Holistic Health Herbal Medicine The Health Benefits of Greater Celandine By Cathy Wong facebook twitter Cathy Wong is a nutritionist and wellness expert. Her work is regularly featured in media such as First For Women, Woman's World, and Natural Health. Learn about our editorial process Cathy Wong Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Emily Dashiell, ND on July 30, 2020 facebook linkedin Emily Dashiell, ND, is a licensed naturopathic doctor who has worked in group and private practice settings over the last 15 years. She is in private practice in Santa Monica, California. Learn about our Medical Review Board Emily Dashiell, ND Updated on November 19, 2020 Print Verywell / Anastasia Tretiak Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Health Benefits Possible Side Effects Selection, Preparation & Storage Greater celandine (Chelidonium majus) is a plant commonly grown in Asia, Central and Southern Europe, and North America. An extract derived from the plant has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine. Often touted as a natural treatment for cancer, greater celandine is also purported to fight health concerns ranging from asthma to atherosclerosis. Although research suggests that greater celandine may offer certain benefits, there's also some evidence that it might be toxic to the liver and using it may cause other harmful side effects. Health Benefits In alternative medicine, greater celandine is said to boost the immune system and be a natural remedy for a number of health conditions, including: Angina Asthma Atherosclerosis Constipation Coughs Eczema Gout High blood pressure Irritable bowel syndrome Menstrual problems Osteoarthritis Toothache In addition, greater celandine is said to relieve pain, promote detoxification, stimulate the immune system, and fight cancer. There's some evidence that greater celandine may offer certain benefits in the treatment of the following conditions. However, research on the health effects of greater celandine is fairly limited. Due to a lack of high-quality clinical trials and serious safety concerns, greater celandine cannot currently be recommended for treatment or prevention of any health problem, including cancer. Cancer In laboratory tests on human cancer cells, scientists found that greater celandine may fight cancer by inducing apoptosis, a type of programmed cell death involved in stopping the spread of cancer cells. A greater celandine extract shows potential as an anti-cancer drug, according to a research review published in BMC Cancer in 2006. For the review, investigators analyzed seven clinical trials on the use of a proprietary greater celandine extract in the treatment of cancer. Although the review's authors found that the extract had beneficial effects on several types of cancer, they caution that most of the trials were of poor quality and state that "independent rigorous studies are urgently needed" before greater celandine can be recommended in the treatment of cancer. Eczema Preliminary research indicates that greater celandine may help treat atopic dermatitis, a form of eczema. In a 2011 study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, for instance, researchers tested the effects of greater celandine on a group of mice with atopic dermatitis. Results revealed that greater celandine significantly reduced the severity of several eczema symptoms, including itching and inflammation. However, it's unknown whether greater celandine might have the same effect on eczema in humans. Authors of an extensive 2018 research review published in Frontiers in Pharmacology examined studies about the various uses of greater celadine. In concluding they wrote, "we are quite convinced that in the near future, at least some of the already known and evidence-based properties should and would find their place in officially recognized therapeutic procedures." They added, however, that much more research is needed regarding the safety and effectiveness of greater celadine. Possible Side Effects Little is known about the safety of long-term or regular use of greater celandine and how it might interact with medication. Greater celandine may trigger a number of side effects, including nausea, dizziness, fatigue, and fever. There is also some evidence that greater celandine could have serious adverse effects on the heart, raising the risk of ventricular arrhythmias. Greater celandine may harm liver health. In a report published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology in 2009, for instance, scientists warn that several cases of acute hepatitis have been linked to greater celandine consumption in previously published studies. A 2017 report published in the European Review for Medical Pharmacological Sciences in fact concluded that the risks of greater celadrine use outweigh the potential benefits. Given the safety concerns, it's critical to consult your healthcare provider prior to using greater celandine, especially if you have a history of liver problems. It's also important to note that self-treating a chronic condition with greater celandine and avoiding or delaying standard care may have serious health consequences. Selection, Preparation & Storage Widely available for purchase online, greater celandine is sold in many natural-food stores and in stores specializing in dietary supplements. It is almost always sold in extract form, although it is sometimes also sold as a tea. There is not enough known about greater celandine to establish a safe or effective dose. Also, keep in mind that supplements like greater celandine are largely unregulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). According to government standards, it is illegal to market a dietary supplement as a treatment or cure for a specific disease or its symptoms. Likewise, these products are not tested by the FDA for safety or effectiveness. In some cases, the product may deliver doses that differ from the specified amount for each herb. In other cases, the product may be contaminated with other substances. Some consumers look for products that have been certified by ConsumerLabs, The U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention, or NSF International. These organizations don't guarantee that a product is safe or effective, but they do provide a certain level of testing for quality. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Zielińska S, Jezierska-Domaradzka A, Wójciak-Kosior M, Sowa I, Junka A, Matkowski AM. Greater Celandine's Ups and Downs-21 Centuries of Medicinal Uses of Chelidonium majus From the Viewpoint of Today's Pharmacology. Front Pharmacol. 2018;9:299. doi:10.3389/fphar.2018.00299 Teschke R, Glass X, Schulze J. Herbal hepatotoxicity by Greater Celandine (Chelidonium majus): causality assessment of 22 spontaneous reports. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2011;61(3):282-91. doi:10.1016/j.yrtph.2011.08.008 Pantano F, Mannocchi G, Marinelli E, et al. Hepatotoxicity induced by greater celandine (Chelidonium majus L.): a review of the literature. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2017;21(1 Suppl):46-52. Habermehl D, Kammerer B, Handrick R, et al. Proapoptotic activity of Ukrain is based on Chelidonium majus L. alkaloids and mediated via a mitochondrial death pathway. BMC Cancer. 2006;6:14. doi:10.1186/1471-2407-6-14 Yang G, Lee K, Lee MH, Kim SH, Ham IH, Choi HY. Inhibitory effects of Chelidonium majus extract on atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice. J Ethnopharmacol. 2011;138(2):398-403. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2011.09.028 Zielińska S, Jezierska-domaradzka A, Wójciak-kosior M, Sowa I, Junka A, Matkowski AM. Greater Celandine's Ups and Downs-21 Centuries of Medicinal Uses of From the Viewpoint of Today's Pharmacology. Front Pharmacol. 2018;9:299. doi:10.3389/fphar.2018.00299 National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Celandine. LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury [Internet]. Updated 22 Jan 2017. Moro PA, Cassetti F, Giugliano G, et al. Hepatitis from Greater celandine (Chelidonium majus L.): review of literature and report of a new case. J Ethnopharmacol. 2009;124(2):328-32. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2009.04.036 FDA 101: Dietary Supplements. U.S Food and Drug Administration [internet]. Updated 15 July 2015. Additional Reading Ernst E, Schmidt K. Ukrain - a new cancer cure? A systematic review of randomized clinical trials. BMC Cancer. 2005 Jul 1;5:69. Fik E, Wołuń-Cholewa M, Kistowska M, Warchoł JB, Goździcka-Józefiak A. Effect of lectin from Chelidonium majus L. on normal and cancer cells in culture. Folia Histochem Cytobiol. 2001;39(2):215-6. Gilca M, Gaman L, Panait E, Stoian I, Atanasiu V. Chelidonium majus--an integrative review: traditional knowledge versus modern findings. Forsch Komplementmed. 2010 Oct;17(5):241-8. Nadova S, Miadokova E, Alfoldiova L, et al. Potential antioxidant activity, cytotoxic and apoptosis-inducing effects of Chelidonium majus L. extract on leukemia cells. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2008 Oct;29(5):649-52. Orvos P, Virág L, Tálosi L, et al. Effects of Chelidonium majus extracts and major alkaloids on hERG potassium channels and on dog cardiac action potential - a safety approach. Fitoterapia. 2015 Jan;100:156-65. doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2014.11.023. Epub 2014 Dec 4.