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Other common
name(s): greater celandine, Ukrain™, common
celandine, tetterwort, celandine poppy
Scientific/medical
name(s): Chelidonium
majus
Description
The celandine plant, a member of the poppy family, grows in
Europe and the temperate and subarctic regions of Asia. The roots,
herb, and juice are used as remedies. Ukrain, promoted as a cancer
drug, is a semisynthetic compound formed by chemically combining
alkaloids from the celandine plant with thiophosphoric acid
derivatives, including an older cancer treatment drug called thiotepa.
Overview
Available scientific evidence does not support claims that
celandine is effective in treating cancer in humans. Small studies
conducted mostly in Eastern Europe found that Ukrain had some positive
effects; however, substantial methodological limitations in these
clinical trials limit the relevance of their results, which have not
been rechecked to verify the treatment's safety and effectiveness.
Celandine has been reported to cause hepatitis when used as an herbal
preparation.
How is it promoted for use?
Celandine is promoted for use as a mild sedative, for the
prevention of gallstones, and for the treatment of intestinal and
digestive problems, liver disease, and eye irritation. Practitioners
have used it on the skin to treat ringworm, warts, and corns.
Supporters have also used celandine along with antiviral agents to
treat herpes, HIV, and the Epstein-Barr virus.
Proponents claim Ukrain, which contains celandine along with
thiotepa (a chemotherapy drug) and other compounds, improves overall
health for people who have many types of cancer including lung, colon,
kidney, ovarian, breast, brain, pancreatic, and skin cancer. They
further claim it helps people who have cancer live longer by boosting
the immune system and inhibiting tumor growth, without any major side
effects. Ukrain supposedly causes cancer cells to die and leaves
healthy cells undamaged. Proponents also claim that it protects cells
from radiation damage, although strong scientific evidence supporting
these claims is not available.
What does it involve?
Celandine is on the Commission E (Germany's regulatory agency
for herbs) list of approved herbs for treatment of intestinal spasms.
It can be bought in health food stores and over the Internet, and it is
usually sold as a whole plant, although sellers sometimes offer just
the top or the root. It is also available as an extract, tincture, or
tea. The average dosage is two to five grams per day. It can be taken
internally or used externally. A very dilute concentration is used in
homeopathy, mainly as a liver remedy (see "Homeopathy").
Ukrain is administered through injection at a wide range of
doses, from five to twenty milligrams given from every day to every
three days, and continuing from ten to ninety days. Ukrain is available
in Europe and Mexico, at some alternative therapy clinics in the United
States, or through mail order.
What is the history behind it?
Celandine has long been believed in folk medicine to have
disease-fighting effects. It was taken to reduce spasms and calm the
patient, and it was thought to be helpful for asthma and gallbladder
and liver disease. It was also used for treatment of polyps, lumps,
cramps, gout, swelling, and many other conditions. It was especially
popular in former Soviet states and, as early as 1931, was claimed to
be effective in treating some cases of cancer.
Ukrain, a chemical combination of compounds from the plant
celandine and thiophosphoric acid, was first developed in 1978 by J. W.
Nowicky, a native of the Ukraine and director of the Ukrain Anticancer
Institute of Vienna, Austria. He first presented it at the 13th
International Congress of Chemotherapy in Vienna in 1983. It is named
after the country Ukraine.
What is the evidence?
Available scientific evidence does not support claims about
the benefits of celandine. One compound extracted from celandine was
recently tested in rats to find out whether it would help rheumatoid
arthritis. While the study looked promising, more studies are needed to
determine whether it will work in humans without producing serious side
effects. It is important to note also that the whole herb would not be
expected to produce the same effect as a purified extract.
There have been some case reports and small studies suggesting
that treatment with Ukrain may decrease tumor size and improve overall
health, including increasing appetite, reducing pain in joints, and
reducing fever in people who have cancer. However, a 2005 review of all
seven randomized controlled trials performed on Ukrain found they were
generally weak studies. Methods and findings were not completely
reported, and sample sizes were small. Response and survival rates in
these studies were often higher than what is possible with the
combination of chemotherapy drugs currently available in the United
States. In addition, virtually all of the animal and human studies were
published by researchers affiliated with the institution where Ukrain
was developed. The size and methods of these studies are not considered
by most cancer researchers to be sufficient for supporting the
promoters' claims. Randomized clinical trials are needed to determine
the safety and antitumor effects of Ukrain, if any, in humans.
Are there any possible problems or
complications?
This product is sold as a
dietary supplement in the United States. Unlike companies that produce
drugs (which must provide the FDA with results of detailed testing
showing their product is safe and effective before the drug is approved
for sale), the companies that make supplements do not have to show
evidence of safety or health benefits to the FDA before selling their
products. Supplement products without any reliable scientific evidence
of health benefits may still be sold as long as the companies selling
them do not claim the supplements can prevent, treat, or cure any
specific disease. Some such products may not contain the amount of the
herb or substance that is written on the label, and some may include
other substances (contaminants). Though the FDA has written new rules
to improve the quality of manufacturing processes for dietary
supplements and the accurate listing of supplement ingredients, these
rules do not take full effect until 2010. And, the new rules do not
address the safety of supplement ingredients or their effects on health
when proper manufacturing techniques are used.
Most such
supplements have not been tested to find out if they interact with
medicines, foods, or other herbs and supplements. Even though some
reports of interactions and harmful effects may be published, full
studies of interactions and effects are not often available. Because of
these limitations, any information on ill effects and interactions
below should be considered incomplete.
Researchers recently found that celandine may be responsible
for many unexplained cases of hepatitis. The medical literature
contains several reports of acute (sudden) hepatitis not caused by
viruses, alcohol, or other drugs that improved after the herb was
stopped. Celandine can cause rashes, itching, and serious allergic
reactions in some people. The whole plant is reported as being at least
mildly poisonous to humans, with the roots being the most toxic. The
herb is reported to be poisonous to dogs and some farm animals. There
are reports that Ukrain has produced pain, nausea, thirst, fever, and
swelling or bleeding in the tumor area.
Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should not use any
form of this herb. Relying on this type of treatment alone and avoiding
or delaying conventional medical care for cancer may have serious
health consequences.
Additional Resources
More information from your American Cancer
Society
The following information on complementary and alternative
therapies may also be helpful to you. These materials may be found on
our Web site (www.cancer.org)
or ordered from our toll-free number (1-800-ACS-2345).
References
Benninger J, Schneider HT, Schuppan D, Kirchner T, Hahn EG.
Acute hepatitis induced by greater celandine (Chelidonium majus). Gastroenterology.
1999;117:1234-1237.
Blumenthal M, ed. The
Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal
Medicines. Austin, TX: American Botanical Council; 1998.
Boyko VN, Belski SN. The influence of the novel drug Ukrain on
hemo- and immunopoiesis at the time of its maximum radioprotective
effect. Drugs Exp Clin
Res. 1998;24:335-337.
Boyko VN, Levshina YeV. A study of the influence of the novel
drug Ukrain on in vivo effects of low-dose ionizing radiation. Drugs Exp Clin Res.
1998;24:339-341.
Chelidonium majus (celandine poppy). Provet Veterinary Web
site. http://www.provet.co.uk. Accessed June 4, 2008.
Chelidonium majus – l. greater celandine. Plants for
a Future Web site.
http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Chelidonium+majus. Accessed
June 4, 2008.
The effect of ukrain on cancer. Ukrin Web Site.
http://www.ukrin.com. Accessed December 6, 2005. Content no longer
available.
Ernst E, Schmidt K. Ukrain-a new cancer cure? A systematic
review of randomised clinical trials. BMC Cancer.
2005;5:69.
Gruenwald J. PDR
for Herbal Medicines. 3rd ed. Montvale, NJ: Thomson PDR;
2004.
Habermehl D, Kammerer B, Handrick R, Eldh T, Gruber C, Cordes
N, Daniel PT, Plasswilm L, Bamberg M, Belka C, Jendrosserk V.
Proapoptotic activity of Ukrain is based on Chelidonium majus L.
alkaloids and mediated via a mitochondrial death pathway. BMC Cancer.
2006;6:14.
Lee YC, Kim SH, Roh SS, Choi HY, Seo YB. Suppressive effects
of Chelidonium majus methanol extract in knee joint, regional lymph
nodes, and spleen on collagen-induced arthritis in mice. J Ethnopharmacol.
2007;112:40-48. Epub 2007 Feb 2.
Stickel F, Pöschl G, Seitz HK, Waldherr R, Hahn EG,
Schuppan D. Acute hepatitis induced by Greater Celandine (Chelidonium
majus). Scand J
Gastroenterol. 2003;38:565-568.
Uglianitsa KN, Nefyodov LI, Brzosko W. Evaluation of the
efficacy of Ukrain in the treatment of breast cancer: clinical and
laboratory studies. Drugs
Exp Clin Res. 1998;24:231-239.
Ukrain. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Web site.
http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/69402.cfm. Accessed June 4, 2008.
Note:
This
information may not cover all possible claims, uses, actions,
precautions, side effects or interactions. It is not intended as
medical advice, and should not be relied upon as a substitute for
consultation with your doctor, who is familiar with your medical
situation.
Last Medical Review: 11/01/2008
Last Revised: 11/01/2008
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