Chelidonium majus L.
Greater Celandine
Greater Celandine is a perennial herbaceous plant known for its erect habit, reaching heights between 30–120 cm (12–47 inches). It has blue-green, pinnate leaves with lobed and wavy margins that can be up to 30 cm long. The plant exudes a yellow to orange latex when injured. The flowers are composed of four yellow petals, each about 18 mm long, and two sepals. Flowers appear from late spring to summer (May to September in the UK) in umbelliform cymes of about four flowers. The seeds are small, black, and borne in a long, cylindrical capsule, each with an elaiosome that attracts ants for seed dispersal.
Details
Ranunculales
Papaveraceae
Chelidonium
The plant contains a range of isoquinoline alkaloids, with coptisine being the main alkaloid. Other alkaloids include methyl 2'-(7,8-dihydrosanguinarine-8-yl)acetate, allocryptopine, stylopine, protopine, cryptopine, hemochelidonine, homochelidonine, norchelidonine, berberine, chelidonine, sanguinarine, chelerythrine, and 8-hydroxydihydrosanguinarine. Sanguinarine is particularly toxic with an LD50 of 18 mg per kg body weight (IP in rats). Caffeic acid derivatives, such as caffeoylmalic acid, are also present. The latex contains proteolytic enzymes and the phytocystatin chelidostatin.
Greater Celandine has been used traditionally for various medicinal purposes, including as a detoxifying agent, to relieve toothache, and to treat warts. It has also been used in the treatment of gallstones, dyspepsia, and inflammatory diseases such as atopic dermatitis. The plant is toxic, and its use in herbal medicine requires careful dosing. It has been promoted for cancer treatment but lacks scientific evidence supporting its efficacy.
Late spring to summer (May to September)
30–120 cm (12–47 inches)
Yellow
Rocky slopes, woodlands, waste areas, and roadsides
Info
Pannon Flora Ltd. was founded on December 13, 1999, by Gábor Janik, who retains 95% ownership. Janik holds an MSc in Horticulture from the University of Horticultural Sciences (1986) and an Advanced Professional English Certification from the College of International Trade (1990). The company specializes in bird feed production and export, primarily serving markets in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK, alongside cultivating and distributing imported/exported horticultural seeds. It maintains exclusive partnerships with JOEUN Seed (South Korea) and Takii Europe (Japan), a leader in professional seed breeding and production. Pannon Flora collaborates with certification bodies such as NÉBIH (National Food Chain Safety Office), MERT Kontroll, and SGS Hungary to ensure compliance and quality. The company works with approximately 400 Hungarian growers, ranging from small-scale producers (under 5 hectares) to mid-sized farms and large-scale agricultural enterprises. This profile emphasizes agribusiness expertise, technical partnerships, and operational scalability tailored to international client needs.
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