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Session 3: Preclinical studies of herbal and traditional medicine

Reduction of Colchicine Content after Detoxification of Gloriosa

superba L. Roots

,
Sasithorn Tandhavadhana*, Piyapong Yupparach*, Chayan Picheansoonthon*****
*Traditional Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Mahasarakham University,
Mahasarakham 44000, Thailand
**The Academy of Science, The Royal Society of Thailand, Sanam Suea Pa, Khet Dusit, Bangkok
10300, Thailand
***College of Alternative Medicine, Chandrakasem Rajabhat University, 39/1 Ratchadabhisek Rd.,
Khuang Chandrakasem, Khet Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand

Background and Rationale: Gloriosa superba L. root, or ùDong Dueng, is a crude drug
employed in Thai traditional remedies for several ailments, including chronic rhinitis. Colchi-
cine is an active constituent in the roots. It was reported that 7-11 mg caused lethal effect in
human. The common side effects of colchicine include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdo-
men pain. However, in Thai traditional medical practice, the roots must be detoxified, either
by ùroastingû or ùburningû, prior using in compounding into Thai herbal remedies.
Objective: To quantitatively compare the amount of colchicines before and after detoxi-
fication by ùroastingû method
Methodology: Eight samples of Gloriosa superba L. roots, either collecting from wild
populations or purchasing from herbal shops, were ground and passed through sieve No 60.
Each sample was divided into 2 test-samples. The first test-sample was treated as a control,
while the other test-sample was detoxified by roasting. Colchicine was then separated from
each sample, both control and detoxified, and quantitatively analyzed by High Performance
Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).
Results: Comparing with the controlled test-samples, the crude extracts of the detoxi-
fied test-samples were significantly increased by 15.44±8.30% (p=0.000), whereas the amount
of colchicines in the detoxified test-samples were significantly decreased by 42.79±8.24%
(p=0.001).
Conclusion: Detoxification by roasting has been proven to be one of the effective ways
in preparing certain potentially toxic crude drugs before using in compounding into Thai
herbal medicine.
Key words: Gloriosa superba L. roots, colchicine, detoxification, colchicine