Greater celandine is a common perennial plant native to Hungary, which likes fresh, moist habitats. It has a thick rhizome which is yellow or orange on the inside, its stem is upright, 30-80 cm tall, slightly branching and fragile. Leaves are pinnated with crenated edges and their abaxial surfaces are blue-green. Its yellow, multi-staminate, four-petaled flowers group together in loose umbels. Glossy black seeds are to be found in its oblong, pod-like capsules. Greater celandine is a medicinal plant that has been known for centuries. Its name derives from the Greek word ’chelidón’, meaning ’swallow’, and has several explanations. The most widespread notion about the origins of its name is that the plant starts to bloom when swallows arrive and withers when they leave. According to Melius (1578), “It is called ‘fecskefű’ (‘Swallow Grass”) because swallows heal the eyes of their young with it.” In Hungarian, greater celandine received the attribute ‘vérehulló’ (‘Blood Letting’ – the full name of greater celandine in Hungarian is ‘vérehulló fecskefű’ – ‘Blood Letting Swallow Grass’) because every part of this plant contains an orange latex. There are data on its uses from as early as the 16th century, as Péter Melius recommended the roots of this plant cooked in wine and mixed with anise against jaundice, and its shoots cooked with rose vinegar against stomach aches. József Csapó (1775) wrote about a use of greater celandine that is still known today: “The yellow juice of this grass removes warts from the hand…”. The blossoming shoots and rhizomes of greater celandine are still used today, and its cultivation has begun on an experimental basis in several countries in order to ensure a balanced yield. In Hungary, the necessary quantity of this ingredient is provided by gathering.

This is a medicinal plant that has pain relieving, antibacterial effects, and antispasmodic effects on smooth muscles. Chelidonine found in its latex has the characteristic of preventing mitosis and tumour formation. In natural medicine, the fresh latex of greater celandine, thanks to the chelidonine and proteases found in it, is an effective wart remover. Its habit is used by the pharmaceutical industry to make preparations for gall and liver disorders.

Greater celandine is known by the cosmetics industry as an anti-dandruff substance. Thanks to its soothing and regenerating active ingredients, this plant is readily used in cosmetic products to care for flaky, itching, rough, and dry skin, and is used with other antimicrobial medicinal plants as a cytostaticum to treat skin and nail infections.

Blossoming shoots (Chelidonii herba)

- Alkaloids: 0,2-0,3 % (chelidonine, sanguinarine, alpha and beta homochelidonine, berberine, chelerythrine)
- Pigments
- Resin
- Proteases