Chelidonine

Chelidonine is an isoquinoline alkaloid derived from greater celandine (Chelidonium majus) that shows anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. Research indicates it may inhibit drug-resistant cancer cell growth through EGFR-AMPK pathway modulation and suppress inflammatory responses.

Origin & History

Chelidonine is a benzophenanthridine alkaloid and the principal bioactive constituent of Chelidonium majus L. (greater celandine), a perennial herbaceous plant native to Europe and Western Asia. The compound is extracted from aerial parts of the plant using organic solvents or hydro-alcoholic methods, yielding a yellow crystalline alkaloid with the molecular formula C₂₀H₁₉NO₅.

Historical & Cultural Context

Chelidonium majus has been used in European traditional medicine for over 2,000 years, with documented medieval use for warts, corns, and skin growths due to its caustic alkaloid content. In 19th-20th century European folk medicine, it was applied topically for cutaneous lesions and used internally for digestive and liver complaints.

Health Benefits

• May inhibit drug-resistant cancer cell growth through EGFR-AMPK pathway targeting (preliminary evidence from NSCLC cell studies, PMID: 32464330)
• Shows potential anti-inflammatory effects by suppressing airway eosinophilia and IL-4/IL-13 production (animal model evidence, PMID: 26481537)
• May induce cancer cell apoptosis via GADD45a-p53 regulation (in vitro pancreatic cancer studies, PMID: 33884928)
• Demonstrates potential to suppress tumor-promoting M2 macrophage polarization (mouse breast cancer models, PMID: 41175579)
• Shows promise for inhibiting melanoma cell proliferation through TLR4/NF-κB pathway inactivation (cell culture studies only, PMCID: PMC12198443)

How It Works

Chelidonine inhibits epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling while activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathways in cancer cells. It suppresses inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-13 production and reduces airway eosinophilia. The compound appears to modulate cellular energy metabolism and inflammatory mediator release through these molecular targets.

Scientific Research

No human randomized controlled trials or clinical trials of chelidonine have been published. All available evidence comes from preclinical in vitro cell culture and animal model studies published between 2015-2025, including research on melanoma (PMCID: PMC12198443), NSCLC (PMID: 32464330), pancreatic cancer (PMID: 33884928), and breast cancer (PMID: 41175579).

Clinical Summary

Current evidence comes primarily from in vitro cancer cell studies and animal inflammation models. One study showed chelidonine inhibited non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell growth through EGFR-AMPK targeting. Animal research demonstrated reduced airway inflammation and eosinophilia with decreased IL-4/IL-13 cytokine production. No human clinical trials have been conducted to establish safety or efficacy in humans.

Nutritional Profile

Chelidonine is a purified isoquinoline alkaloid compound, not a food or nutritional ingredient, and therefore has no macronutrient, micronutrient, vitamin, mineral, or fiber profile in the conventional dietary sense. It is the primary bioactive alkaloid extracted from Chelidonium majus (greater celandine), typically comprising approximately 0.1–1.0% of the dry weight of the plant. As an isolated compound, its molecular formula is C20H19NO5 with a molecular weight of 353.37 g/mol. It belongs to the benzylisoquinoline alkaloid subclass. Other co-occurring alkaloids in its source plant include coptisine, berberine, sanguinarine, and chelerythrine, though these are distinct compounds. Bioavailability data for chelidonine specifically is limited; as an alkaloid, oral bioavailability is generally considered moderate and subject to first-pass hepatic metabolism. It is lipophilic in nature, which may influence membrane permeability and cellular uptake. No protein, carbohydrate, fat, or micronutrient content is applicable to this isolated compound. Concentrations used in published in vitro studies typically range from 1–100 µM, though physiologically achievable concentrations in humans following plant extract ingestion remain poorly characterized.

Preparation & Dosage

No human clinical dosage data exists. In vitro studies have used concentrations of 0.5-1 µM for 24 hours in melanoma research. Animal studies have used dosing comparable to second-generation TKIs but specific doses are not detailed in available abstracts. Standardized extracts typically contain 0.3-1.0% chelidonine content. Consult a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement.

Synergy & Pairings

Oxaliplatin (studied in combination), EGFR inhibitors, Anti-inflammatory compounds, Immunomodulators, Antioxidants

Safety & Interactions

Safety data for isolated chelidonine is extremely limited due to lack of human studies. Greater celandine extracts containing chelidonine have been associated with hepatotoxicity in some case reports. Potential interactions with cancer medications targeting EGFR pathways are theoretically possible but unconfirmed. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid chelidonine due to insufficient safety data.