Autumn Crocus

Scientific Name(s): Bulbocodium vernum L. Ker-Gawl, Colchicum autumnale L., Colchicum speciosum Steven
Common Name(s): Autumn crocus, Crocus, Fall crocus, Gowri gedde, Meadow saffron, Mysteria, Naked lady, Vellorita, Wild saffron, Wonder bulb

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Sep 6, 2021.

Clinical Overview

Use

The plant and its extracts are used to treat gout and related inflammatory disorders. Autumn crocus may ameliorate hepatitis and cirrhosis, and may have potential in chemotherapeutic regimens. However, no clinical trials are available to support the use of autumn crocus for any indication.

Dosing

Colchicine 1 to 2 mg is a typical oral dose for gout, corresponding to crocus seed 200 mg or corm 250 mg. Colchicine also has been studied for osteoarthritis of the knee, refractory constipation, and postpericardiotomy syndrome at similar doses. Its narrow therapeutic index requires medical supervision. However, autumn crocus has not been studied at these doses for verification.

Contraindications

Contraindications have not yet been identified.

Pregnancy/Lactation

Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is contradictory. Avoid use.

Interactions

Avoid use in patients taking colchicine. Caution is warranted in patients on cyclosporine, gemfibrozil, macrolide antibiotics, and St. John's wort.

Adverse Reactions

GI disturbances (eg, diarrhea, steatorrhea, reversible malabsorption syndrome) are common following acute therapeutic use of colchicine.

Toxicology

All parts are highly toxic. It may produce severe gastric distress, shock, and inhibit normal cell growth.

Scientific Family

• Liliaceae (lily)

Botany

Crocus plants are members of the lily family and often are cultivated for their long, ornamental flowers. This perennial herb grows to approximately 0.3 m in height and has pale purple flowers and a fleshy conical root (corm). The corm has a bitter, acrid taste and radish-like odor.1, 2 Low-lying leaves are arranged around the base of the plant, growing from the bulb. In the springtime, the plant has leaves but no blossoms.3 The plant is native to grassy meadows, woods, and riverbanks in Ireland, England, and portions of Europe and has been cultivated throughout much of the world.

History

The name Colchicum is derived from the district of Colchis, located on the ancient eastern shore of the Black Sea.4 The plant and its extracts have been used for centuries in the treatment of gout, rheumatism, dropsy, prostate enlargement, and gonorrhea.1 Extracts have been used to treat cancers. The first official Pharmacopeia of the United States (1820) listed Colchicum preparation.4 Today the plant is a primary source of colchicine, which is used therapeutically to treat gout and experimentally in cellular chromosomal studies. In addition to its FDA-approved use (gout), colchicine has been used in the following conditions: neurologic disability caused by chronic progressive multiple sclerosis, familial Mediterranean fever, hepatic cirrhosis, primary biliary cirrhosis, and as adjunctive treatment of primary amyloidosis5 Behçet disease6 pseudo-gout, skin manifestations of scleroderma, psoriasis, palmo-plantar pustulosis, and dermatitis herpetiformis.7

Chemistry

Colchicine is the main active principle found in autumn crocus and is present in a concentration of approximately 0.6%...