Phytochemical, physicochemical and biological evaluation of Colchicum kurdicum (Bornm.) Stef.: a study on materia medica of Persian medicine

The genus Colchicum (Colchicaceae) is a perennial and monocotyledon flowering plant that has more than 160 species in the world. In addition, this plant is an important medicinal plant in traditional and modern medicines.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the phytochemical profiles and physicochemical properties, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of Colchicum kurdicum (Bornm.) Stef. corm.

Phytochemical profiles includedtotal tropolone alkaloid, total phenolic/total tannin and total flavonoid contents were determined by spectrophotometric method. Moreover, tropolone alkaloid profiles was analyzed by HPLC method. Physicochemical properties including macroscopic and organoleptic properties, solubility, foreign matter, ash values and heavy metals were evaluated based on pharmacopeial protocoles. In addition, in vitro anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of the plant were determined.

Total tropolone alkaloids, phenol, tannin and flavonoid contents of the corm were estimated to be 0.652, 0.426, 0.052 and 0.325 g/100 g corm. In HPLC analysis, N-deacetyl-N-formyl colchicine, colchifoline, colchicoside and cornigerine were calculated as highest bioactive tropolone alkaloids. Physicochemical properties were determined within an acceptable range for the pharmacopoeia. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities in 10 mg/ml of methanolic extract were estimated 84.7 % and 94.8 %, respectively.

The corm of the Colchicum kurdicum had the main bioactive compounds. In addition, these compounds have the valuable biological activities as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities.