8 
Extraction  of  Colckioia  from  the  Seed. 
/  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
(      Jan.,  1881. 
Roseiiwasser.  In  all  cases,  the  extracts  and  precipitates  containing  the 
alkaloid  gave  the  characteristic  colchicia  reaction  with  snlphnric  acid 
and  potassinm  nitrate. 
Some  of  the  whole  seeds  were  then  boiled  in  pnre  water ;  on  testing 
the  filtered  liquid,  colchicia  was  found  present.  The  seeds  were  then 
powdered,  again  boiled  in  water,  when,  on  testing  the  filtered  liquid, 
the  alkaloid  reaction  was  not  obtained,  showing  that  the  active  princi- 
ple was  entirely  dissolved  from  the  whole  seed  by  boiling  water. 
Statements  have  been  advanced  at  various  times  to  the  effect  that 
colchicia  was  precipitated  along  with  the  sediment  that  deposits  from 
liquid  colchicum  preparations.  The  precipitated  deposit  was  obtained 
from  ten  gallons  of  fluid  extract  of  the  seed,  which  had  stood  for 
six  months.  This  sediment  was  carefully  dried,  washed  with  water 
containing  about  one-fifth  its  volume  of  alcohol  until  the  washings 
passed  tasteless,  and  then  treated  in  the  following  manner :  One-half 
of  the  washed  residue  was  boiled  v^'ith.  water  acidulated  with  acetic 
acid,  filtered,  evaporated  to  dryness,  treated  with  alcohol  and  water  in 
the  usual  way,  when,  on  adding  the  alkaloid  test,  not  a  trace  of  col- 
chicia could  be  detected. 
The  balance  of  the  residue  ^vas  boiled  in  strong  alcohol,  filtered,  the 
filtrate  treated  in  the  usual  way ;  again  no  traces  of  colchicia  could  be 
observed. 
The  results  of  the  different  experiments  lead  to  the  following  con- 
clusions : 
1st.  That  it  is  a  waste  of  time  and  useless  operation  to  powder  col- 
chicum seed,  as  the  active  princi})le  can  be  wholly  extracted  by  digest- 
ing them  in  the  ordinary  menstrua  for  a  few  hours,  at  a  temperature  of 
about 80°C. 
2d.  That  alcohol  stronger  than  dilute  (sp.  gr.  '941)  is  unnecessary 
for  any  of  the  liquid  preparations  of  colchicum  seed,  since  the  whole 
of  the  alkaloid  can  be  extracted  w4th  that  menstruum,  or  even  with 
water. 
3d.  That  the  active  principle  is  so  soluble  in  the  menstrua  directed 
in  the  diflerent  officinal  preparations,  that  it  is  impossible  for  it  to  be 
precipitated  from  such  solutions,  either  as  colchicia  or  in  the  modified 
condition  of  colchicein. 
