title: Seasonal variation of colchicine content in Colchicum brachyphyllum and Colchicum tunicatum (Colchicaceae).
abstract: As part of our continuing investigation of Jordanian Colchicum species, (-)-colchicine content in C. brachyphyllum Boiss. & Haussk. ex Boiss and Colchicum tunicatum Feinbr (Colchicaceae), growing wild in Jordan, was determined during different growth stages. Using external reference standard, a reverse-phase gradient photo-diode array high performance liquid chromatography (PDA-HPLC) method was adapted. Underground parts in both species and during different growth stages, always showed higher (-)-colchicine content than the above ground parts. In C. brachyphyllum total (-)-colchicine content of underground parts during flowering stage was found to be about 0.15% (wt/wt), while that of aerial parts was only about 0.04% (wt/wt). In C. tunicatum total (-)-colchicine content of underground parts was found to be 0.12% (wt/wt), and 0.13% (wt/wt) during flowering and vegetating stages, respectively, while that of aerial parts was only about 0.04% (wt/wt) and 0.02% (wt/wt), respectively. In C. tunicatum, stems, roots and unripe seeds are the main storages of (-)-colchicine at flowering, vegetating and seeding stages, respectively, while in C. brachyphyllum, corms are the main storage of (-)-colchicine at flowering and seeding stages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, PO Box 3030, Irbid 22110, Jordan. falali@just.edu.jo
authors.forename: Feras Q
authors.initials: FQ
authors.lastname: Alali
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El-Alali
authors.forename: Khaled
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tawaha
authors.forename: Tamam
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: El-Elimat
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003078:Colchicine / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D003079:Colchicum / Q000737:chemistry*; D007597:Jordan; D015394:Molecular Structure; D018514:Plant Structures / Q000737:chemistry*; D012621:Seasons
chemical_list: D003078:Colchicine