The effect of Chelidonium majus herb extract on choleresis in the isolated perfused rat liver

A Yellow Flower With Jaundice Power: Liver Injury Attributed to Greater Celandine

Greater celandine (Chelidonium majus) leaf extracts have been used for centuries as a natural remedy for various gastrointestinal symptoms. Greater celandine is associated with several case reports of hepatotoxicity, mainly from Europe. No cases from the United States have been identified. We present a case of acute hepatitis from greater celandine in the United States in a 72-year-old man taking this herbal supplement for nausea. In patients presenting with acute liver injury, gastroenterologists should be aware of this herb and reminded to assess for herbal and dietary supplement hepatotoxicity, especially in those remedies used to treat common gastrointestinal symptoms.

Chinese herbal medicine for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases ─ targeting cardiac ion channels

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality, imposing an increasing global health burden. Cardiac ion channels (voltage-gated Na_V, Ca_V, K_Vs, and others) synergistically shape the cardiac action potential (AP) and control the heartbeat. Dysfunction of these channels, due to genetic mutations, transcriptional or post-translational modifications, may disturb the AP and lead to arrhythmia, a major risk for CVD patients. Although there are five classes of anti-arrhythmic drugs available, they can have varying levels of efficacies and side effects on patients, possibly due to the complex pathogenesis of arrhythmias. As an alternative treatment option, Chinese herbal remedies have shown promise in regulating cardiac ion channels and providing anti-arrhythmic effects. In this review, we first discuss the role of cardiac ion channels in maintaining normal heart function and the pathogenesis of CVD, then summarize the classification of Chinese herbal compounds, and elaborate detailed mechanisms of their efficacy in regulating cardiac ion channels and in alleviating arrhythmia and CVD. We also address current limitations and opportunities for developing new anti-CVD drugs based on Chinese herbal medicines.

Chelidonine Induces Caspase-Dependent and Caspase-Independent Cell Death through G2/M Arrest in the T98G Human Glioblastoma Cell Line

Chelidonium majus L. (family Papaveraceae), commonly known as greater celandine or tetterwort, has been reported to have antibacterial and anticancer effects and chelidonine is known as a functional metabolite extracted from C.

Greater Celandine's Ups and Downs-21 Centuries of Medicinal Uses of Chelidonium majus From the Viewpoint of Today's Pharmacology

As antique as Dioscorides era are the first records on using Chelidonium as a remedy to several sicknesses. Inspired by the "signatura rerum" principle and an apparent ancient folk tradition, various indications were given, such as anti-jaundice and cholagogue, pain-relieving, and quite often mentioned-ophthalmological problems. Central and Eastern European folk medicine has always been using this herb extensively. In this region, the plant is known under many unique vernacular names, especially in Slavonic languages, associated or not with old Greek relation to "chelidon"-the swallow. Typically for Papaveroidae subfamily, yellow-colored latex is produced in abundance and leaks intensely upon injury. Major pharmacologically relevant components, most of which were first isolated over a century ago, are isoquinoline alkaloids-berberine, chelerythrine, chelidonine, coptisine, sanguinarine. Modern pharmacology took interest in this herb but it has not ended up in gaining an officially approved and evidence-based herbal medicine status. On the contrary, the number of relevant studies and publications tended to drop. Recently, some controversial reports and sometimes insufficiently proven studies appeared, suggesting anticancer properties. Anticancer potential was in line with anecdotical knowledge spread in East European countries, however, in the absence of directly-acting cytostatic compounds, some other mechanisms might be involved. Other properties that could boost the interest in this herb are antimicrobial and antiviral activities. Being a common synanthropic weed or ruderal plant, C. majus spreads in all temperate Eurasia and acclimates well to North America. Little is known about the natural variation of bioactive metabolites, including several aforementioned isoquinoline alkaloids. In this review, we put together older and recent literature data on phytochemistry, pharmacology, and clinical studies on C. majus aiming at a critical evaluation of state-of-the-art from the viewpoint of historical and folk indications. The controversies around this herb, the safety and drug quality issues and a prospective role in phytotherapy are discussed as well.

Chelidonium majus is not hepatotoxic in Wistar rats, in a 4 weeks feeding experiment

AIM OF THE STUDY

Aerial parts of Chelidonium majus L. (Papaveraceae family) are traditionally used in the treatment of gallstones and dyspepsia, however several cases of hepatotoxicity are reported. In this work we evaluated the effects on liver function of a C. majus extract, obtained from the herbal material responsible for one case of hepatotoxicity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Experiments were performed in Wistar rats, after oral administration of doses corresponding to 1.5 and 3g/(kg day) of herbal drug, for 2 or 4 weeks. Blood samples were collected to perform biochemical analysis, whereas liver samples were used for histomorphological and immunohistochemical examination along with the determination of oxidative stress parameters.

RESULTS

No significant modification in animal body weight, food consumption, enzyme activities, hepatic histomorphology and MDA formation, at either time or dosage level. Conversely, C. majus induced a slight but significant decrease of GSH levels and SOD activity, especially at the high dose.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that C. majus, at doses about 50 and 100 times higher than those generally used in humans, does not alter hepatic function. However, the reduction in GSH levels and SOD activity suggests particular attention in use of C. majus or its preparations in situations (pharmacological treatments, physio-pathological conditions, etc.) that can compromise liver function.

Efficacy of a plant extract (Chelidonium majus L.) in combating induced hepatocarcinogenesis in mice

Ethanolic whole plant extract of Chelidonium majus, extensively used in traditional systems of medicine against various liver ailments, has been tested for its possible anti-tumor, hepato-protective and anti-genotoxic effects in p-dimethylaminoazobenzene (p-DAB) induced hepatocarcinogenesis in mice through multiple assays: cytogenetical, biochemical, histological and electron microscopical. Different sets of mice, 5 (for 7, 15 and 30 days' treatment) or 10 (for 60, 90 and 120 days) each, were chronically fed a diet suitably mixed with p-DAB and phenobarbital to develop liver tumors. One sub-group of carcinogen fed mice was also fed C. majus extract; 0.1 ml daily (drug-treated) while the other equal amount of dilute ethyl alcohol ("vehicle" of plant extract) (positive control). A separate group of mice was maintained with normal diet without any carcinogen treatment (negative control). Data of several cytogenetical endpoints and biochemical assay of some toxicity marker enzymes at all fixation intervals and histology of liver sections through ordinary, scanning and transmission electron microscopy at 60 and 120 days and that of spleen and kidney at 90 days were critically analyzed in the treated lots vis-a-vis controls. The results suggest anti-tumor, anti-genotoxic and hepato-protective effects of the plant extract, showing potentials for use in cancer therapy.

Suppressive effects of Chelidonium majus methanol extract in knee joint, regional lymph nodes, and spleen on collagen-induced arthritis in mice

Chelidonium majus L. has multiple applications in Korean traditional medicine because of its anti-tumoral, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial activities and has long been known to have anti-inflammatory effects. However, no study on the anti-arthritic activity of Chelidonium majus has been reported in vivo. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease with chronic inflammation characterized by hyperplasia of synovial cells in affected joints, which ultimately leads to the destruction of cartilage and bone. Cytokine production and gene expression were assessed during CIA (collagen-induced arthritis) model mice in knee joint, lymph node (LN), and spleen, using ELISA and competitive RT-PCR. DBA/1J mice were immunized with bovine type II collagen. After a second collagen immunization, mice were treated with CME orally at 400, 40mg/kg once a day for 4 weeks. The severity of arthritis within the knee joints was evaluated by histological assessment of cartilage destruction and pannus formation. Administration of CME significantly suppressed the progression of CIA and inhibited the production of TNF-alpha and IL-6 in spleen and lymph node. The erosion of cartilage was dramatically reduced in mouse knees after treatment with CME. In conclusion, our results demonstrates that CME significantly suppressed the progression of CIA and that this action was characterized by the decreased production of TNF-alpha, IL-6, IFN-gamma, B cells, gammadelta T cells (in spleen) and increased proportion of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in vivo. In the serum of CME-treated mice, the levels of IgG and IgM RA factor were decreased.

Ex vivo/in vitro absorption of STW 5 (Iberogast) and its extract components

To correlate the pharmacological effects of the fixed herbal combination STW 5 (Iberogast) containing nine extract components with its confirmed clinical efficacy, ex vivo/in vitro absorption tests were performed. For the investigation, the everted gut sac technique and, in a pilot study, the Caco-2-cell model were used. The absorption rate of the extracts was determined by measuring characteristic marker substances of each of the individual extracts using HPLC or GC techniques. The results allow us to conclude that the investigated substances from STW 5 possess a good bioavailability, which is in accordance with the rapid onset of the therapeutic efficacy and explains its known pharmacological effects and clinical efficacy in terms of multiple drug action and multi-target therapy, respectively.

Intestinal spasmolytic effects of STW 5 (Iberogast) and its components

Functional gastro-intestinal diseases as the irritable bowel syndrome are very common in the population and are characterized by a broad spectrum of symptoms which mostly are related to spastic or paralytic intestinal function without defined histopathological changes of the tissue. Due to the multifactorial pathogenesis a multifactorial therapy with multi-target action seems to be reasonable. STW 5 (Iberogast), its constituent herbal extracts and some isolated compounds were used in an in vitro model provided by intestinal samples from guinea pig in order to test their activity on histamine-induced contractions and spontaneous motility, respectively. For comparison the known spasmolyticum papaverine was used. The results show that the lytic effect of the phytotherapeuticum on histamine-induced contraction represents additively the actions of the different components and corresponds to approx. 10 microM of papaverine. Spontaneous peristaltic motion was differently modulated by the various constituent extracts. The experiments with silibinin, glycyrrhicine, chelidonine, and protopine showed that the effects of the extracts were not comparable to those of the respective chemical constituents.

Modulation of Chelidonii herba on glycine-activated and glutamate-activated ion currents in rat periaqueductal gray neurons

BACKGROUND

Chelidonii herba is classified as Papaver somniferum L. Aqueous extract from C. herba is traditionally used for disorders with symptoms like pain, bloating, abdominal cramp after meals.

METHODS

Modulation of C. herba on glycine-activated and glutamate-activated ion currents in the acutely dissociated periaqueductal gray (PAG) neurons was investigated by the nystatin-perforated patch-clamp technique.

RESULTS

C. herba inhibited glycine-activated ion current and increased glutamate-activated ion current. C. herba-induced inhibition on glycine-activated ion current is implicated in opioid receptors and GTP-binding proteins (G-proteins). Increased glutamate-activated ion current induced by C. herba is linked neither by opioid receptors nor GTP-binding proteins.

CONCLUSIONS

Suppressed glycine-induced response and elevated glutamate-induced response by C. herba may increase neuronal excitability in PAG, results in activation of descending pain control system, and this mechanism can be suggested as one of the analgesic actions of C. herba.

Effect of a homeopathic drug, Chelidonium, in amelioration of p-DAB induced hepatocarcinogenesis in mice

BACKGROUND

Crude extracts of Chelidonium majus, and also purified compounds derived from crude extracts of this plant, have been reported to exhibit anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and anti-microbial properties both in vitro and in vivo. Chelidonium is a homeopathic drug routinely used against various liver disorders including cancer in humans. Two potencies of Chelidonium (Ch-30, Ch-200) have been tested for their possible anti-tumor and enzyme modulating activities in liver and anti-clastogenic effects during p-DAB-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in mice compared to suitable controls.

METHODS

Several cytogenetic and enzymatic protocols were used at three fixation intervals; at 60 days, 90 days and 120 days of treatment. Different sets of healthy mice were fed: i) hepatocarcinogen, p-DAB plus phenobarbital (PB), ii) only PB, iii) neither p-DAB nor PB (normal control). One set of mice fed with p-DAB plus PB was also fed Ch-30 (iv) and another set Ch-200 (v). All standard currently used methods were adopted for cytogenetical preparations and for the enzyme assays.

RESULTS

All group (i) mice developed tumors in liver at all fixation intervals, while none of group (ii) and (iii) mice developed any tumors. About 40% mice in group (iv) and group (v) did not show tumor nodules in their liver. Feeding of Chelidonium to group (iv) and (v) mice reduced genotoxic effects to a significant extent (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The homeopathic drug Chelidonium exhibited anti-tumor and anti-genotoxic activities and also favorably modulated activities of some marker enzymes. Microdoses of Chelidonium may be effectively used in combating liver cancer.

Modulation of Chelidonii herba on GABA activated chloride current in rat PAG neurons

Modulation of Chelidonii herba on gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) activated chloride current in the acutely dissociated periaqueductal gray (PAG) neuron was studied by nystatin-perforated patch-clamp technique. High concentrations of Chelidonii herba elicited ion current, that was blocked by bicuculline. Low concentrations reduced the GABA activated current in PAG. Two types of inhibitory action of Chelidonii herba on GABA activated current have been implicated in PAG. One is the inhibitory action of Chelidonii herba on GABA was abolished by naltrexone and the other is that of Chelidonii herba was potentiated by naltrexone. In addition, all of two types of action of Chelidonii herba are linked to pertussis toxin-sensitive GTP-binding proteins. These results suggest that the inhibitory modulation of Chelidonii herba on GABA activated current via G-proteins in PAG neuron is an important analgesic mechanism.

Sensitivity of Fusarium strains to Chelidonium majus L. extracts

Ten Fusarium strains were tested for their sensitivity to extracts of Chelidonium majus L. Growth inhibition was measured either in solid or in liquid media. Aqueous extracts had considerable inhibitory action but methanolic extracts showed the best results. Root extracts were more inhibitory than shoot extracts. On the basis of growth inhibition the Fusarium strains were aggregated into five classes, the extremes being Fusarium culmorum plus Fusarium graminearum (quite resistant) and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (very sensitive), with the other seven strains occupying the three intermediate classes. The high resistance of most Fusarium strains to conventional fungicides led us to propose C. majus as a good source of substances useful for the treatment of fungal infections, with special importance for those caused by Fusarium.