From the seeds of Gloriosa superba, the new alkaloid 1,2-didemethylcolchicine [2], was isolated, accompanied by known naturally occurring alkaloids colchicine, 2, 3-didemethylcolchicine [1], 3-demethylcolchicine, N-formyl-N-deacetylcolchicine, and colchicoside. The structure of 1,2-didemethylcolchicine was secured by 1H nmr with the help of decoupling and nOe difference spectra, ms, and [±]d. © 1993, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.