Abstract
Background: Poisoning with Gloriosa superba, a plant containing colchicine, is common in Sri Lanka.Objectives: This study was to estimate release of colchicine from 5g of different parts of Gloriosa superba in simulated gastric and intestinal media, and examine the binding efficacy of activated charcoal (AC) to colchicine within this model.Methods: A USP dissolution apparatus-II was used to prepare samples for analysis of colchicine using HPLC.Results: Cumulative colchicine release from tuber in gastric media at 120minutes was significantly higher (2883g/g) than in intestinal media (1015g/g) (p<.001). MeanSD cumulative colchicine concentration over 2hours from tuber, leaves and trunk in gastric medium was 2883.15 +/- 1295.63, 578.25 +/- 366.26 and 345.60 +/- 200.08g/g respectively and the release in intestinal media was 1014.75 +/- 268.16, 347.40 +/- 262.61 and 251.55 +/- 285.72g/g respectively. Introduction of 50g of AC into both media made colchicine undetectable (<0.1g/ml).Conclusions: The tuber released the highest quantity of colchicine. The colchicine release and elapse time to achieve saturated, equilibrium dissolution mainly depends on physicochemical properties of plant part. Significant in vitro binding of colchicine to AC suggests that AC has a role in decontamination of patients presenting to hospital after ingestion of Gloriosa superba.