Colchicine: A Review on Chemical Structure and Clinical Usage

For many years, colchicine has been used for therapeutic purposes and has been given considerable attention because of its association with tubulin and inhibition of small tubular polymerization. Colchicine is an alkaloid extracted from the colchicum autumnale plant, having molecular formula C22H25NO6, and consists of three rings. Many studies are concerned with structural changes in order to increase their pharmacological effectiveness and reduce the side effects of toxicity arising from it. The therapeutic use of colchicine has been mainly documented in Gout, Familial Mediterranean Fever, and many other diseases such as atrial fibrillation. This review summarizes the history of chemical structure of colchicine and presents some of its analogues. Furthermore, it shows binding mechanism with target protein when colchicine is used as a therapeutic drug, and gives a light spot on some studies that discuss the safe use of colchicine.