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colchicine

 
Dictionary: col·chi·cine   (kŏl'chĭ-sēn', kŏl'kĭ-) pronunciation
 
n.

A poisonous, pale-yellow alkaloid, C22H25NO6, obtained from the autumn crocus and used in plant breeding to induce chromosome doubling and in medicine to treat gout.

[COLCHIC(UM) + –INE2.]


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The major alkaloid obtained from the seed capsules, corms, and bulbs of the meadow saffron (autumn crocus; Colchicum autumnale). The use of the colchicum plant to relieve the pain of gout has been known since medieval times, and colchicine is still the standard treatment for gout, although it is an extremely toxic substance. An important property of colchicine is its ability to interrupt the mitotic cycle before cell division occurs. This effect leads to cells with multiple chromosomes, which are of value in plant breeding. See also Alkaloid; Liliales; Mitosis; Polyploidy.


 
Food and Nutrition: colchicine
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An alkaloid isolated from the meadow saffron, or autumn crocus (Colchicum spp.). It is an old remedy for gout. It inhibits cell division, and is used in experimental horticulture to produce plants with abnormal numbers of chromosomes.

 
Dental Dictionary: colchicine
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n

Generic colchicine; drug class: antigout agent; action: inhibits deposition of ureate crystals in soft tissues; uses: gout, gouty arthritis, arrest progression of neurologic disability in multiple sclerosis.

 
Drug Info: Colchicine
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Chemical formula:



Colchicine Oral tablet

What is this medicine?

COLCHICINE is for joint pain and swelling due to attacks of acute gouty arthritis. The medicine is also used between attacks to help prevent an attack.

This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
•anemia
•blood disorders like leukemia or lymphoma
•heart disease
•immune system problems
•intestinal disease
•kidney disease
•liver disease
•low platelet counts
•stomach problems
•an unusual or allergic reaction to colchicine, other medicines, lactose, foods, dyes, or preservatives
•pregnant or trying to get pregnant
•breast-feeding

How should I use this medicine?

Take this medicine by mouth with a full glass of water. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Take your medicine at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine more often than directed.

Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

Patients over 65 years old may have a stronger reaction and need a smaller dose.

Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.
NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.

What if I miss a dose?

Remember to keep appointments for follow-up doses. Notify your health-care professional if you are unable to keep an appointment, or miss a scheduled dose.

What may interact with this medicine?

Do not take this medicine with any of the following medications:
•clarithromycin
•erythromycin

This medicine may also interact with the following medications:
•certain medicines for coughs and colds
•certain medicines to help you breathe better
•cyclosporine
•epinephrine
•methenamine
•sodium bicarbonate

This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.

What should I watch for while using this medicine?

Visit your doctor or health care professional for regular checks on your progress. You may need periodic blood checks.

Alcohol can increase the chance of getting stomach problems and gout attacks. Do not drink alcohol.

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?

Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:
•allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
•fever, chills, or sore throat
•numbness or tingling in hands or feet
•unusual bleeding or bruising
•unusually weak or tired
•vomiting

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
•diarrhea
•hair loss
•loss of appetite
•muscle pain or weakness
•stomach pain or nausea

This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Where should I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children.

Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). Keep container tightly closed. Protect from light. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.

Last updated: 7/1/2002

Important Disclaimer: The drug information provided here is for educational purposes only. It is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the diagnosis, treatment and advice of a medical professional. This drug information does not cover all possible uses, precautions, side effects and interactions. It should not be construed to indicate that this or any drug is safe for you. Consult your medical professional for guidance before using any prescription or over the counter drugs.

 
Columbia Encyclopedia: colchicine
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colchicine (kŏl'chəsēn') , alkaloid extracted from plants of the genus Colchicum and especially from the corms of the autumn crocus, Colchicum autumnale (see meadow saffron). The metabolic effect of colchicine is not known, but it is thought that it may decrease production of lactic acid and prevent accumulation of uric acid crystals in the body, making it useful in the treatment of gout. Colchicine and derivatives such as demecolcine inhibit mitosis, or cell division. As a mitotic poison, it inhibits rapidly proliferating cells and has been used in cancer therapy and as an immunosuppressive drug. Colchicine has also been used to visualize chromosomes photomicrographically and to induce mutations experimentally.


 
Veterinary Dictionary: colchicine
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A water-soluble antimitotic drug that blocks the addition of tubulin subunits to the ends of existing microtubules, preventing spindle formation. It is a poisonous alkaloid from colchicum autumnale which causes violent purgation, abdominal pain and is often fatal. In research it is used to induce polyploidy by delaying mitosis. In humans it is used in the treatment of gout. See also colchiceine.

 
Wikipedia: Colchicine
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Colchicine
Systematic (IUPAC) name
N-​[(7S)-​1,​2,​3,​10-​tetramethoxy-​9-​oxo-​5,​6,​7,​9-​tetrahydrobenzo​[a]​heptalen-​7-​yl]​acetamide
Identifiers
CAS number 64-86-8
ATC code M04AC01
PubChem 6167
ChemSpider 5933
Chemical data
Formula C22H25NO6 
Mol. mass 399.437
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability  ?
Metabolism  ?
Half life 9.3 - 10.6 hours
Excretion Primarily feces, urine 10-20%
Therapeutic considerations
Pregnancy cat.

X

Legal status

RX/POM

Routes Oral tablets

Colchicine is a toxic natural product and secondary metabolite, originally extracted from plants of the genus Colchicum (Autumn crocus, Colchicum autumnale, also known as the "Meadow saffron"). Originally used to treat rheumatic complaints and especially gout and still finds use for these purposes today, it was also prescribed for its cathartic and emetic effects. Its present medicinal use is mainly in the treatment of gout; as well, it is being investigated for its potential use as an anti-cancer drug. It can also be used as initial treatment for pericarditis and preventing recurrences of the condition. In neurons, axoplasmic transport is disrupted by colchicine.

Contents

History

Colchicum extract was first described as a treatment for gout in De Materia Medica by Pedanius Dioscorides in the first century CE. Colchicine, an alkaloid, was first isolated in 1820 by the two French chemists P.S. Pelletier and J. Caventon.[1] The alkaloid was later identified as a tricyclic alkaloid, and its pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects for gout were linked to its ability to bind with tubulin.

Pharmacology

Biological function

Colchicine inhibits microtubule polymerization by binding to tubulin, one of the main constituents of microtubules. Availability of tubulin is essential to mitosis, and therefore colchicine effectively functions as a "mitotic poison" or spindle poison.[2] Since one of the defining characteristics of cancer cells is a significantly increased rate of mitosis, this means that cancer cells are significantly more vulnerable to colchicine poisoning than are normal cells. However, the therapeutic value of colchicine against cancer is (as is typical with chemotherapy agents) limited by its toxicity against normal cells.

Apart from inhibiting mitosis, a process heavily dependent on cytoskeletal changes, colchicine also inhibits neutrophil motility and activity, leading to a net anti-inflammatory effect. Colchicine also inhibits uric acid (urate) crystal deposition, which is enhanced by a low pH in the tissues, probably by inhibiting oxidation of glucose and subsequent lactic acid production in leukocytes. The inhibition of uric acid crystals is a vital aspect on the mechanism of gout treatment.

Colchicine as medicine

In the United States colchicine by itself is not FDA approved, however it is still prescribed for the treatment of gout and also for familial Mediterranean fever,[3] secondary amyloidosis(AA), and scleroderma. It is also used as an anti-inflammatory agent for long-term treatment of Behçet's disease.

The Australian biotechnology company Giaconda has developed a combination therapy to treat constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome which combines colchicine with the anti-inflammatory drug olsalazine.

The British drug development company Angiogene is developing a prodrug of colchicine, ZD6126[4] (also known as ANG453) as a treatment for cancer.

Colchicine has a relatively low therapeutic index.


Long term (prophylactic) regimens of oral colchicine are absolutely contraindicated in patients with advanced renal failure (including those on dialysis). 10-20% of a colchicine dose is excreted unchanged by the kidneys. Colchicine is not removed by hemodialysis. Cumulative toxicity is a high probability in this clinical setting. A severe neuromyopathy may result. The presentation includes a progressive onset of proximal weakness, elevated creatine kinase, and sensorimotor polyneuropathy. Colchicine toxicity can be potentiated by the concomitant use of cholesterol lowering drugs (statins, fibrates). This neuromuscular condition can be irreversible (even after drug discontinuation). Accompanying dementia has been noted in advanced cases. It may culminate in hypercapnic respiratory failure and death. (Minniti-2005)

Colchicine is "used widely" off-label by naturopaths for a number of treatments, including the treatment of back pain.[5]

Side effects

Side effects include gastro-intestinal upset and neutropenia. High doses can also damage bone marrow and lead to anemia. Note that all of these side effects can result from hyper-inhibition of mitosis.

Toxicity

Colchicine poisoning has been compared to arsenic poisoning: symptoms start 2 to 5 hours after the toxic dose has been ingested and include burning in the mouth and throat, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and kidney failure. These symptoms may set in as many as 24 hours after the exposure. Onset of multiple-system organ failure may occur within 24 to 72 hours. This includes hypovolemic shock due to extreme vascular damage and fluid loss through the GI tract, which may result in death. Additionally, sufferers may experience kidney damage resulting in low urine output and bloody urine; low white blood cell counts (persisting for several days); anemia; muscular weakness; and respiratory failure. Recovery may begin within 6 to 8 days. There is no specific antidote for colchicine, although various treatments do exist.[6]

Botanical use

Since chromosome segregation is driven by microtubules, colchicine is also used for inducing polyploidy in plant cells during cellular division by inhibiting chromosome segregation during meiosis; half the resulting gametes therefore contain no chromosomes, while the other half contain double the usual number of chromosomes (i.e., diploid instead of haploid as gametes usually are), and lead to embryos with double the usual number of chromosomes (i.e. tetraploid instead of diploid). While this would be fatal in animal cells, in plant cells it is not only usually well tolerated, but in fact frequently results in plants which are larger, hardier, faster growing, and in general more desirable than the normally diploid parents; for this reason, this type of genetic manipulation is frequently used in breeding plants commercially. In addition, when such a tetraploid plant is crossed with a diploid plant, the triploid offspring will be sterile, which may be commercially useful in itself by requiring growers to buy seed from the supplier, but also can often be induced to create a "seedless" fruit if pollinated (usually the triploid will also not produce pollen, therefore a diploid parent is needed to provide the pollen). This is the method used to create seedless watermelons, for instance. On the other hand, colchicine's ability to induce polyploidy can be exploited to render infertile hybrids fertile, as is done when breeding triticale from wheat and rye. Wheat is typically tetraploid and rye diploid, with the triploid hybrid infertile. Treatment with colchicine of triploid triticale gives fertile hexaploid triticale.

When used to induce polyploidy in plants, colchicine is usually applied to the plant as a cream. It has to be applied to a growth point of the plant, such as an apical tip, shoot or sucker. Seeds can be presoaked in a colchicine solution before planting. As colchicine is so dangerous, it is worth noting that doubling of chromosome numbers can occur spontaneously in nature, and not infrequently. The best place to look is in regenerating tissue. One way to induce it is to chop off the tops of plants and carefully examine the lateral shoots and suckers to see if any look different.[7] If there is no visual difference flow cytometry can be used for analysis.

See also

External links

References

  1. ^ Pelletier PS, Caventon J. Ann. Chim. Phys. 1820;14:69
  2. ^ Cyberbotanica: Colchicine
  3. ^ Cerquaglia C, Diaco M, Nucera G, La Regina M, Montalto M, Manna R (February 2005). "Pharmacological and clinical basis of treatment of Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) with colchicine or analogues: an update". Current drug targets. Inflammation and allergy 4 (1): 117–24. PMID 15720245. http://www.bentham-direct.org/pages/content.php?CDTIA/2005/00000004/00000001/0019L.SGM. 
  4. ^ Description of ZD6126 on US National Cancer Institute website retrieved 26th April 2008
  5. ^ "Deaths sound an Rx alert", The Portland Tribune, Apr 20, 2007
  6. ^ Colchicine. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Emergency Response Safety and Health Database, August 22, 2008. Retrieved December 23, 2008.
  7. ^ Deppe, Carol (1993). Breed Your own Vegetable Varieties. Little, Brown & Company. p.150-151. ISBN 0-316-18104-8

 
 

 

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