Tissue distribution and milk transfer of colchicine in a lactating sheep following a single dose intake

The present communication describes the use of a quantitative thin-layer-chromatography method for the determination of colchicine in milk of a lactating sheep following a 10 mg single oral intake of the alkaloid extracted from the leaves of Colchicum autumnale. The concentration of the alkaloid in the leaves was 0,18% by weight. Unchanged colchicine can be detected in milk with the described method within the first 6 hours following the intake, whereas the maximal concentration of the alkaloid is reached 9 hours after the administration. Almost 40 hours following the intake the detection of the alkaloid in milk is not more possible. Postmortal determinations of the tissue levels of the alkaloid revealed major concentrations in the bone marrow, whereas only trace amounts were identified in heart and muscular tissue.