: Seeds are sown in September, in moist, shady 

 locations and are covered with a thin layer of soil. After germination 

 the next spring, seedlings are set out 60 cm. apart. Cultivation prac- 

 tices are continued for three years. Corms are dug and prepared for 

 the market. 



If seed supplies are to be made from cultivated plants, four years 

 of propagation are necessary. Actually a five-year cycle is required. 

 A common practice involves the use of seeds produced in natural 

 habitats. Seeds are collected by bagging the ripening capsules. 



Another method for producing raw material under cultivation is 

 to set out the corms that come through the regular corm and bidb 

 markets. Or the corms may be dug in the wild state and transferred 

 to a field for intensive cultivation. Production of colchicine is in- 

 fluenced by environment. A survey from 1 1 1 localities in Moravia 

 showed that colchicine produced by seed \aried from 0.6 to 1.23 per 

 cent. An average of 0.8 per cent colchicine was obtained. "• *• ^ 



