Effects of Chelidonium majus extracts and major alkaloids on hERG potassium channels and on dog cardiac action potential — A safety approach

Abstract

Chelidonium majus or greater celandine is spread throughout the world, and it is a very common and frequent component of modern phytotherapy. Although C. majus contains alkaloids with remarkable physiological effect, moreover, safety pharmacology properties of this plant are not widely clarified, medications prepared from this plant are often used internally. In our study the inhibitory effects of C. majus herb extracts and alkaloids on hERG potassium current as well as on cardiac action potential were investigated. Our data show that hydroalcoholic extracts of greater celandine and its alkaloids, especially berberine, chelidonine and sanguinarine have a significant hERG potassium channel blocking effect. These extracts and alkaloids also prolong the cardiac action potential in dog ventricular muscle. Therefore these compounds may consequently delay cardiac repolarization, which may result in the prolongation of the QT interval and increase the risk of potentially fatal ventricular arrhythmias.

The Role of Biologically Active Ingredients from Natural Drug Treatments for Arrhythmias in Different Mechanisms

“…The berberine of the I to blockade is different from the disopyramide and quinidine because it is not accompanied by an inward sodium current inhibition [12]. Another research has shown that it may lead to the prolongation of the QT interval and increase the risk of ventricular arrhythmias [13]. Furthermore, we used voltage clamp operations to observe that berberine had significant inhibitory effects that delayed the potassium current, and not the sodium current, which is the extension of the myocardial cells and one of the important mechanisms underlying antiarrhythmia.…”

Chelidonium majus: Relevant safety aspects of a hepatotoxic plant, trawling the web

“…Moreover, its fresh latex has been also applied for the treatment of dermatological disorders, including warts and corns, tinea infections, and eczema (HMPC, ). C. majus purified compounds have been associated to a broad spectrum of biological effects, such as anti‐inflammatory, choleretic, antimicrobial, antiviral, analgesic, antispasmodic, and hepatoprotective; moreover, some studies have recently suggested anticancer properties (Orvos et al, ).…”

“…purified compounds have been associated to a broad spectrum of biological effects, such as anti-inflammatory, choleretic, antimicrobial, antiviral, analgesic, antispasmodic, and hepatoprotective; moreover, some studies have recently suggested anticancer properties (Orvos et al, 2015).…”

Effects of berberine on the pharmacokinetics of losartan and its metabolite EXP3174 in rats and its mechanism

“…[Ranunculaceae]), which possesses a variety of activities including anti-tumour, anti-inflammation, anti-atherosclerosis, and treating infectious diarrhea (Orvos et al 2015;Park et al 2015). Recent studies show that BBR could be used for the controlling arrhythmia, lowering blood lipid, lowering blood pressure and reducing blood sugar in clinical.…”