Colchicum
Colchicum, commonly known as autumn crocus or meadow saffron, is a distinctive medicinal plant valued for its potent alkaloid, colchicine. While widely utilized in modern pharmacology to treat gout and certain inflammatory conditions, its extreme toxicity requires precise handling. This plant represents a powerful intersection of nature and medicine.
- Scientific name: Colchicum
- Family: Colchicaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Liliales, it is classified under the family Colchicaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identification is placed within the genus Colchicum.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Liliales | WCVP |
| Family | Colchicaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Colchicum | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Colchicum, is referred to by various common names depending on the language. In Polish, it is called zimowit, while in Basque, it is known as kolkiko. The French name for this species is colchique, and in Hebrew, it is called סתוונית. Additionally, in Hungarian, the plant is commonly known as kikerics.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| pl | Zimowit | Wikidata |
| eu | Kolkiko | Wikidata |
| fr | colchique | Wikidata |
| he | סתוונית | Wikidata |
| hu | kikerics | Wikidata |
| de | Zeitlose | Wikidata |
| br | Karkailh | Wikidata |
| hsb | Pózdnička | Wikidata |
| ar | لحلاح | Wikidata |
| sv | Tidlösasläktet | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a notable presence across various regions of Northern Europe. Specifically, its range includes the coastal and inland areas of Denmark. It is also widely documented throughout Great Britain and Ireland. Moving further north, the species can be found growing within the landscapes of Sweden. Finally, its distribution extends into Middle Europe, where it is present in Austria.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Hungary | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Netherlands | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as autumn crocus, contains potent medicinal compounds primarily located within its vegetative structures. The most significant part used for pharmacological purposes is the bulb, which serves as the main storage organ for the alkaloid colchicine. While the entire plant can be toxic if ingested improperly, specific seed extracts are also studied for their chemical properties and biological activities. Because the concentration of active constituents can vary, careful processing of the bulb and extracts is essential to harness their therapeutic potential for treating conditions like gout.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| seed extracts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bulb | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Colchicum has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include colchicine, Colchicine.
- Total chemicals
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| colchicine | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Colchicine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Colchicum has 6 reported medicinal uses identified across 6 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Familial Mediterranean Fever, familial Mediterranean fever, gout, gouty arthritis, sciatica.
- Total uses
- 6
- Scientific sources
- 6
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Familial Mediterranean Fever | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| familial Mediterranean fever | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gout | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gouty arthritis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| sciatica | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tumor | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |