What ancient medical treatment is still used today?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

January 8, 2002

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The meadow saffron (Colchicum autumnale Linnaeus) is often mistakenly called an autumn-blooming crocus. But unlike true saffron (Crocus sativus) in the Iridaceae (Iris family), the meadow saffron is a highly toxic plant in the Liliaceae (Lily family). Crocus have three stamens (pollen-bearing parts). Colchicum have six stamens. (See What's in a Name? January 4, 2002)

Acer (Maple) Underplanted with Colchicum Autumnale
"The Giant" (Meadow Saffron) Photographic Print
Ron Evans
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The meadow saffron is the source of colchicine [coal' chi seen]. Colchicine acts at the sub-cellular level. Cells move and carry on their processes because microtubules transport molecules and organelles within the cell. Microtubules are built and dismantled by the cell in a steady-state process.

Colchicine binds to the end of the microtubules; they can be dismantled, but not built. Without transport, most cellular processes cease.

The seeds and corms of Colchicum autumnale have been used since ancient Greece to treat gout. Gout is a metabolic disorder that causes a form of arthritis. Gout is caused by abnormal levels of uric acid in the bloodstream. The uric acid is deposited in the joints or under the skin as monosodium urate crystals called tophi.

Leucocytes (white blood cells) surround and ingest these crystals as if they were invading bacteria. The leucocytes try to store the crystals within the lysosomes (organelles that 'digest' or hold the bacteria or other foreign substance until the body rids itself of the leucocytes).

The crystals act like shards of glass and damage the leucocytes causing the release of the lysosomes. The release of the lysosomes causes severe inflammation—the gout patient suffers what has been called "exquisite agony".

Colchicine cannot cure gout. It only prevents the leucocytes from functioning breaking the cycle of ingestion, destruction, release, and inflammation. The Greek physicians using the raw plant material had to guess the correct dose. They did not know why the Colchicum treatment worked, only that the patient would either feel better or die.

The University of Hamburg, Biology Department has posted a photograph of the toxic Colchicum. To view the photograph, click on the link:

http://www.biologie.uni-hamburg.de/b-online/e53/colchicu.htm

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