colchicine
UK /ˈkɒl.tʃɪs.iːn/ · US /ˈkɑl.t͡ʃəˌsiːn/ noun
Forms colchicines
- noun (organic chemistry, pharmacology) A highly toxic alkaloid, chemical formula C₂₂H₂₅NO₆, originally extracted from plants of the genus Colchicum and formerly used to treat rheumatic complaints, now used mainly in the treatment of gout.
Etymology
From colchicum + -ine.
Webster’s 1913
- noun A powerful vegetable alkaloid, C17H19NO5, extracted from the Colchicum autumnale, or meadow saffron, as a white or yellowish amorphous powder, with a harsh, bitter taste; --called also colchicia.
Etymology [Cf. F. colchicine.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “colchicine”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details