| Abstrakt: |
Abstract: A comparison of the effects of a water extract of the fresh vegetation apex of Chelidonium majus L. var. majus, with those of berberine sulphate and of chelidonine hydrochloride is reported. The water extract of fresh stems and leaves of Chelidonium majus and the berberine sulphate solution had marked mitodepressive effects on onion root tip cells. Chelidonine hydrochloride had similar but less marked effects. On the basis of the results obtained it can be assumed that the most active group of substances with cytostatic effects, hindering the cells from entering mitosis, are protoberberine bases contained in the latex of Chelidonium majus. Within the range of the investigated concentrations the extract of fresh stems and leaves was less toxic for the cells than berberine sulphate. The data ascertained provide evidence that the mechanism of the cytostatic action of chelidonine, of berberine, as well as of the extract of fresh stems and leaves of Chelidonium, majus differs from the mechanism of the action of colchicine. Of the tested Chelidonium alkaloids only chelidonine produced a partial inactivation of the mitotic spindle. |
