The Ranunculaceae
Photos: Kaljira, Ativish
The majority of the Ranunculaceae elaborate complex isoquinoline alkaloids and few toxic glycosides including cyanogenic glycosides, though a few members retain volatile oils,.
Distinguishing characters of the family
The characteristics which distinguish this family are the herbaceous habit, divided or compound leaves, reduced or modified petals, many stamens spirally arranged and apocarpous pistils.
Useful plants
This is a family containing many useful plants like ornamentals, medicinals, biopesticides and dyes.
A. Medicinals
1. Actaea racemosa Linn. Black snakeroot, Black Cohosh)
Black cohosh is an erect herb native to N. America. Roots and rhizomes contain triterpene glycosides actein, acetylacetal, 27-deoxyactein, cimigenol and cimifugoside, quinazoline alkaloids, isoflavone (formonetin,) tannins and gallic, isoferulic and salicylic acids.
Roots and rhizomes are widely used in many gynaecologic disorders esp. menopausal and menstrual disfunction. The terpene glycosidal fraction is found to effective in gonadotropin
release in menopausal women and thus reduces premenstrual discomfort, dysmenorrhoea or other menopausal ailments. A. spicata is another well-known medicinal plant used against skin diseases, rheumatism, etc.
2. Aconitum napellus Linn. (Aconitum from Greek name Akoniton- Ativish/Bachnag, Aconite). The roots of A. napellus, a native erect, showy, herbaceous perennial of Alps, and other mountainous regions of Europe and Asia, provide the drug Aconite. Total alkaloid yield of the roots varies from 0.3 to 1.5%. Two types of alkaloids, aconitines, and atisines have been recognised in the drug. Aconitines are diacyl esters of polyhydric amino alcohols and are highly poisonous. Atisines are simple amino alcohols and possess less toxicity. Aconitine.C34H47O11N is the major alkaloid amounting to 30% of the total alkaloid fraction and yield aconine
(C25H41O9N). acetic acid and benzoic acid on hydrolysis. Aconite is a highly potent and quick acting poison having drastic cardiac effects. The drug is now used as a local analgesic in liniments. Since this is a poisonous drug, Ayurvedic physicians keep the roots in cow’s urine or subject it for prolonged heating. It is then used for fever and rheumatism and as an expectorant.
3. Aconitum ferox Wall.( Bacchanag, Indian aconite).
This is a herbaceous perennial common in alpine regions of Kashmir and Nepal. The alkaloid content of tubers reaches up to 5%. The major alkaloids are pseudaconitine, chasmaconitine, indaconitine and bikhaconitine.The drug is highly toxic. The tubers are used only after keeping them in milk for 2-3 days to reduce their depressant action on the heart and instead become mild cardiotonics. They are then used as diaphoretic, diuretic, anodyne and antidiabetic. The paste of tubers is useful in neuralgia, muscular rheumatism and inflammatory joint affections. It is also used as sedatives and diaphoretics.
4. Aconitum heterophyllum Wall.
This tall herb, common in alpine or subalpine Himalayas contain alkaloids in roots (0.8%). The principal alkaloids are atisine (50%), heteratisine, heterophyllisine, heterophylline and heterophyllidine. Atisine exhibits lesser toxicity than aconitine. The whole aqueous
extract showed marked hypotensive activity. Roots act as antifertility agents.
5. Aconitum chasmantham Stapf.(Patisa, Indian Napellus)
The alkaloid content is about 3% and the major components are indaconitine, chasmaconitine, chasmanthinine, chasmanine and homochasmanine. The medicinal uses of this drug are same as A. ferox.
6. Delphinium ajacis Linn.(Larkspur)
Larkspur yields a number of poisonous alkaloids like ajacine, ajacinine and ajaconine, which are very similar to aconitine. These alkaloids are often used as parasiticides.
7. Helleborus niger Linn. (Black hellebore)
This perennial herb, with unbranched underground stem and roots of thick fibres, is a native of central Europe. Rhizomes and parts of the aerial stem constitute the drug. Of the few glycosides it contains, hellebrin (hellebrigenin + rhamnose + glucose) shows the
maximum cardiotonic activity. Hellebrin is supposed to have approximately twenty times powerful action compared to Digitalis – and so is extensively used in veterinary practices.
8. Hydrastis canadensis Linn. (Hydrastis: Greek Hydrastina = Wild Hemp, Hydrastis, Golden seal)
Indigenous to Canada and United States, this erect perennial contains 2.5 to 4% ether soluble alkaloids in the rhizome and the numerous slender roots, which form the drug Principal alkaloid is hydrastine. Berberine, canadine and berberastine (5-hydroxy berberine) are present in minor quantities. Hydrastis finds extensive use in checking uterine haemorrhage. Hydrastine salts also exhibit this property. The drug is used as an astringent in inflammation of
mucous membranes.
9. Nigella sativa (Niger = black; alluding to black seeds- Black cumin, Kala Jira)
This is an erect annual herb native to Europe, Africa and Western Asia. The seeds yield an essential oil rich in thymoquinone. p-Cymene and thymol are the minor components of the oil.
Also present in the seeds are a fatty oil, phytosterols, α- hederin (a saponin), flavonoids and nigelline, an alkaloid with a characteristic smell. The seeds are used as tonics and as a medicine for cough, rheumatism and for tumors. N. damascena yields an essential oil which is used as a perfume.
B. Biopesticides
1. Aconitum ferox Wall.
2. Aconitum chasmantham Stapf.
3. Cimicifuga foetida Linn. ((Cimex = a beg; fugo = to drive away- Bugbane)
4. C. racemosa (black cohosh or snake root)
5. Consolida ambigua Ball & Heywood Common Larkspur)
6. Coptis japonica Makino
Berberine, palmatine and coptisine, the three isoquinoline alkaloids isolated from the roots of this Japanese plant are found to exhibit antifeeding activity against 4th – instar larvae of Hyphantria cunea and Agelasia coerulea. The total alkaloids show a more pronounced effect than individual alkaloids administered indicating a synergistic effect (Park, et al., 2000)
7. Delphinium brunonianum Royle (Musk Larkspur)
A musk-scented annual of 50cm with glandular pubescent stem, seen in Alpine Himalayas.
All the Delphiniums are found to contain benzyl isoquinoline alkaloids. The leaves and seeds of this plant and of D. caeruleum are irritants. Due to the poisonous nature they are used as
insecticides
8. Nigella sativa Linn. (Kalajira, Black cumin)
Seeds are kept scattered between folds of linen or woolen clothes to preserve them against insect attack.
C. Natural Dyes
1. Coptis teeta (Greek Kopto = to cut, alluding to the deeply cut leaves). The rhizome of this plant is a source of yellow dye.
2. Hydrastis canadensis . The rhizome is used as a dye.
3. Xanthorhiza (xantho = yellow, rhiza = root) The roots of various species of this genus are used as dyes due to the yellow alkaloids like berberine.
D. Ornamentals.
1) Ranunculus (classical Latin name, from rana, frog as many species grow in wet places- Many ornamental plants but most of them are poisonous.
2) Clematis (clema = tendril; tendril bearing plant- 295) Mostly ornamentals.
3) Delphinium (Delphis = dolphin; flowers like dolphins due to spur- 320) Mostly cultivated ornamentals
4) Anemone (Anemos = wind; due to beautiful waving of flowers in wind-140) Mostly ornamentals
Source:
Taxonomy: Evolution at Work. M. Daniel, (2009) Alpha Science International Ltd, Oxford, U. K. Pages 467,
Mammen Daniel
