ABSTRACT
Colchicum autumnale is commonly known as the autumn crocus, wild saffron, and naked ladies. The presence of tropolone alkaloids in the specaids in the treatment of gout, cirrhosis, myeloid leukaemia, Behcet’s disease, psoriasis, Hodgkin lymphoma, amyloidosis, and skin cancers. It includes the antimitotic alkaloid colchicine, which inhibits mitosis by inhibiting DNA synthesis and tubulin polymerization. Following a latent period of 4–12 hours, the clinical manifestations of colchicine poisoning appear in three stages. Peripheral leukocytosis, gastrointestinal symptoms with fluid loss, and hypovolemic shock define the initial phase. This chapter emphasizes various phytochemical compounds, pharmacological studies, toxicology, and potential properties of C. autumnale.
