Autumn crocus

Autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale) is a widespread, perennial herbaceous plant native to central and southern Europe that belongs to the colchicaceae family. It grows to a height of 8 to 30 cm. The narrow, lanceolate leaves appear together with the inflorescence in early summer and are up to 40 centimetres long. Autumn crocus produces pale pink to purple flowers from September to October.

As a poisonous plant, the autumn crocus regularly leads to cases of poisoning. The autumn crocus was poisonous plant of the year 201o. Extracts of the autumn crocus are used medicinally: it is one of the oldest rheumatism remedies, there are references to it in the Papyrus Ebers, around 1550 BC, by the ancient Egyptians for joint diseases and gout, and in ancient Greece as a laxative.
Colchicum autumnale L. is the parent plant of Colchici semen, Colchici tuber and Colchici flos, the autumn crocus flowers.

ESCOP mon ograph: no processing

HMPC monograph: no processing

Commission E-monograph: positive evaluation for auten gouty attack; Familial Mediterranean fever.

Alkaloids, Tropolonal alkaloids: Colchicine, Flavonoids

1. Melzig MF (2021) Autumn crocus, Cholchicum autumnale L. Z.Phytother. 2: 111611-
2. Kaiser H (2008) From plants to chemistry- The early history of rheumatic drugs. Z Rheumatol 67:252-262
3. Kiltz U et al (2016) Long version to the S2e guideline gouty arthritis (specialist)Evidence-based guideline of the German Society of Rheumatology (DGRh0); https://www.awmf.org/uploads/tx_szleitlinien/060-005l_S2e_Gichtarthritis_2016-08-verlaengert.pdf