Celandine,Swallowwort:Celandine is named after the Greek word for the swallow, because it starts flowering when the birds arrive and stops when they leave.

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Chelidonium majus Phytochemicals and Constituents.

Greater Calandine Herb Extract INCI Name Chelidonium Majus Extract CAS:84603-56-5 EINECS ELINCS No 283-257-3 Celandine extract Swallowwort extract Tetterwort extract photo picture image Greater celandine, like other members of the Papaveraceae (poppy) family, contains alkaloids as its major constituents. These include chelidoxanthine, chelidonine, and coptisine. Greater celandine extracts have been shown to stimulate production of bile and pancreatic digestive enzymes in human studies.The roots contain choline, histamine, tyramine, saponins, chelidoniol, chelidonic acid, vitamin C, yellow latex with carotenoid latex.

 Constituents: alkaloids (0.1-1%including allocryptopine, berberine, chelamine, chelidonine, chelerythine, coptisine, magnoflorine, protopine, sanguinarine, sparteine,alpha-homochelidonine,beta-homochelidonine and others). The alkaloids Chelidonine and Chelerythrin, the latter narcotic and poisonous, also the two nearly allied alkaloids, Homochelidonine A, and Homocheli donine B. In addition, Protopine and Sanguinarine, and a body named Chelidoxanthin, a neutral bitter principle. The roots contain choline, histamine, tyramine, saponins, chelidoniol, chelidonic acid, vitamin C, yellow latex with carotenoid latex.more than 20 benzylisoquinoline alkaloids are known of which chelidonine, sanguinarine, coptisine and chelerythrine are quantitatively the most important; berberine, protopine, and stylopine. The alkaloid content varies considerably; in the roots and rhizomes, the raw material for the industrial preparation of extracts, the alkaloid content is much higher.

 Other constituents: chelidonic acid and other plant acids, such as malic and citric acids, flavonoids, a saponin, carotenoids, and other ubiquitous substances. Proteolytic enzymes have been detected in the yellowish orange latex of the plant. A recent study found that the principal secondary metabolites of the plant are isoquinoline alkaloids; more than 30 were found. The richest organ is the root, the total content of alkaloids in it reaching 2-3%. The dominant alkaloids of the root are chelidonine and coptisine. The aerial parts contain about 0.5-1.5% alkaloids. The principal active constituent found in the plant throughout the whole growing season is coptisine, with other alkaloids substantially changing during the development of the plant. The main nonalkaloidal secondary metabolites are esters of caffeic acid.

 Animal and test tube studies have shown that the alkaloids and whole plant extract can relieve gallbladder spasms and stimulate an under-active gallbladder. Test tube and animal studies have also shown celandine extracts and purified alkaloids to have anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and antimicrobial properties. They have also shown greater celandine's ability to protect animal livers from toxic substances.

 A double-blind trial found that a standardized extract of greater celandine could relieve symptoms of indigestion (such as abdominal cramping, sensation of fullness, and nausea) significantly better than a placebo.The trial used an extract standardized to 4 mg of chelidonine per capsule and gave 1~2 tablets three times daily for six weeks. An earlier, preliminary trial also found the same extract reduced symptoms in people with indigestion.

 Preliminary reports from Russia and China have reported that a tincture of greater celandine applied topically was useful for warts.However, these results have not yet been confirmed by double-blind clinical trials.

 Several reports describe Eastern European clinical trials using semi-synthetic derivatives of greater celandine alkaloids for people with cancer.This injectable product goes by the name Ukrain?. The findings on this drug cannot be applied to greater celandine because the alkaloids have been modified from their original form.

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citations1.Celandine,Swallowwort:Celandine is named after the Greek word for the swallow, because it starts flowering when the birds arrive and stops when they leave.

last edit date:2nd,July.2009.