Complete and fully informative

1. Family
Ranunculaceae
Dr .Madiha Mustafa
Lecturer Pharmacy an
Pharmacognosy

2. RANUNCULACEAE
 Herbs
 Aconitum
 Larkspur
 Pulsatilla
 Hydrastis

3.  Introduction;
 50 genera
 1800 or 2000 species
 Organoleptic evaluation:
 Bisexual
 Flowers; 2 to 3 typrs i.e. symmetry,
zygomorphic, actinomorphic.

4.  Actinomorphic:
 The flowers can be divided into three or more
identical sectors also called radial (symmetry).
 Zygomorphic:
 The flowers part are unequal in size and can be
divided into identical halves by only one longitudinal
plane, passing through the axis.

6. General description
 Sepals; 3 or several and separate.
 Petals; usually 5 or 6 and separate
 Stamen; numerous
 Carpals; 3 to many and are separate
 Fruit; 3 shape of fruit i.e. berries (all type of berries), follicles (milkweed),
achenes (sunflower).
 Seed: The one seeded fruit that does not open to release the seed.
 Plants are annual or perennial.
 Mostly herbs, some sherbs and wine.
 Some are woody present in temperate to cooler region.
 North America and Asia.
 Some genera are poisonous having alkaloids, cardiac glycosides.
 These are ornamental.

9. a) Aconite Common name: Blue rocket /
monkshood, Wolfs-bane.
 Botanical name: Aconitum
neppalus
 Family: Ranunculaceae
 Part used: dried roots
 Description: aconitum is a Greek
word “Aconitine” meaning pointed.
Neppalus is a latin word which
means little turnip due to turnip
like shape of root.

10. Characters:
 Aconite is a perennial herb with a fusiform
tuberous root. The plant is propagated from
the daughter tubers. In the autumn season
the aconite root becomes thick. An apical
bud on the apex and six lateral buds on its
surface are developed. A lateral shoot
bearing a thin lateral root is produced from
each lateral bud. The lateral roots are called
daughter roots and the main root is known
as parent root. Daughter roots are planted in
soil containing leaf mould and some amount
of lime. The roots are collected in autumn.
Collection of Aconite from wild plants is done
during
 flowering season. Roots are dried at 40-50
degree centigrade.

11.  Habitat: found in America, spain also present in Europe and
japan.
Constituents:
 Aconite contains
 Aconitine (0.4-0.8%). (Isoaconitine.
Pseudoaconitine),
 Hypaconiticine Mesaconitine
 Aconine Sparteine,
 Napelline Ephedrine
 Neoline,
 Dopamine, noradrenaline, tyramine in some species.

12. Uses
 Local Analgesic
 Treatment of Neuralgia
 Rheumatism
 Anti-Inflammatory
 Antipyretic
 Treatment of bruises
 Cardiotonic
 Sedative
 It has a cardiac effects but used
mainly as an local analgesic in
liniment.
 Adverse effect: prolonged
depolarization and delayed
repolarization, symptoms appear
with in 90 min.
 2to3mg lead to respiratory failure
and death.

13. s

16. DelphiniumAjacis

18. Introduction
 Family: Ranunculaceae
 Botanical Name: Delphinium ajacis
 Common name: Larkspur, Gule memun
Botanical name: Delphanium denudatum
 Urdu Name: Jadvar
 Part used: Dried Root, Seed and Flowers
 Chemical Class:Alkaloids

19. Description:
 Delphinium word is from Greek meaning
dolphin because the nectary resemble the
shape of dolphin.
 Plants are annual.
 Habitat: It is indigenous to central Europe
and America and cultivated in America as a
garden plant. It is also found in Mediterranean
region

20. Chemical Constituents
 Ajacine
 Delphinine
 Delphisine
 Delavaine
 Methyllyaconitine
 ß-sitosterol
 Aconitine

21. Mechanism of
action
• As anti-depressant
Delphinine act as selective serotonine reuptake
inhibitor affect the level of serotonine and are
able to reduce depression and anxiety .
• As anti-inflamatory
Ajacine inhibit COX enzyme, relief symptoms
of inflammation and pain.

22.  As diuretic:
Edema (swelling of the tissues and body parts) can be treated
when delphinine tincture from the seeds affect the nephron
(tubules or glomeruli).Excessive fluid intake can be eliminated by
kidney in form of urine.
 Asanthelmintics:
Delphinine tincture used externally for killing the intestinal worm
orparasites.
 Asanti-lices:
Delphinine is active constituents and toxic in nature used to kill
lices fromhairs and body of the castles.
 As lowering of cholesterolmedicator:
B-sitosterol lowers cholesterol level by limiting amount of
cholesterol to enter the body because it block few receptors of
cholesterol.

23. Uses
 Delphinine is used to kill the intestinal worm
 Delphinine is used as sedative
 Delphinine is to treat the sleeping problems insomia
 Delphinine is used as an analgesic to treat the muscle
and bone
 It is used to get rid of lices from hair
 Ajacine is used as anti- inflamatory
 It is used as diuretic
 Ajacine is used as anti neuralgia
 ß-sitosterol is used to lower the cholestrol level by
limiting amount of cholestrol that is able to enter the
body

24. Dosage
 It is for external uses only such as analgesic
 For powdered seeds, the dosage is 0.133g-0.2g
 In case of seeds, it may be 2-3 grains
 In case of tinctures, take 1-10 drops diluted in 2ml water
 Dosage depend upon the user’s age, health and several other
condition.
 Be sure to consult pharmacist, due to poisonousnature of drug.

25. Side Effects
 Delphinine causes muscular spasm
 Causes low blood pressure. If fatal, death may occur
 May cause respiratory collapse and lung failure
 Methyllyaconitine causes blocking of neurotransmitter transmition
 All the part are toxic in nature, if ingested, then causes skin
irritation and digestive discomfort leading to vomiting, nausea
and abdominal pain

26. Hydrastis canadensis

28. c). Hydrastis
 Common name: Goldenseal
 Botanical name: Hydrastis Canadensis
 Family: Runanculaceae
 Part used: Dried roots and rhizomes.
 Description: Hydrastis is from Greek meaning to
complete with water due to its habitat. First word is
“Hydrastis” originated from “hydro” meaning water and
second Canadensis due to Native of Canada.

29. Characters:
 The plant propagates from rhizome buds. In
autumn the terminal buds are replanted. The
rhizomes are cylindrical, 1-5 cm diameter.
They possess numerous, terminate in cup-
shaped scars. The outer surface of rhizome is
yellowish-brown or greyish brown. The roots
originate on the ventral and lateral surface, are
long and wiry. The fracture of the drug is short
and waxy. The odour is slight and distinct and
taste in bitter.
 Plant is perennial herb, with short horizontal
rhizomes. Roots and rhizomes have golden
yellow color and due to which it is called
goldenseal.

30. Habitat:
 present in the forest of eastern united state and
Canada. Cultivated in Washington and North
Carolina.
 Constituents:
 Alkaloids;
 Hydrastine (0-2.93%)
 Canadine
 Berberine (0.82-5.86%).
 Volatile oils
 Resins

31. Uses:
 Astringent (precipitate protein) in inflammation of
mucous membrane (mouth).
 Previously it was used as dye and internal remedy.
 Berberine is efflux pump inhibitor strong antibiotic.
 Bitter tonic
 Anti-inflammatory
 Stops internal bleeding
 Eye wash
 Mouth wash
 Psoriasis
 Increase digestive secretion

33. Pulsatilla

34. Introduction
• Family: Ranunculaceae
• Botanical name: Pulsatilla Vulgaris
• Pulsatilla nigricans
• English name: Wind Flower, pasque flower
• Urdu name: Shaqaik ul numan, gul e lalaa.
• Part used : Whole herb.
• Toxicity: highly toxic when fresh (even cause severe burning )

35. d). Pulsatilla (Gulle lala)
 Description: Pulsatilla is an herbaceous plant
having thick rhizomes. Leaves are covered
with long silly hairs which fall as the plant
grows older. Each stem produce a single
terminal purple flower.
 Habitat: It is native to Europe and Russia.
And now it is grown in Southern England.

37. Constituents
•Anemonin (active constituent, which controls the anti
inflammatory response.Antibacterial drugs have high
concentration of anemonin in them)
•Pentadecane (major component of oils obtained
•from the plant.)

38. Chemical
Constituents• Acrid (oily principle, with a burning, peppery taste,
Oil of Anemone. Its therapeutic value is not
considered great. When kept for some time, this oily
substance becomes decomposed into Anemonic acid.
•Anemonic acid (inert form of acrid. Anti-microbial
activity)
•Volatile oils ( for inhalation purposes/ also used for
dermal infections )

39. Uses
•Used as Anti-microbial.
 anemonic acid increases membranous
permeability.They effect the polymyxins that
combines with the phosphatides and increases the
membranous permeability
As a result of which bacterial cell death occurs.
•Use as Antibacterial.
anemonin inhibits cell wall synthesis by binding with the
bacterial cell wall.its acidic nature inhibits its synthesis)

41. Uses• For treatment of allergies of nose etc.
(pentadecane is major constituent.Inhilation
sprays are prepared by addition of volatile oils to
certain extent).
•As an Anti-inflammatory drug
anemonin is responsible for treating pain
mainly by blocking COX-2 mostly in the central
nervous system
Female reproductive disorder
Menstural cramps
Tension headache

42. Contraindications
• Only dried plant should be used.
• Not recommended to treat Gastritis.
• Use of excessive volatile oils may cause irritation to nose and mouth as
it effects the mucous membrane.

43. Side effects
• Over use of pulsatilla drugs can cause the constriction of
vessels.
• Pulsatilla is unsafe if taken by mouth during
pregnancy.because it causes contraction of muscles.
• When applied directly on skin, it causes severe irritation,
inflammation, rash and itching.