NIS - libdoc.who.int - World Health Organization

Herba Chelidonii
Pesticide residues
The recommended maximum limit of aldrin and dieldrin is not more than
0.05 mg/kg. For other pesticides, see the European pharmacopoeia (1),
and the WHO guidelines on quality control methods for medicinal plants
(44) and the WHO guidelines on pesticide residues (45).
Heavy metals
For maximum limits and analysis of heavy metals, consult the WHO
guidelines on quality control methods for medicinal plants (44).
Radioactive residues
Where applicable, consult the WHO guidelines on quality control methods
for medicinal plants (44) for the analysis of radioactive isotopes.
Other purity tests
Not more than 10% of foreign matter (1). Not more than 0.5% of mineral
matter (2). Chemical, sulfated ash, and alcohol-soluble extractive to
be established in accordance with national requirements.
Chemical assays
Contains not less than 0.6% of total alkaloids, expressed as chelidonine
(1). Contains not less than 0.2% of total alkaloids, expressed as chelidonine,
and assayed by potentiometric titration (2).
Major chemical constituents
The major constituents of dried aerial parts are alkaloids in an orangecoloured
latex (5). They contain 0.1–1.30% total alkaloids (> 20 bases of
the benzophenanthridine and related groups); quantitatively the most important
are chelidonine, sanguinarine, coptisine and chelerythrine; also
present are berberine, protopine (7), homochelidonine (24), allocryptopine
(4), stylopine, oxysanguinarine, chelirubine (14, 15, 46), turkiyenine
and canadine (47, 48). The plant also contains flavonoids, saponins, organic
acids, vitamins, carotenoids, tyramine and several hydroxycinnamic
acid derivatives including caffeoylmalic, chelidonic, malic and citric acids
have also been reported. Proteolytic enzymes have been detected in the
latex (4, 7, 14, 15, 25–27, 41, 49–52). The roots contain alpha-spinasterol,
and the leaves 1-hexacosanol (41). The newly identified cysteine-proteinase,
chelidocystatin has been isolated (53). The structures of the major
constituents are presented below.
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