PDR for Herbal Medicines

128/BULBOUS BUTTERCUP

Bulbous Buttercup

Ranunculus bulbosus

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts are the latex and the

fresh flowering herb with root.

Flower and Fruit: The large golden yellow flowers consist

of 5 sepals hanging down, 5 petals on grooved stems and

numerous stamens and ovaries. The small fruit has a short

curved beak.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant grows from 10 to 30 cm

high and has a tuber on the underground part of the stem.

The basal leaves are long-petioled, trifoliate with orbicular

and pinnasect leaflets. The middle one has a longer petiole

and is sheath-like at the base. The stems are branched and

tuberously thickened at the base. The plant is appressed

pubescent above and patently pubescent below.

Habitat: The plant grows in the northern parts of Europe and

in the northeastern U.S.

Production: Bulbous Buttercup is the whole plant in flower

of Ranunculus bulbosus with root.

Other Names: Crowfoot, Cuckoo Buds, Frogwort, King's

Cup, Meadowbloom, Pilewort, St. Anthony's Turnip, Frogs-

foot, Goldcup

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

The glycoside ranunculin: changes enzymatically when the

plant is cut into small pieces, and probably also when it is

dried, into the pungent, volatile protoanemonine that quickly

dimerizes to non-mucous-membrane irritating anemonine.

When dried, the plant is not capable of protoanemonine

formation.

EFFECTS

The active agents cause signs of toxic irritation; the drug is

also said to cause symptoms of drowsiness and tiredness.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Homeopathic Uses: The herb is used for skin diseases,

rheumatism, gout, neuralgia, influenza and meningitis.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

The administration of the drug during pregnancy is absolute-

ly contraindicated.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

General: No health hazards or side effects are known in

conjunction with the proper administration of designated

therapeutic dosages of the dehydrated drug.

Extended skin contact with the freshly harvested, bruised
plant can lead to blister formation and cauterizations that are j

PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

difficult to heal due to the resulting protoanemonine, which

is severely irritating to skin and mucous membranes. If taken

internally, severe irritation to the gastrointestinal tract,

combined with colic and diarrhea, as well as irritation of the

urinary drainage passages, are possible. Symptomatic treat-

ment for external contact should consist of mucilage, after

irrigation with diluted potassium permanganate solution; in

case of internal contact, activated charcoal should follow

gastric lavage.

Pregnancy: The administration of the drug during pregnancy

is absolutely contraindicated.

OVERDOSAGE

Death by asphyxiation following the intake of large quanti-

ties of protoanemonine-forming plants has been observed in

animal experiments.

DOSAGE

Mode of Administration: The herb is used as an extract in

homeopathic dilutions.

LITERATURE

Bonora A et al., PH 26:2277. 1987.

Frohne D, Pfander HJ, Giftpflanzen - Ein Handbuch fur

Apotheker, Toxikologen und Biologen, 4. Aufl., Wiss. Verlags-

Ges. Stuttgart 1997.

Kern W, List PH, Horhammer L (Hrsg.), Hagers Handbuch der

Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 4. Aufl., Bde. 1-8: Springer Verlag

Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1969.

Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde 1-3,

Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.

Roth L, Daunderer M, Kormann K, Giftpflanzen, Pflanzengifte,

4. Aufl., Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993.
   Ruijgrok HWL, PM 11:338-347. 1963.
   Teuscher E, Lindequist U, Biogene Gifte - Biologie, Chemie,
   Pharmakologie, 2. Aufl., Fischer Verlag Stuttgart 1994.

Bupleurum chinense

See Chinese Thoroughwax (Chai-Hu)

Burdock

Arctium lappa

TRADE NAMES

Burdock Root (available from numerous manufacturers).

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal parts of the plant are the ripe

seed and the fresh or dried roots.