Hepatotoxic assessment of Chelidonium majus L. and its alkaloids in primary hepatocyte cultures of different species

Conclusions Results Extracts Materials & Methods Herbal Extracts of Chelidonium majus L. (greater celandine) have been widely used in European countries and in Chinese medicine for different therapies, based on their application against various liver disorders including cancer. Recently, several cases of liver disease have been related to Chelidonium majus L. intake (1, 2). Therefore we have used primary human, rat, canine and monkey hepatocyte cultures to elucidate the potential hepatotoxicity of Chelidonium majus L.. Furthermore we investigated toxic effects on rat hepatocytes induced by its most important alkaloids coptisine, chelerythrine and protopine.