Indena S.p.a.

Fabio Donzelli

Davide Berlanda

Ezio Bombardelli

Cesare Ponzone

Andrea Gambini

Marco Bertani

Andrea Gardi

Alessandro Andreani

The invention relates to a process for the preparation of colchicine 1 from colchicoside 2 which comprises enzymatic conversion of colchicoside 2 to 3-O-demethylcolchicine 3, wherein the enzyme used is a cellulase. According to another aspect of the invention, 3-O-demethylcolchicine 3 can be converted to colchicine 1 using an alkylating agent. The invention also relates to a process for enriching the colchicine 1 content of extracts from plants belonging to the Colchicaceae family containing colchicine 1, colchicoside 2 and 3-O-demethylcolchicine 3, which comprises conversion by means of a colchicoside 2 cellulase to 3-O-demethylcolchicine 3, followed by conversion of 3-O-demethylcolchicine 3 to colchicine 1 using an alkylating agent.

Semisynthetic process for the preparation of colchicine

Extract obtainable by extraction fromsp. with mixtures of ethanol and water, characterised by an &#x3b1;-amylase inhibitor content in between 1,000 and 1,600 USP/mg (HPLC titre between 6 and 14% w/w) and a phytohaemagglutinin content in between 8,000 and 30,000 HAU/g, and a process for its preparation.

Phaseolus vulgaris extracts, their use and formulations containing them

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Milan, Italy

Fabio Donzelli