Colchicine

Isolated from Colchicum autumnale. Anti-cancer compound - Microtubule assembly inhibitor - Depolymerizes microtubules and limits microtubule formation (inactivates spindle fibre formation) - Inhibits mitosis during cell division at metaphase by inhibiting spindle formation - Anti-inflammatory compound - Suppresses monosodium urate crystal-induced NLRP3/NALP3 inflammasome-driven caspase-1 activation, IL-1beta processing and release, and L-selectin expression on neutrophils at micromolar concentrations - Blocks the release of a crystal-derived chemotactic factor from neutrophil lysosomes, blocks neutrophil adhesion to, and inhibits monosodium urate crystal-induced production of superoxide anions from neutrophils at nanomolar concentrations - Drug used in treatment of gout, familial Mediterranean fever, pericarditis and Behect's disease - Investigated for its anti-cancer activity - It has a narrow therapeutic index with no clear-cut distinction between nontoxic, toxic and lethal doses, causing substantial confusion among clinicians - Apoptosis inducer in a variety of normal and tumor cell lines.