demecolcine

demecolcine

 [dem″e-kol´sēn] a cytotoxic alkaloid derived from Colchicum autumnale. It is used in chromosome analysis to arrest cell division in mid-metaphase so that the chromosomes can be stained by one of several techniques that produce a distinct pattern of light and dark bands along the chromosomes, and each chromosome can be recognized by its size and banding pattern.

dem·e·col·cine

(dem'ĕ-kol'sēn), An alkaloid from Colchicum autumnale (family Liliaceae) similar chemically to colchicine except that the acetyl group is replaced by a methyl group; used for gout and leukemia, is said to be less toxic than colchicine, and has an action upon mitosis similar to that of colchicine.