PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS POISONOUS BUTTERCUP/601

parenterally: 1 to 2 ml sc; acute: 3 times daily; chronic: once

a day (HAB34); children are given different doses.

Storage: In tightly sealed containers, not to be kept for more

than a year.

LITERATURE

• Gross M et aL PH 14:2263. 1975.
  Millet S et aL PH 15:553. 1976.
  Randall RC. Phillips GO, Williams PA. Food Hydrocolloids
  3:65-75. 1989.
  Shobha SV et aL, Inhibition of soybean lipoxygenase-1 by
  anacardic acids, cardols, and cardanols. In: JNP 57(12): 1755-

1757. 
      
      
      
      1994. Symes WF. Dawson CR, Nature 171:841. 1953.
            Further information in:
            Frohne D. Pfander HJ, Giftpflanzen - Ein Handbuch fur
            Apotheker. Toxikologen und Biologen. 4. AufL Wiss. Verlags-
            Ges. Stuttgart 1997.
            Hausen B, Allergiepflanzen, Pflanzenallergene, ecomed
            Verlagsgesellsch. mbH, Landsberg 1988.
            Lewin L. Gifte und Vergiftungen, 6. AufL, Nachdruck, Haug
            Verlag, Heidelberg 1992.
            Madaus G. Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde 1-3,
            £t Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.
            Roth L, Daunderer M, Kormann K: Giftpflanzen, Pflanzengifte,
      
      
      
      


1758. AufL, Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993 (unter
      Toxicodendron).
      Steinegger E, Hansel R, Pharmakognosie, 5. AufL, Springer
      Verlag Heidelberg 1992.
      Teuscher E. Lindequist U, Biogene Gifte - Biologie, Chemie,
      Pharmakologie, 2. AufL, Fischer Verlag Stuttgart 1994.
      Wagner H, Wiesenauer M, Phytotherapie. Phytopharmaka und
      pflanzliche Homoopathika, Fischer-Verlag, Stuttgart, Jena, New
      York 1995.

Poisonous Buttercup

Ranunculus sceleratus

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal part is the fresh herb.

& Flower and Fruit: The plant produces numerous flowers.
They are small, pale yellow and 4 to 10 mm in size. The
petals are as long as the calyx. The sepals are revolute, ovate
and downy. There are many stamens and numerous ovaries.
The fruit consists of an oblong, ear-like capitula. The calyx
and corolla drop easily.
Leaves, Stem and Root: The plant grows from 20 to 60 cm
high with an annual root. The plant is pale, glossy,

yellowish-green, fleshy and glabrous. The upper part of the

stem is occasionally pubescent. The stem is erect, tubular,

glabrous and branched. The leaves are palmate: The lower

ones are long-petioled with 2- to 3-lobed segments, and the

upper ones are sessile and usually trifoliate.

Characteristics: A bruised leaf coming into contact with the

skin creates a blister that heals very slowly.

Habitat: The plant is indigenous to central and northern

Europe.

Production: Poisonous Buttercup is the fresh herb of R.

sceleratus, which is gathered in October.

Other Names: Celery-Leaved Crowfoot, Cursed Crowfoot

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Glycoside ranunculin: as protoanemonine-forming agent in

the, freshly harvested plant (1.4% of the fresh weight) that

changes enzymatically when the plant is cut into small

pieces, and probably also while it is drying, into the pungent.

volatile protoanemonine that quickly dimerizes to non-mu-

cous-membrane-irritating anemonine. When dried, the plant

may not be capable of protoanemonine formation.

Saponins

EFFECTS

The active agents are ranunculin, protoanemonin and anemo-

nin and flavoid in the leaves. The plant is highly toxic. The

juice contains protoanemonin, which causes pain and burn-

ing sensations, increases saliva secretion and causes severe

inflammation of the tongue.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: Poisonous Buttercup is used as a skin

stimulant for skin diseases (such as scabies) and leukoderma.

Homeopathic Uses: Poisonous Buttercup is used for skin

complaints, swollen muscles and joints, and influenza.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

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 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, may occur. Symptomatic treatment for external

contact consists of mucilaginosa after irrigation with diluted

potassium permanganate solution. In case of internal contact.

administration of activated charcoal should follow gastric

lavage.