Hermetica Superfood Encyclopedia
The Short Answer
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.
CategoryNamed Bioactive Compounds
GroupCompound
Evidence LevelModerate
Primary Keywordchelidonine benefits
Synergy Pairings3
Chelidonine — botanical close-up
Health Benefits
Origin & History
Natural habitat
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.
“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.”Traditional Medicine
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).
Preparation & Dosage
Traditional preparation
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.
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.
How It Works
Mechanism of Action
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.
Clinical Evidence
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.
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.
Synergy Stack
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is chelidonine alkaloid used for?
Chelidonine is being researched for potential anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects. Studies show it may inhibit drug-resistant cancer cells and reduce airway inflammation, though human trials are lacking.
How does chelidonine work against cancer cells?
Chelidonine targets the EGFR-AMPK pathway in cancer cells, inhibiting epidermal growth factor receptor signaling while activating AMPK. This mechanism showed effectiveness against drug-resistant non-small cell lung cancer cells in laboratory studies.
Is chelidonine safe to take as a supplement?
Safety data for chelidonine is extremely limited with no human clinical trials conducted. Greater celandine containing chelidonine has been linked to liver toxicity in some cases, making safety uncertain.
What foods contain chelidonine naturally?
Chelidonine occurs naturally in greater celandine (Chelidonium majus), a plant in the poppy family. It is not found in common dietary foods but only in this specific medicinal plant species.
Can chelidonine interact with cancer medications?
Potential interactions with EGFR-targeting cancer drugs are theoretically possible since chelidonine affects the same pathway. However, no specific drug interactions have been studied or documented in clinical research.
What does research show about chelidonine's effectiveness compared to standard cancer treatments?
Current evidence for chelidonine comes primarily from laboratory and animal studies, with limited human clinical trials available. Most research demonstrates activity against cancer cell lines through mechanisms like EGFR-AMPK pathway inhibition and GADD45a-p53 regulation, but these findings have not yet been validated in large-scale human studies. Chelidonine should not be considered a replacement for conventional cancer therapies, as the strength of evidence remains preliminary compared to FDA-approved treatments.
Is chelidonine safe for people taking immunosuppressant or anti-inflammatory medications?
There is limited information on chelidonine interactions with immunosuppressants or anti-inflammatory drugs, though animal studies suggest it may suppress airway eosinophilia and inflammatory cytokine production. Because chelidonine may have immunomodulating effects, concurrent use with medications that alter immune function should be discussed with a healthcare provider. No formal drug interaction studies have been conducted in humans.
How does the bioavailability of chelidonine vary between raw plant sources and concentrated extracts?
Chelidonine is naturally present in plants like greater celandine, but bioavailability data comparing whole plant material to standardized extracts in humans is not well-established. Extraction and standardization methods may influence the concentration and absorption of chelidonine, but specific comparisons of formulation types remain undocumented in clinical literature. Most research uses isolated or semi-purified forms rather than whole plant preparations, making direct efficacy comparisons difficult.
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