GREATER CELANDINE

OTHER NAME(S):

Bai Qu Cai, Celandine, Celandine Herb, Celandine Root, Celidonia Mayor, Chelidonii, Chelidonii Herba, Chelidonium majus, Grande Chélidoine, Grande Éclaire, Greater Celandine Above Ground Parts, Greater Celandine Rhizome, Greater Celandine Root, Herbe à Verrues, Herbe aux Verrues, Parties Aériennes de la Grande Chélidoine, Racine de Chélidoine, Racine de Grande Chélidoine, Rhizome de Chélidoine, Rhizome de la Grande Chélidoine, Schollkraut, Swallow Wort, Tetterwort, Verruguera.

Read Reviews (3)

Overview

Overview Information

Greater celandine is a plant. The dried above-ground parts, root, and rhizome (underground stem) are used to make medicine. Don't confuse greater celandine with lesser celandine (Family: Ranunculus ficaria).

People use greater celandine for conditions such as cancer, problems with the digestive tract, liver and gallbladder disorders, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. Using greater celandine can also be unsafe.

How does it work?

The chemicals in greater celandine might slow the growth of cancer cells, but might also be harmful to normal cells. Preliminary research suggests greater celandine might increase the flow of bile. Greater celandine might also contain chemicals that reduce swelling and relieve pain. Some chemicals might kill bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

Uses

Uses & Effectiveness?

Possibly Effective for

Indigestion (dyspepsia). Some research suggests that taking a specific product (Iberogast, Medical Futures, Inc) containing greater celandine, peppermint leaf, German chamomile, caraway, licorice, clown's mustard plant, lemon balm, angelica, and milk thistle by mouth for 4 weeks reduces severity of acid reflux, stomach pain, cramping, nausea, and vomiting.

Insufficient Evidence for

Cancer. Early research suggests that injecting a greater celandine product intravenously under medical supervision improves survival in some people with colorectal, bladder, pancreatic, or breast cancer. However, the studies showing this benefit have been criticized because they weren't well designed. Also some research shows that high doses of this product may be poisonous. Still, other early research shows that taking a solution of a greater celandine mixture by mouth for 2 weeks might have antitumor effects in people with cancer of the esophagus.
Arthritis.
Blister rashes.
Gout.
High blood pressure.
Irregular menstrual periods.
Loss of appetite.
Pain and swelling (inflammation).
Scabies.
Spasms in the digestive tract.
Stomach flu.
Toothache.
Warts.
Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of greater celandine for these uses.

Side Effects

Side Effects & Safety

When taken by mouth: Greater celandine is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when taken by mouth. It can cause serious liver problems. Avoid using.

When applied to the skin: Not enough is known about the safety of greater celandine when applied to the skin. It can cause allergic skin rash in some people.

When given by IV: Not enough is known about the safety of giving greater celandine products intravenously. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There is not enough reliable information about the safety of taking greater celandine if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

"Auto-immune diseases" such as multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or other conditions: Greater celandine might cause the immune system to become more active. This might increase the symptoms of auto-immune diseases. If you have one of these conditions, it's best to avoid using greater celandine.

Blockage of the bile duct (bile duct obstruction): Some greater celandine extracts appear to increase the flow of bile. There is a concern that this might make bile duct obstruction worse.

Liver disease, including hepatitis: There is some evidence that greater celandine can cause hepatitis. Don't use greater celandine if you have liver disease.

Interactions

Interactions?

Moderate Interaction

Be cautious with this combination

!

Medications that can harm the liver (Hepatotoxic drugs) interacts with GREATER CELANDINE

Greater celandine might harm the liver. Taking greater celandine along with medication that might also harm the liver can increase the risk of liver damage. Do not take greater celandine if you are taking a medication that can harm the liver.
Some medications that can harm the liver include acetaminophen (Tylenol and others), amiodarone (Cordarone), carbamazepine (Tegretol), isoniazid (INH), methotrexate (Rheumatrex), methyldopa (Aldomet), fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), erythromycin (Erythrocin, Ilosone, others), phenytoin (Dilantin) , lovastatin (Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol), simvastatin (Zocor), and many others.
Before taking greater celandine, talk with your healthcare professional if you take any medications.

Dosing

The following doses have been studied in scientific research:

BY MOUTH:

For upset stomach: 1 mL three times daily of a specific combination product containing greater celandine plus peppermint leaf, German chamomile, caraway, licorice, clown's mustard plant, lemon balm, angelica, and milk thistle. (Iberogast, Medical Futures, Inc) over a period of 4 weeks.

View References

REFERENCES:

Vavreckova, C., Gawlik, I., and Muller, K. Benzophenanthridine alkaloids of Chelidonium majus; I. Inhibition of 5- and 12-lipoxygenase by a non-redox mechanism. Planta Med. 1996;62(5):397-401. View abstract.
Vavreckova, C., Gawlik, I., and Muller, K. Benzophenanthridine alkaloids of Chelidonium majus; II. Potent inhibitory action against the growth of human keratinocytes. Planta Med. 1996;62(6):491-494. View abstract.
Voltchek, I. V., Liepins, A., Nowicky, J. W., and Brzosko, W. J. Potential therapeutic efficacy of Ukrain (NSC 631570) in AIDS patients with Kaposi's sarcoma. Drugs Exp.Clin Res 1996;22(3-5):283-286. View abstract.
von Zerssen, D. Die Beschwerden-Liste. Manual. Weinheim: Beltz Test;1976.
Xian, M. S., Hayashi, K., Lu, J. P., and Awai, M. Efficacy of traditional Chinese herbs on squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus: histopathologic analysis of 240 cases. Acta Med.Okayama 1989;43(6):345-351. View abstract.
Zemskov, V. S., Procopchuk, O. L., Susak, Y. M., Zemskov, S. V., Hodysh, Y. Y., and Zemskova, M. V. Ukrain (NSC-631570) in the treatment of pancreas cancer. Drugs Exp.Clin Res 2000;26(5-6):179-190. View abstract.
Zemskov, V., Prokopchuk, O., Susak, Y., Zemskov, S., Tkachenko, O., Hodysh, Y., and Nowicky, W. Efficacy of ukrain in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Langenbecks Arch.Surg. 2002;387(2):84-89. View abstract.
Baek SC, Ryu HW, Kang MG, et al. Selective inhibition of monoamine oxidase A by chelerythrine, an isoquinoline alkaloid. Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2018;28(14):2403-2407. View abstract.
Benninger J, Schneider HT, Schuppan D, et al. Acute hepatitis induced by greater celandine (Chelidonium majus). Gastroenterology 1999;117:1234-7. View abstract.
Colombo ML, Bosisio E. Pharmacological activities of Chelidonium majus L. (Papaveraceae). Pharmacol Res 1996;33:127-34. View abstract.
Ernst E, Schmidt K. Ukrain - a new cancer cure? A systematic review of randomised clinical trials. BMC Cancer 2005;5:69. View abstract.
Etxenagusia MA, Anda M, Gonzalez-Mahave I, et al. Contact dermatitis from Chelidonium majus (greater celandine). Contact Dermatitis 2000;43:47. View abstract.
Holtmann G, Madisch A, Juergen H, et al. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial on the effects of an herbal preparation in patients with functional dyspepsia [Abstract]. Ann Mtg Digestive Disease Week 1999 May.
Kemeny-Beke A, Aradi J, Damjanovich J, et al. Apoptotic response of uveal melanoma cells upon treatment with chelidonine, sanguinarine and chelerythrine. Cancer Lett 2006;237:67-75. View abstract.
Liu Y, Cui T, Peng Y, Ji M, Zheng J. Mechanism-based inactivation of cytochrome P450 2D6 by chelidonine. J Biochem Mol Toxicol. 2019;33(2):e22251. View abstract.
Madisch A, Holtmann G, Mayr G, et al. Treatment of functional dyspepsia with a herbal preparation. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial. Digestion 2004;69:45-52. View abstract.
Melzer J, Rosch W, Reichling J, et al. Meta-analysis: phytotherapy of functional dyspepsia with the herbal drug preparation STW 5 (Iberogast). Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2004;20:1279-87. View abstract.
Moro PA, Cassetti F, Giugliano G, et al. Hepatitis from greater celandine (Chelidonium majus L.): Review of literature and report of a new case. J Ethnopharmacol 2009;124:328-32. View abstract.
Pantano F, Mannocchi G, Marinelli E, Gentili S, Graziano S, Busardò FP, di Luca NM. Hepatotoxicity induced by greater celandine (Chelidonium majus L.): a review of the literature. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2017 Mar;21(1 Suppl):46-52. View abstract.
Panzer A, Joubert AM, Bianchi PC, Seegers JC. The antimitotic effects of Ukrain, a Chelidonium majus alkaloid derivative, are reversible in vitro. Cancer Lett 2000;150:85-92. View abstract.
Juszkiewicz, T., Minta, M., Wlodarczyk, B., and Biernacki, B. Teratological evaluation of Ukrain in hamsters and rats. Drugs Exp.Clin Res 1992;18 Suppl:23-29. View abstract.
Khayyal, M. T., El Ghazaly, M. A., Kenawy, S. A., Seif-El-Nasr, M., Mahran, L. G., Kafafi, Y. A., and Okpanyi, S. N. Antiulcerogenic effect of some gastrointestinally acting plant extracts and their combination. Arzneimittelforschung. 2001;51(7):545-553. View abstract.
Khmel'nitskaia, N. M., Vorob'ev, K. V., Kliachko, L. L., Ankhimova, E. S., Kosenko, V. A., Tyrnova, E. V., Mal'tseva, G. S., and Medvedev, E. A. [A comparative study of conservative treatment schemes in chronic tonsillitis in children]. Vestn.Otorinolaringol. 1998;(4):39-42. View abstract.
Kim, H. K., Farnsworth, N. R., Blomster, R. N., and Fong, H. H. Biological and phytochemical evaluation of plants. V. Isolation of two cytotoxic alkaloids from Chelidonium majus. J Pharm.Sci. 1969;58(3):372-374. View abstract.
Kniebel, R. and Urlacher, W. Therapie krampfartiger Abdominalschmerzen. Hochdosierter Schollkrautextrakt. Z Allg Med 1993;69:680-684.
Lohninger, A. and Hamler, F. Chelidonium majus L. (Ukrain) in the treatment of cancer patients. Drugs Exp.Clin Res 1992;18 Suppl:73-77. View abstract.
Matos, O. C., Baeta, J., Silva, M. J., and Pinto, Ricardo C. Sensitivity of Fusarium strains to Chelidonium majus L. extracts. J Ethnopharmacol. 1999;66(2):151-158. View abstract.
Niederau, C. and Gopfert, C. Effect of extracts of C&T on upper abdominal pain due to functional disorders of biliary system. Medica Klinic 1999;94(8):425-430.
Niederau, C. and Gopfert, E. [The effect of chelidonium- and turmeric root extract on upper abdominal pain due to functional disorders of the biliary system. Results from a placebo-controlled double-blind study]. Med.Klin. 8-15-1999;94(8):425-430. View abstract.
Nowicky, J. W., Manolakis, G., Meijer, D., Vatanasapt, V., and Brzosko, W. J. Ukrain both as an anti cancer and immunoregulatory agent. Drugs Exp.Clin Res 1992;18 Suppl:51-54. View abstract.
Nowicky, J. W., Staniszewski, A., Zbroja-Sontag, W., Slesak, B., Nowicky, W., and Hiesmayr, W. Evaluation of thiophosphoric acid alkaloid derivatives from Chelidonium majus L. ("Ukrain") as an immunostimulant in patients with various carcinomas. Drugs Exp.Clin Res 1991;17(2):139-143. View abstract.
Panzer, A., Joubert, A. M., Eloff, J. N., Albrecht, C. F., Erasmus, E., and Seegers, J. C. Chemical analyses of Ukrain, a semi-synthetic Chelidonium majus alkaloid derivative, fail to confirm its trimeric structure. Cancer Lett. 11-28-2000;160(2):237-241. View abstract.
Pinto, Garcia, V, Vicente, P. R., Barez, A., Soto, I., Candas, M. A., and Coma, A. [Hemolytic anemia induced by Chelidonium majus. Clinical case]. Sangre (Barc.) 1990;35(5):401-403. View abstract.
Spiridonov, N. A., Konovalov, D. A., and Arkhipov, V. V. Cytotoxicity of some Russian ethnomedicinal plants and plant compounds. Phytother.Res 2005;19(5):428-432. View abstract.
Staniszewski, A., Slesak, B., Kolodziej, J., Harlozinska-Szmyrka, A., and Nowicky, J. W. Lymphocyte subsets in patients with lung cancer treated with thiophosphoric acid alkaloid derivatives from Chelidonium majus L. (Ukrain). Drugs Exp.Clin Res 1992;18 Suppl:63-67. View abstract.
Steinacker, J., Kroiss, T., Korsh, O. B., and Melnyk, A. Ukrain therapy in a frontal anaplastic grade III astrocytoma (case report). Drugs Exp.Clin Res 1996;22(3-5):275-277. View abstract.
Stickel, F., Seitz, H. K., Hahn, E. G., and Schuppan, D. [Liver toxicity of drugs of plant origin]. Z.Gastroenterol. 2001;39(3):225-227. View abstract.
Susak, Y. M., Yaremchuk, O. Y., Zemskov, S., Kravchenco, O. B., Liepins, A., and Yatsyk, I. M. Randomised clinical study of Ukrain on colorectal cancer. Eur J Cancer 1995;31(S153)
Susak, Y. M., Zemskov, V. S., Yaremchuk, O. Y., Kravchenco, O. B., Yatsyk, I. M., and Korsh, O. B. Comparison of chemotherapy and X-ray therapy with Ukrain monotherapy for colorectal cancer. Drugs Exp.Clin Res 1996;22(3-5):115-122. View abstract.
Taborska, E., Bochorakova, H., Dostal, J., and Paulova, H. [The greater celandine (Chelidonium majus L.)--review of present knowledge]. Ceska.Slov.Farm. 1995;44(2):71-75. View abstract.
Teschke, R., Frenzel, C., Glass, X., Schulze, J., and Eickhoff, A. Greater Celandine hepatotoxicity: a clinical review. Ann.Hepatol. 2012;11(6):838-848. View abstract.
Teschke, R., Glass, X., and Schulze, J. Herbal hepatotoxicity by Greater Celandine (Chelidonium majus): causality assessment of 22 spontaneous reports. Regul.Toxicol.Pharmacol. 2011;61(3):282-291. View abstract.
Teschke, R., Glass, X., Schulze, J., and Eickhoff, A. Suspected Greater Celandine hepatotoxicity: liver-specific causality evaluation of published case reports from Europe. Eur.J Gastroenterol.Hepatol. 2012;24(3):270-280. View abstract.
Uglyanitsa, K. N., Nefyodov, L. I., and Brzosko, V. Comparative evaluation of the efficiency of various Ukrain doses in the combined treatment of breast cancer. Report 1. Clinical aspects of Ukrain application. Drugs Exp.Clin Res 2000;26(5-6):223-230. View abstract.
Stickel F, Poschl G, Seitz HK, et al. Acute hepatitis induced by Greater Celandine (Chelidonium majus). Scand J Gastroenterol 2003;38:565-8. View abstract.
Storr M, Sibaev A, Weiser D, et al. Herbal extracts modulate the amplitude and frequency of slow waves in circular smooth muscle of mouse small intestine. Digestion 2004;70:257-64. View abstract.
Ardjah, H. [Therapeutic aspects of functional symptoms of the upper abdomen in biliary tract diseases]. Fortschr.Med.Suppl 1991;115:2-8. View abstract.
Baumann, J. C. [Effect of chelidonium, curcuma, absinth and Carduus marianus on the bile and pancreatic secretion in liver diseases]. Med Monatsschr. 1975;29(4):173-180. View abstract.
Baumann, J. C., Heintze, K., and Muth, H. W. [Clinico-experimental studies on the secretion of bile, pancreatic and gastric juice under the influence of phytocholagogous agents of a suspension of Carduus marianus, Chelidonium and Curcuma]. Arzneimittelforschung. 1971;21(1):98-101. View abstract.
Boegge, S. C., Kesper, S., Verspohl, E. J., and Nahrstedt, A. Reduction of ACh-induced contraction of rat isolated ileum by coptisine, (+)-caffeoylmalic acid, Chelidonium majus, and Corydalis lutea extracts. Planta Med. 1996;62(2):173-174. View abstract.
Bondar, G. V., Borota, A. V., Yakovets, Y. I., and Zolotukhin, S. E. Comparative evaluation of the complex treatment of rectal cancer patients (chemotherapy and X-ray therapy, Ukrain monotherapy). Drugs Exp.Clin Res 1998;24(5-6):221-226. View abstract.
Fik, E., Wolun-Cholewa, M., Kistowska, M., Warchol, J. B., and Gozdzicka-Jozefiak, A. Effect of lectin from Chelidonium majus L. on normal and cancer cells in culture. Folia Histochem.Cytobiol. 2001;39(2):215-216. View abstract.
Gansauge, F., Ramadani, M., Pressmar, J., Gansauge, S., Muehling, B., Stecker, K., Cammerer, G., Leder, G., and Beger, H. G. NSC-631570 (Ukrain) in the palliative treatment of pancreatic cancer. Results of a phase II trial. Langenbecks Arch.Surg. 2002;386(8):570-574. View abstract.
Gansauge, F., Ramadani, M., Schwarz, M., Beger, H. G., Lotspeich, E., and Poch, B. The clinical efficacy of adjuvant systemic chemotherapy with gemcitabine and NSC-631570 in advanced pancreatic cancer. Hepatogastroenterology 2007;54(75):917-920. View abstract.
Gerencer, M., Turecek, P. L., Kistner, O., Mitterer, A., Savidis-Dacho, H., and Barrett, N. P. In vitro and in vivo anti-retroviral activity of the substance purified from the aqueous extract of Chelidonium majus L. Antiviral Res 2006;72(2):153-156. View abstract.
Gilca, M., Gaman, L., Panait, E., Stoian, I., and Atanasiu, V. Chelidonium majus--an integrative review: traditional knowledge versus modern findings. Forsch.Komplementmed. 2010;17(5):241-248. View abstract.
Hardeman, E., Van, Overbeke L., Ilegems, S., and Ferrante, M. Acute hepatitis induced by greater celandine (Chelidonium majus). Acta Gastroenterol.Belg. 2008;71(2):281-282. View abstract.
Hiller, K. O., Ghorbani, M., and Schilcher, H. Antispasmodic and relaxant activity of chelidonine, protopine, coptisine, and Chelidonium majus extracts on isolated guinea-pig ileum. Planta Med. 1998;64(8):758-760. View abstract.
Holtmann, G., Madisch, A., and Juergen, H. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial on the effects of an herbal preparation in patients with functional dyspepsia [Abstract]. Ann Mtg Digestive Disease Week 1999;
Jang, S. I., Kim, B. H., Lee, W. Y., An, S. J., Choi, H. G., Jeon, B. H., Chung, H. T., Rho, J. R., Kim, Y. J., and Chai, K. Y. Stylopine from Chelidonium majus inhibits LPS-induced inflammatory mediators in RAW 264.7 cells. Arch.Pharm.Res 2004;27(9):923-929. View abstract.

This survey is being conducted by the WebMD marketing sciences department.Read More

More Resources for GREATER CELANDINE

You Might Also Like

Find More Vitamins Used to Treat these Conditions

Show More Show Less

Vitamins & Supplements Center

Drugs and Medications Center

First Aid Resources

Related to Vitamins & Supplements