Skip to main content

Table 2 Properties of major alkaloid of Colchicum autumnale

From: Anticancer potential of alkaloids: a key emphasis to colchicine, vinblastine, vincristine, vindesine, vinorelbine and vincamine

Colchicine/traditional uses

Mode of action

Mode of administration

Doses

Toxicity/side effects

References

Alkaloid from Colchicum autumnale

Powerful spindle poison anti-inflammatory used to treat a variety of conditions like gout, familial Mediterranean fever, pericarditis

Accumulates in leucocytes, interfering with leukocyte movement and degranulation, by binding tubulins, inhibits microtubule production

Oral drug delivery is unavailable the intravenous administration route is employed in dermatological problems, the topical pathway has been examined, and evidence of its effectiveness has been found

0.5–2 mg/daily per day, given once, twice, or three times a day

Gastrointestinal symptoms renal failure bone marrow suppression arrhythmias heart failure

[33,34,35,36]