What plant contains the toxic alkaloid colchicine, used in medicine for gout?

Autumn crocus contains the toxic alkaloid colchicine, a compound used medically to treat gout. The plant is Colchicum autumnale, also known as meadow saffron, and its flowers resemble true crocuses even though the two plants belong to different families.

Colchicine works by interfering with microtubules and reducing the inflammatory response associated with gout. Its medical usefulness comes with a narrow safety margin: excessive amounts can cause severe illness or death. All parts of autumn crocus are considered poisonous, especially the corms and seeds.

The plant has a long medical history. Preparations of Colchicum were described in ancient Egyptian and Greek medical traditions, and colchicine was isolated in the nineteenth century. A frequent mix-up is confusing autumn crocus with saffron crocus: saffron comes from Crocus sativus, while autumn crocus is a toxic Colchicum species and is not a source of culinary saffron.