Celandine
Celandine (Chelidonium majus)
Celandine is native in parts of Asia, Central and Southern Europe, and has naturalized in North America. This perennial member of the Poppy family is commonly used in Korean and Chinese medicine (Gilca et al., 2010; Kim et al., 2012; Pantano et al., 2017), but also has a long history of use in Europe.
Current Use
Clinical data supports the use of celandine to treat liver diseases, gastric ulcer and spasm, oral infections, rheumatic diseases, tuberculosis and jaundice (Deljanin et al., 2016). A limited number of cases of hepatitis from oral administration of celandine have been reported, and toxicity of the plant is still being researched (Moro et al., 2009; Pantano et al., 2017).
Historical Use
According to Medical botany or Descriptions of the more important plants used in medicine, written by Robert Eglesfield Griffith and published in 1847, celandine is known to be effective in “stimulating and healing old and indolent ulcers.”
Latest Research
- Wound Healing Traits of Chelidonium Majus and Valeriana Officinalis Hydro-Alcoholic Extracts on Surgical Wounds in Wistar Rats
by Yousefi Alireza on April 30, 2026 at 10:00 amThe objective of this study was to assess the wound healing traits of Valeriana officinalis and Chelidonium majus hydro-alcoholic (HA) extracts on surgical wounds in Wistar rats. The HA root extracts were separated using percolator and 96 degree alcohol in desiccator device. Additionally, 24 Wistar rats (six months old, 200 g) were divided into three groups: control, V. officinalis, and C. majus. Wound creation (2 cm in diameter) was developed by initial intraperitoneal injection of anesthetic…
- Unveiling the hidden risk: Herbal and dietary supplement consumption in liver disease patientsby Elia Canga on July 4, 2025 at 10:00 am
CONCLUSION: HDS use is highly prevalent among patients with liver disease, but a structured interview is crucial to detect their consumption, as they usually forget spontaneous reporting. Importantly, a significant proportion of these products carry a risk of hepatic toxicity, underscoring the need for increased patient education and clinical vigilance.
- The Croatian Translation of Flos Medicinae: From Health Instructions with Medicinal Plants to Contemporary Phytotherapyby S Inić on August 18, 2023 at 10:00 am
Medieval European medicine relied on monasteries where ancient medical works were transcribed. Trade routes to the East and the influence of Arab medicine, which supplemented the knowledge of Greco-Roman physicians, enabled the foundation and development of the Salerno Medical School, whose most famous work is Flos medicinae: Regimen sanitatis Salernitanum. This medical textbook, written in verse and drawn up on the basis of ancient sources and empirical experiences of Salerno physicians,…
- In vitro anthelmintic activity and safety of different plant species against the ovine gastrointestinal nematode Teladorsagia circumcinctaby Myriam Esteban-Ballesteros on January 25, 2019 at 11:00 am
The present study was conducted to evaluate the in vitro anthelmintic activity and safety of methanolic and aqueous extracts of 9 plants against the ovine GIN Teladorsagia circumcincta. Initially the ovicidal efficacy of all extracts was tested at 50 mg/ml and at 1%, this last concentration for the methanolic extract of Elettaria cardamomum, by the Egg Hatch Assay. In those extracts with efficacy higher than 95%, the effective concentration required to inhibit 50% of egg hatching (EC(50)) and…
- Traditional and ethnobotanical dermatology practices in Romania and other Eastern European countriesby Marilena Gilca on June 18, 2018 at 10:00 am
The geographic and ecologic specificity of Romania and other Eastern European countries has resulted in the development of an exceptional diversity of medicinal plants. The purpose of this study was to provide an overview of the ethnobotanical dermatology practices based on the use of medicinal plants in this region. The indications, ethnopharmacologic activities, parts used, and administration of 106 medicinal plants are provided. We also discuss the relative importance of these species, using…
References
Deljanin, M., Nikolic, M., Baskic, D., Todorovic, D., Djurdjevic, P., Zaric, M., Stankovic, M., Todorovic, M., Avramovic, D., & Popovic, S. (2016). Chelidonium majus crude extract inhibits migration and induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in tumor cell lines. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 190: 362–371. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2016.06.056
Gilca, M., Gaman, L., Panait, E., Stoian, I., & Atanasiu, V. (2010). Chelidonium majus–an integrative review: Traditional knowledge versus modern findings. Forschende Komplementarmedizin 17(5): 241–248. doi:10.1159/000321397
Kim, D.-S., Kim, S.-J., Kim, M.-C., Jeon, Y.-D., Um, J., & Hong, S.-H. (2012). The therapeutic effect of chelidonic acid on ulcerative colitis. Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin 35(5): 666–671. doi:10.1248/bpb.35.666
Moro, P. A., Cassetti, F., Giugliano, G., Falce, M. T., Mazzanti, G., Menniti-Ippolito, F., Raschetti, R., & Santuccio, C. (2009). Hepatitis from greater celandine (Chelidonium majus L.): Review of literature and report of a new case. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 124(2): 328–332. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2009.04.036
Pantano, F., Mannocchi, G., Marinelli, E., Gentili, S., Graziano, S., Busardò, F. P., & di Luca, N. M. (2017). Hepatotoxicity induced by greater celandine (Chelidonium majus L.): A review of the literature. European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences 21(1 Suppl): 46–52.