Determination of colchicine content in Colchicum hierosolymitanum and Colchicum tunicatum under cultivation.

Corms of Colchicum hierosolymitanum and Colchicum tunicatum were collected, identified and planted under field condition. We report here and for the first time the presence of colchicine in an appreciable amount in both species. The effect of different NPK fertilizer levels on colchicine content of the two Colchicum species at different growth stages were evaluated by HPLC. Results indicated that increasing NPK fertilizer levels significantly improve colchicine content in different plant parts and stages. The highest colchicine content observed in corms was at maturity stage 0.766 mg/g and 0.688 mg/g dry weight with C. hierosolimitanum and C. tunicatum, respectively.