Abstract
Chelidonium majus L. (greater celandine) is a medicinal plant and is the one of species of the tribe Chelidonine of Papaveraceae family. Ch. majus contains various isoquino-line alkaloids: protoberberine, tetriazy and quaternary ben- zo (c) phenantredine structure. The commercial drug (herb ofChelidonium) consists of the dried aerial parts harvested during flowering time and is described in several European, Russian and Georgian pharmacopoeias.
Major consistence of the drug are the alkaloids chelidonine, chelerithrine, sanguinarine, coptisine, protopine, desstylopine and similar. The cytotoxic activity of these com-pounds on human and animal tumour cell cultures in vitro are considered with great interest and can be considered promising in cancer therapy.
For raw material (herba) of celandine was elaborated methodological description of the microscopic system. Plants organs micro diagnostic signs are defined: for leave, flower, stem and fruit. Foresee these data authenticity of raw material becomes more reliable.