Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is a medicinal use of Colchicum?
What is a medicinal use of Colchicum?
- Relieves pain in arthritis (correct)
- Induces polyploidy (correct)
- Treats hypertension
- Cardiotonic effect
Colchicum seeds are toxic to animals.
Colchicum seeds are toxic to animals.
True (A)
Which of these are seeds that contain volatile oils?
Which of these are seeds that contain volatile oils?
- Colchicum
- Cardamom (correct)
- Nutmeg (correct)
- Strophanthus
Colchicine has a potent cytotoxic effect and is used to treat ______.
Colchicine has a potent cytotoxic effect and is used to treat ______.
What is the primary medical use of Strophanthus?
What is the primary medical use of Strophanthus?
Match each seed with its primary constituents or uses:
Match each seed with its primary constituents or uses:
Colchicine is safe for use during pregnancy.
Colchicine is safe for use during pregnancy.
What effect does colchicine have on plant chromosomes?
What effect does colchicine have on plant chromosomes?
Cardiac glycosides from Strophanthus are cumulative.
Cardiac glycosides from Strophanthus are cumulative.
What is the primary alkaloid found in Colchicum?
What is the primary alkaloid found in Colchicum?
What are the medicinal uses of Colchicum?
What are the medicinal uses of Colchicum?
List a few contraindications for using Colchicine.
List a few contraindications for using Colchicine.
Strophanthus seeds contain cardiac glycosides.
Strophanthus seeds contain cardiac glycosides.
What is the primary medical use of Strophanthus seeds?
What is the primary medical use of Strophanthus seeds?
Colchicine has a potent cytotoxic effect and is used in _______.
Colchicine has a potent cytotoxic effect and is used in _______.
What are some characteristics of polyploidy plants?
What are some characteristics of polyploidy plants?
Flashcards are hidden until you start studying
Study Notes
Medicinally Important Seeds
- Colchicum seeds are dried ripe seeds of Colchicum autumnale (family Liliaceae)
- Strophanthus seeds are dried ripe seeds of Strophanthus kombé (family Apocynaceae).
- Strophiole is a visible outgrowth on Strophanthus seeds, aiding seed dispersal.
- Awn is a plume of hairs that aid seed dispersal in Strophanthus seeds.
Colchicine and Strophanthin in Medicinal Seeds
- Colchicum seeds contain colchicine, an alkaloid with anti-gout properties.
- Colchicine is also used to induce polyploidy (multiplication of chromosomes) and acts as a mitotic inhibitor (arresting cell division) in cancer cells.
- Strophanthus seeds contain strophanthin (K-strophanthin), a cardiac glycoside.
- Strophanthin is used in acute cases of heart failure to revert reduced blood pressure and has a diuretic effect.
- Ouabin is a rapidly acting and eliminated form of strophanthin, used in emergency treatment of acute heart failure.
Colchicine Uses and Activities
- Colchicine is a plant hormone that induces polyploidy.
- Polyploidy plants are typically faster-growing and larger than normal plants.
Gout
- Gout is a condition caused by deposition of uric acid crystals in joints, often affecting toes, knees, and fingers.
- Red meat, alcohol, some fish, and caffeine-rich beverages are high in purines, which metabolize into uric acid.
Colchicine Contraindications
- Pregnancy (insufficient information).
- Severe Liver disease (chronic colchicine use can increase liver enzymes).
- Severe Kidney dysfunction (colchicine is cleared renally).
- Gastrointestinal upset (can cause nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain).
Medicinally Important Seeds
- Colchicum seed
- Dried ripe seeds of Colchicum autumnale
- Family: Liliaceae (Monocot)
- Contains colchicine (alkaloid), primarily in seeds (0.2-0.8%)
- All parts of the plant are toxic to animals
- Strophanthus seed
- Dried ripe seeds of Strophanthus kombé, S.hispidus, or S.gratus
- Family: Apocynaceae
- Contains cardiac glycosides (Strophanthin or K-strophanthin, K-strophanthoside, G-strophanthin)
- Strophiole encloses the raphe, hilum, or micropyle
- Awn aids in seed dispersal
Pharmaceutical Characterization of Seeds
- Colchicum
- Colchicine
- Plant hormone inducing polyploidy (multiplication of chromosomes)
- Antigout agent (relieves pain and inflammation, shortens gout duration)
- Anti-inflammatory for pericarditis and familial Mediterranean fever
- Potent cytotoxic agent (inhibits mitosis, anticancer but highly toxic)
- Synthetic analogues of colchicine are being tested (same mechanism of action, less toxicity, more selective to cancer cells)
- Colchicine
- Strophanthus
- Strophanthin
- Cardiotonic (similar to digitalis, used for acute heart failure)
- Reverts reduced blood pressure
- Diuretic effect
- Not cumulative and less likely to cause GI irritation than digitalis
- May be a substitute for digitalis in certain cases
- Strophanthin
Gout
- Joint disease caused by the deposition of uric acid crystals
- Caused by a buildup of uric acid in the blood
- Rich sources of purines (contribute to uric acid formation): red meat, alcohol, certain fish, caffeine-rich beverages
Important Considerations
- Contraindications of Colchicine:
- Pregnancy (insufficient data)
- Severe liver disease (chronic use increases liver enzymes)
- Severe kidney dysfunction (renally cleared)
- Gastrointestinal upset (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain)
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
