Wikipedia

Chelidonium majus

Chelidonium majus,thegreater celandine,is aperennialherbaceousflowering plantin the poppy familyPapaveraceae.One of two species in the genusChelidonium,it is native to Europe and western Asia andintroducedwidely in North America.

Chelidonium majus
Scientific classificationEdit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Ranunculales
Family: Papaveraceae
Tribe: Chelidonieae
Genus: Chelidonium
Species:
C. majus
Binomial name
Chelidonium majus
Synonyms[1][2]
  • Chelidonium cavalerieiH.Lév.
  • Chelidonium dahuricumDC.
  • Chelidonium grandiflorumDC.
  • Chelidonium haematodesMoench
  • Chelidonium laciniatumMill.
  • Chelidonium luteumGilib.nom. inval.
  • Chelidonium muraleP.Renault
  • Chelidonium olidumTarscher. ex Ott
  • Chelidonium quercifoliumWillemet
  • Chelidonium ruderaleSalisb.
  • Chelidonium umbelliferumStokes

The plant known as lesser celandine (Ficaria verna) is not closely related, as it belongs to the buttercup family Ranunculaceae.

Description

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Greater celandine is a perennial herbaceous plant with an erect habit, and reaches 30–120 cm (12–47 in) high. The blue-green[3]leaves arepinnatewith lobed and wavy margins, up to 30 cm (12 in) long. When injured, the plant exudes a yellow to orangelatex.[3][4]: 96 

The flowers consist of four yellow petals, each about 18 mm (0.71 in) long, with twosepals.A double-flowered variety occurs naturally. The flowers appear from late spring to summer, May to September (in the UK),[3]inumbelliformcymesof about four flowers.

The seeds are small and black, borne in a long, cylindricalcapsule.Each has anelaiosome,which attracts ants to disperse the seeds (myrmecochory).[3]

Taxonomy and naming

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Chelidonium majusis one of the many species described by the father of taxonomy,Carl Linnaeus,in volume one of hisSpecies Plantarumin 1753.[5]

According to theOxford English Dictionary,the namecelandinecomes fromLate Latincelidonia,from earlier Latinchelidoniaorchelidonium,and ultimately fromAncient Greekχελιδόνιον,fromχελιδών(chelidṓn) "swallow",hence the common name" swallowwort ". Ancient writers said that the flower bloomed when the swallows returned and faded when they left.[6][7]Chelidonium majushas also been called great celandine,[8],nipplewort,[8]tetterwort,[9]or simply "celandine".[8]The common name tetterwort also refers toSanguinaria canadensis.[10]

Distribution and habitat

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Chelidonium majusisnativein most regions of Europe. It is also found in North Africa inMacaronesia,AlgeriaandMorocco.In Western Asia it is found in theCaucasus,Armenia,Azerbaijan,Georgia,Kazakhstan,Mongolia,Siberia,IranandTurkey.[8]Its habitats include rocky slopes, woodlands, waste areas, and roadsides.[11]

Ecology

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It is considered an aggressive invasive plant in parts of North America, and an invasive plant in other areas. InWisconsin,for example, it is a restricted plant.[12][13]Control is obtained mainly via pulling or spraying the plant before seed dispersal.

Constituents and pharmacology

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A cut stem exuding yellow latex

The whole plant is toxic in moderate doses as it contains a range ofisoquinoline alkaloids;use in herbal medicine requires the correct dose.[14]The main alkaloid present in theherbandrootiscoptisine.Other alkaloids present include methyl 2'-(7,8-dihydrosanguinarine-8-yl)acetate,allocryptopine,[15]stylopine,protopine,cryptopine, hemochelidonine, homochelidonine,norchelidonine,berberine,chelidonine,sanguinarine,chelerythrine,[16]and8-hydroxydihydrosanguinarine.[17]Sanguinarine is particularly toxic with anLD50of 18 mg per kg body weight (IP in rats).[18]Caffeic acidderivatives, such ascaffeoylmalic acid,are also present.[19]

The characteristic latex also containsproteolytic enzymesand the phytocystatinchelidostatin,acysteine proteaseinhibitor.[20]It is a traditional folk remedy againstwartsin France[21]and the UK. It is used in the preparation of a range of off-the-shelf treatments for warts and skin conditions.[22]

Chelidoniumis used to makeUkrain,a drug that has been promoted for, but is not known to be effective for, the treatment of cancer and viral infections.[23][24]

The fresh herb is no longer used officially. No dose-finding studies exist and the reported clinical studies are characterised by a considerable heterogeneity.[25]

Except for homeopathic medicines, the drug is no longer used in most English-speaking countries. In Germany and Switzerland, extracts of Chelidoni herba are a controversial component of the gastric remedy "Iberogast". The OTC-preparation is a top-selling product for the companyBayer,which is now under investigation for not warning consumers from possible hepatotoxic side-effects when taking the drug. Elevated liver-enzymes and toxic hepatitis with a documented fatality have been reported.[26][27]

The plant is poisonous to chickens.[28]

Herbalism

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The aerial parts and roots of greater celandine are used in herbalism. The above-ground parts are gathered during the flowering season and dried at high temperatures. The root is harvested in autumn between August and October and dried. The fresh rhizome is also used. Celandine has a hot and bitter taste. Preparations are made fromalcoholicand hot aqueous extractions. The related plantbloodroothas similar chemical composition and uses as greater celandine.

As far back asPliny the ElderandDioscorides(1st century CE) this herb has been recognized as a useful detoxifying agent. The root has been chewed to relieve toothache.[29]John Gerard'sHerball(1597) states that "the juice of the herbe is good to sharpen the sight, for it cleanseth and consumeth away slimie things that cleave about the ball of the eye and hinder the sight and especially being boiled with honey in a brasen vessell."[30]

It was formerly used by someRomani peopleas a foot refresher; modern herbalists use itspurgativeproperties.[31] The modernherbalistJuliette de Baïracli Levyrecommended greater celandine diluted with milk for the eyes and the latex for getting rid of warts.[32]Chelidoniumwas a favourite herb of the French herbalistMaurice Mességué. Chelidonium majushas traditionally been used for treatment of various inflammatory diseases includingatopic dermatitis.[33]It is also traditionally used in the treatment of gallstones and dyspepsia.[34]

TheIroquoisgive aninfusionof whole plant, another plant and milk to pigs that drool and have sudden movements.[35][clarification needed]

It was also once used to treat liver disorders, owing to the juice's resemblance to bile.[28]

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  • A leaf and an open flower
  • Flowers
  • Fruits

References

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  1. ^"Chelidonium minusL. ".World Checklist of Selected Plant Families.Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.Retrieved2018-07-28– viaThe Plant List.Note that this website has been superseded byWorld Flora Online
  2. ^"Chelidonium majus subsp. grandiflorum(DC.) Printz ".World Checklist of Selected Plant Families.Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.Retrieved2018-07-28– viaThe Plant List.Note that this website has been superseded byWorld Flora Online
  3. ^abcdReader's Digest Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of Britain.Reader's Digest.1981. p. 30.ISBN978-0-276-00217-5.
  4. ^Stace, C. A.(2019).New Flora of the British Isles(Fourth ed.). Middlewood Green, Suffolk, U.K.: C & M Floristics.ISBN978-1-5272-2630-2.
  5. ^Linnaeus C (1753)."Tomus I".Species Plantarum(in Latin). Vol. 1. Stockholm: Laurentii Salvii. p. 505.
  6. ^"Swallow".Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition.Oxford University Press, Oxford. 1989.
  7. ^Hanzlik, P.J. (1920). "The pharmacology of chelidonin, a neglected alkaloid of chelidonium, or tetterwort".Journal of the American Medical Association.75(20): 1324–1325.doi:10.1001/jama.1920.02620460022007.
  8. ^abcd"Chelidonium majus".Germplasm Resources Information Network.Agricultural Research Service,United States Department of Agriculture.Retrieved10 August2020.
  9. ^Xu, J.P. (2016).Cancer Inhibitors from Chinese Natural Medicines.CRC Press. p. 441.ISBN978-1-4987-8766-6.Retrieved2023-08-23.
  10. ^Predny, M.L.; Chamberlain, J.L.; United States. National Park Service (2005).Bloodroot (Sanguinaria Canadensis): An Annotated Bibliography.General technical report SRS. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station.Retrieved2023-08-23.
  11. ^"Chelidonium majus - Plant Finder".www.missouribotanicalgarden.org.Retrieved2024-03-30.
  12. ^"Chapter NR 40 INVASIVE SPECIES IDENTIFICATION, CLASSIFICATION AND CONTROL"(PDF).wisconsin.gov.Retrieved3 November2017.
  13. ^"Invasive Plant Atlas of New England".Archived fromthe originalon 2015-07-30.Retrieved2015-06-03.
  14. ^Gruenwald, Joerg (2000).PDR for Herbal Medicines.Thomson PDR.ISBN978-1-56363-361-4.
  15. ^Cahlikova L., Opletal L., Kurfurst M., Macakova K., Kulhankova A., Host'alkova A., "Acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory compounds from Chelidonium majus (Papaveraceae)."Natural Product Communications.5 (11) (pp 1751–1754), 2010. Date of Publication: 2010.
  16. ^Li X.-L., Yao J.-Y., Zhou Z.-M., Shen J.-Y., Ru H.-S., Liu X.-L., "Activity of the chelerythrine, a quaternary benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloid from Chelidonium majus L. on Dactylogyrus intermedius."Parasitology Research.109 (1) (pp 247-252), July 2011
  17. ^Park J.E., Cuong T.D., Hung T.M., Lee I., Na M., Kim J.C., Ryoo S., Lee J.H., Choi J.S., Woo M.H., Min B.S., "Alkaloids from Chelidonium majus and their inhibitory effects on LPS-induced NO production in RAW264.7 cells".Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters.21 (23) (pp 6960-6963), 2011. Date of Publication: 01 Dec 2011.
  18. ^Golob, Peter; Caroline Moss; Melanie Dales; Alex Fidgen; Jenny Evans; Irene Gudrups (1999).The use of spices and medicinals as bioactive protectants for grains.FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin. Vol. 137.Rome:Food and Agriculture Organization.ISBN978-92-5-104294-6.Retrieved2008-07-17.
  19. ^Hahn, R.; Nahrstedt, A. (1993). "Hydroxycinnamic Acid Derivatives, Caffeoylmalic and New Caffeoylaldonic Acid Esters, from Chelidonium majus*,1".Planta Medica.59(1): 71–5.doi:10.1055/s-2006-959608.PMID17230338.S2CID21131585.
  20. ^Rogelj, B.; et al. (1998). "Chelidocystatin, a novel phytocystatin from Chelidonium majus".Phytochemistry.49(6): 1645–9.Bibcode:1998PChem..49.1645R.doi:10.1016/s0031-9422(98)00281-7.PMID9862139.
  21. ^La chélidoine, une plante contre la verrue dans Science et avenir 2016
  22. ^"Celandine (Greater) / Greater Celandine - Wild Flower Finder".
  23. ^"Celandine".American Cancer Society.August 2011. Archived fromthe originalon 23 April 2015.Retrieved5 September2013.
  24. ^Edzard Ernst(14 October 2012)."A telling story about" alternative "cancer cures and their purveyors".RetrievedDecember 4,2012.
  25. ^"Assessment report on Chelidonium majus L., herba"(PDF).European Medicines Agency. September 13, 2011.
  26. ^F. Pantano, G. Mannocchi, E. Marinelli, S. Gentili, S. Graziano, F.P. Busardò, N.M. di Luca "Hepatotoxicity induced by greater celandine (Chelidonium majus L.): a review of the literature."Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2017; 21 (1 Suppl): 46-52. Retrieved 21 July 2019
  27. ^Aiolfi S (July 2019).Bayer-Medikament im Fokus der Staatsanwaltschaft(in German). Neue Zürcher Zeitung. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  28. ^abNiering, William A.;Olmstead, Nancy C. (1985) [1979].The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers, Eastern Region.Knopf. p. 671.ISBN0-394-50432-1.
  29. ^Chevallier, Andrew (1996).The encyclopedia of medicinal plants.New York: DK Publishing. p.185.ISBN978-0-7894-1067-2.
  30. ^Grieve, Maud (1971).A Modern Herbal: The Medicinal, Culinary, Cosmetic and Economic Properties, Cultivation and Folk-lore of Herbs, Grasses, Fungi, Shrubs, & Trees with All Their Modern Scientific Uses, Volume 1.
  31. ^Howard, Michael (1987-05-21).Traditional Folk Remedies.Century Paperbacks. Ebury Press. pp. 146–147.ISBN978-0-7126-1731-4.
  32. ^Bailes M., "The Healing Garden",ISBN978-0-7318-0753-6
  33. ^Gabsik Yang; Kyungjin Lee; Mi-Hwa Lee; So-Hyung Kim; In-Hye Ham; Ho-Young Choi (2011). "Inhibitory effects ofChelidonium majusextract on atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice ".Journal of Ethnopharmacology.138(2): 398–403.doi:10.1016/j.jep.2011.09.028.PMID21963561.
  34. ^Gabriela Mazzanti; Antonella di Sotto; Antonio Franchitto; Caterina Loredana Mammola; Paola Mariani; Sabina Mastrangelo; Francesca Menniti-Ippolito; Annabella Vitalone (2009). "Chelidonium majusis not hepatotoxic in Wistar rats, in a 4 weeks feeding experiment ".Journal of Ethnopharmacology.126(3): 518–524.doi:10.1016/j.jep.2009.09.004.PMID19761826.
  35. ^Rousseau, Jacques 1945 Le Folklore Botanique De Caughnawaga. Contributions de l'Institut botanique l'Universite de Montreal 55:7-72 (p. 45)
Wikiversityhas bloom time data forChelidonium majuson theBloom Clock
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