Spotlight: Colchicine: what you need to know

Although colchicine was first isolated only in the 19th century, members of the plant genus colchicum have been used since at least the 6th century for the relief of joint discomfort. A basic understanding of its potent inhibitory impact on cell division by arresting mitosis in metaphase was reached in the late 19th century. It is now known that this results from its inhibitory effects on microtubule formation.