This brief history of the use of extracts of Colchicum autumnale in the treatment of gout had its origin in some research relative to the metabolism and mode of action of colchicine. It was interesting to review this history in order to develop a background, and thus to learn what ancient authorities and later observers knew about this drug. We shall review the evidence for the identity of cert...

Cytological and chromatographic data indicate that Silphium integrifolium Michx. is a rather homogeneous group of plants. Cytological study shows good pairing during meiosis in interspecific and intraspecific hybrids. Two-dimensional paper chromatography indicates that the varieties of S. integrifolium are more similar to each other than they are to two related species, S. asperrimum and 5. spe...

Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus L.) oil contains the highest levels of erucic acid of known seed oils (75-80%). A significant portion of the acid is attached to the 2-position of the glycerol, and trierucin is a major component (ca. 50%) of the oil. Seeds from eleven varieties of commercially available garden nasturtium (T. majus) were screened for oil content, erucic acid levels and fatty acid di...

A heifer developed severe signs of acute gastrointestinal irritation 48 hr after ingesting fresh leaves of Colchicum autumnale growing on a damp meadow. Confirmation of the suspected toxicosis was obtained by detecting colchicine in serum and urine using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry using atmospheric pressure chemical ionization. Although the serum colchicine conc...

Autumn crocus poisoning of cattle is characterized by severe diarrhea caused by alkaloid colchicine. Previously, we examined pathologically this poisoning in cattle and reported that enterotoxic lesions were closely associated with apoptosis. To examine enterotoxicity of autumn crocus more precisely, a reproductive study was performed using guinea pigs and mice, and pathological findings associ...

Cloud condensation nuclei properties of model and atmospheric HULIS E. Dinar, I. Taraniuk, E. R. Graber, S. Katsman, T. Moise, T. Anttila, T. F. Mentel, and Y. Rudich Department of Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76 100, Israel Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, The Volcani Center, A.R.O., Bet Dagan 50 250, Israel Institute for Tropospheric Chemi...