Chelidonium majus-Induced Acute Hepatitis

Medicinal herbs, defined as preparations concocted by an unauthorized layperson [1], are used widely in Asian countries because they are easily available and are believed to be harmless. Despite this belief, hepatitis, and even fulminant hepatitis, associated with medicinal herbs has been reported. According to previous reports, drug-induced liver injury accounts for 2~40% of all liver injury [24]. Chelidonium majus (C. majus), a widely used medicinal herb, is taken for its choleretic and spasmolytic properties by patients with biliary disorders, dyspepsia, and irritable bowel syndrome [5]. When the fresh latex of C. majus is ingested, severe irritation of the oral mucosa, throat, stomach, and gut can occur. When the plant is applied to the skin, it can cause irritation, blisters, and allergic contact dermatitis [6]. Although its mechanism remains unclear, C. majus could lead to hepatotoxicity presenting as acute cholestatic hepatitis [7,8]. Here, we describe a case of acute C. majus-induced hepatitis. Case