Chelidonium majus

Abstract The plant Chelidonium majus (greater celandine) has been traditionally used in European folk medicine, in particular as a spasmolytic (2,3). Young blind swallows were reported to have been cured by the milk-like sap of the plant (3). Interest in this folk medicine continued through the Middle Ages; the plant was used during epidemics of plague and was considered a cure for warts. Human neurotoxicity is controversial and based on a single questionable case (2). However, C. majus contains several alkaloids (including chelidonine, chelerythine, and bereberine), one of which (sanguinarin) is used experimentally for the induction of glaucoma. Oral intake of the plant reportedly induces some sedation in experimental animals. Observations in horses and cattle showed that systemic toxicity developed after in take of 500 g of C. majus; neurotoxicity was not shown (1).