Colchicum macedonicum

Based on the strict criteria of documented, verifiable ethnobotanical records specific to *Colchicum macedonicum*, **no reliable source** (monograph, peer-reviewed article, herbal compendium, or historic record) mentions its use in traditional infusions, decoctions, tinctures, macerations, or poultices across cultures or regions.

Therefore, no ethnobotanical information is available.

Common products:
- Colchicine, a tropolone alkaloid, is isolated from the bulbs/tubers of C. macedonicum and supplied as a high‑purity reagent for laboratory use.

Industrial and craft applications:
- The purified colchicine functions as a mitotic inhibitor. Plant‑breeding laboratories apply aqueous colchicine solutions (typically 0.05–0.5 % w/v) to seedling or callus tissues for 12–48 h to induce chromosome doubling in crops, including cereals (e.g., wheat, barley), fruit trees (apple, pear), and ornamental species (rose, lily). Cytogenetic protocols use the same reagent to arrest cells at metaphase for chromosome counting and for studies of spindle formation. In cell‑biology research the compound is employed in microtubule polymerisation assays and in model organisms such as Arabidopsis thaliana and Drosophila melanogaster to probe cytoskeletal dynamics.

Properties relevant to use:
- Colchicine (C22H25NO6) is a neutral, basic alkaloid with a melting point of 156–158 °C, a log P of 2.5, and a pKa near 5.2. It is soluble in ethanol, methanol, acetone, and dimethyl sulfoxide (≈ 20 mg mL⁻¹), poorly soluble in water (≈ 0.5 mg mL⁻¹), and stable under neutral to mildly acidic conditions but hydrolyses under strong alkaline pH. The molecule binds to the colchicine site on tubulin dimers, preventing addition of subunits to growing microtubules, which underlies its activity as a mitotic inhibitor. Analyses of C. macedonicum tubers report colchicine contents ranging from 0.2 % to 1 % of dry weight, comparable to the range reported for Colchicum spp.

Standards and regulation:
- Colchicine is classified as a hazardous substance under the EU REACH regulation (Annex XVII) and is listed in the United Nations Model Regulations for the transport of dangerous goods under UN 2811 (Poisonous solid, organic, n.o.s.). Its handling is governed by occupational‑safety frameworks such as OSHA (U.S.) and EU Directive 2000/39/EC, which require containment, personal protective equipment, and controlled waste disposal. The compound also appears on national inventories of restricted chemicals (e.g., U.S. EPA’s Toxic Substances Control Act list) and is subject to labeling requirements under the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) for acute toxicity and reproductive toxicity.

Sustainability and sourcing:
- The species is native to the Balkans, where wild tubers have historically been harvested for colchicine extraction. This harvest can exert pressure on natural populations, prompting the development of sustainable sourcing strategies. Research on in‑vitro tuber induction and controlled field cultivation of C. macedonicum has demonstrated the feasibility of producing viable bulbs with acceptable colchicine yields, offering a potential alternative to wild collection. National Red List assessments in several Balkan countries have highlighted the species’ vulnerability, and conservation guidelines recommend limiting collection quotas and promoting cultivated production to reduce impact on wild habitats.

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No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

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