Chapter 1 Tropolonic Colchicum Alkaloids

Studies of the modern chemistry of colchicine started soon after the discovery of its powerful action on cell division in plants and animals. This chapter primarily considers novel congeners, the application of modern physical methods to their structure determination, the chemistry of colchicine itself, and its conversion into minor alkaloids. Emphasis is given to the biological effects of colchicine, its mode of action, and the exploration of structural features which affect potency, binding to tubulin, and toxicity. The presence of tropolonic Colchicum alkaloids is limited to plants. The isolation and analysis of tropolonic Colchicum alkaioids is discussed, along with the results obtained by microbial and metabolic degradation of colchicine and analog. To investigate the metabolic transformation of colchicine in mammals, a modified Udenfriend redox system, known to simulate microsomal reactions, was used. This system is discussed in the chapter and other novel syntheses of colchicines are also discussed.