Effect of Process Parameters on the Extraction ofColchicine from Colchicum autumnale L Seeds

Abstract

Phytocompounds play a vital role in our lives since nowadays people rely more on herbal sources of drugs to be used for curing various ailments or to be used prophylactically in the form of neutraceutical.One such plant used to cure certain ailments is Colchicum autumnale L., whose medicinal benefit is attributed to the phytocompound colchicine present in it. The present study focused on studying the effect of two process parameters viz solvents of varying polarity and mode of extraction on the extraction of colchicine from Colchicum autumnale L. seeds. Solvents used included ethanol, methanol, chloroform and acetone whereas three methods of extraction were opted included maceration, reflux and soxhelation. Maceration extracted 0.939,1.072, 0.714 and 0.352 %w/w of colchicine in methanol, ethanol, chloroform and acetone respectively. For reflux, the results were- 2.6, 3.34, 1.91 and 0.483%w/w respectively for ethanol, methanol, and chloroform and acetone.In case of soxhelation the results
were 2.63% w/w in ethanol, 3.49% w/w in methanol, 2.34% w/w in chloroform and 0.774% w/w in acetone. Thus, it was concluded from the study work that soxhelation proved to the best mode of extraction and methanol was identified as the most effective solvent for extracting colchicine. Furthurmore, since our study revolves around conventional modes of extraction, the work might be useful for areas where modern extraction techniques still are unavailable.