4. CONCLUSION
Extraction of colchicine from different plant parts (tuber, leaf, pod, stem, and flower) of Gloriosasuperba was
successfully done by Dichloromethane method, Freeze drying method, Hot water method and Sonication method. Yield of
colchicine was high in Dichloromethane method of extraction followed by Hot water method. Dichloromethane method of
extraction was found to be the optimized method for extraction of colchicine but there was a problem of loss in colchicine
content in the plant parts because of using more polar solvents while extraction.
Hot water method of colchicine extraction was economically cheap and less laborious, loss of colchicine was also
very less during extraction as water was the only solvent used it can be used for extraction of colchicine from Gloriosasuperba
commercially. In future, the temperature and pressure used in hot water method should be optimized for improved extraction of
colchicine.
Freeze drying method showed considerable yield of colchicine but it is much laborious and takes more time. Though
Sonication method was simple it did not have good yield when compared to the other methods of extraction