Question:

Important alkaloid, Colchicine is found in ________.

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Glory Lily (Gloriosa superba) is a highly valued export crop in India, harvested primarily for its high concentration of colchicine, which is used to treat gout and induce plant mutations.
  • Withania somnifera
  • Asparagus officinalis
  • Rosmarinus officinalis
  • Gloriosa superba
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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation



Step 1: Understanding the Concept:

Colchicine is a valuable alkaloid drug used to treat gout and widely employed in plant genetics and tree breeding to induce polyploidy by disrupting spindle fiber formation during mitosis.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

- While historically isolated from Colchicum autumnale (Autumn Crocus), Gloriosa superba (commonly known as the Glory Lily) is a major commercial source of colchicine in tropical regions.
- The seeds and tubers of Gloriosa superba contain high concentrations of colchicine, which is harvested for both pharmaceutical drug formulation and agricultural breeding research.
- Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) contains withanolides, not colchicine.

Step 3: Final Answer:

The alkaloid colchicine is extracted commercially from Gloriosa superba.
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