Optimization of ultrasound-assisted extraction of colchicine compound from Colchicum haussknechtii by using response surface methodology

In this research an ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) method was used for extraction of colchicine in root of Colchicum haussknechtii prior to high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection. C. haussknechtii is used widely in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases. The root of this plant is full of colchicine that is suitable for the treatment of gout and cirrhosis and applicable in plant breeding studies to produce polyploidy. The influence of variables on the extraction method was investigated by response surface methodology (RSM) and composite design (CCD) to achieve maximum extraction yield of colchicine from the root of C. haussknechtii. The most suitable condition for the extraction of colchicine was found to at 40 °C temperature, 32 min extraction time, and 70:30 v/v ethanol-water mixtures with 45:1 solvent-solid ratio. Obtained results showed that there is 1.2% colchicine in the root of C. haussknechtii, so this plant could be introduced as a rich source of colchicine.