Determination of colchicine in Colchicum steveni and C. hierosolymitanum (Colchicaceae): comparison between two analytical methods.
The amounts of colchicine present in two Jordanian species of Colchicum, namely, C. steveni Kunth and C. hierosolymitanum Feibrun (Colchicaceae), have been determined. An HPLC-UV (photodiode array) method employing gradient elution was developed and the results compared with those obtained using a simple TLC-spectrophotometric method. The levels of colchicine as measured by these methods were not significantly different (p < 0.05) indicating that the spectrophotometric method is an acceptable alternative to HPLC. With respect to C. steveni, the leaves contained the largest amount of colchicine (0.204/100 g), whilst in C. hierosolymitanum corms showed the highest colchicine content (0.126/100 g). As a source of colchicine, the two investigated species showed levels comparable with those found in C. autumnale, the traditional source of colchicine.
Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan. falali@just.edu.jo
Feras
F
Alali
Khaled
K
Tawaha
Rana M
RM
Qasaymeh
D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D003078:Colchicine / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003079:Colchicum / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
D010936:Plant Extracts; D003078:Colchicine