This document discusses the Ranunculaceae family and some crude drugs derived from plants in this family. It provides background on the Ranunculaceae family, describing that it includes over 2,000 species of herbs, shrubs and trees found mainly in temperate regions. It then profiles 4 crude drugs - Aconitum napellus, Hydrastis canadensis, Delphinium species, and Anemone pulsatilla - listing their botanical origins, parts used, active constituents and traditional medicinal uses.

1. Ranunculaceae Family & Crude Drugs
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3. Presented By:
Name Roll no
Esha-tu-Razia 09
Hadia Shahid 14
Mubashra Mehmood 24
Sanam Manzoor 30
Minahil Ejaz 43

4. Ranunculaceae
Family & Crude
Drugs

5. Ranunculaceae
General Information:
Ranunculaceae is also known as buttercup family that grow in
shady wooden areas of the north temperature zone. Most members of
the family have bisexual flowers which can be showy or
inconspicuous. Flowers are solitary, but are also found aggregated in
cymes, panicles or spikes.
Number of genera:
The family include 62 genera and comprises about 2,252
species.
Characters of Ranunculaceae:
A. Diagonostic Characters:
Herbs, leaves exstipulate, incised blades, sheathing bases,
flowers hypogynous , spiral or spirocyclic; sepals often decidous,
usually petaloid; calyx and corolla free; stamens indefinite, free;
carpels polycarpellary, apocarpous; fruit aggregate.

6. B. Vegetative Characters:
Habit:
The plants are annual or perennial herbs or a climbing
shrubs (Clematis, Naravelia), rarely trees. They perennate by means of
tuberous roots ( Aconitum) or rhizomes.
Root:
Tap root, adventitious or tuberous ( Ranunculus spp. And
Aconitum). The tap root system is in the initial stage but sooner or later
replaced by the adventitious roots.
Stem:
Herbaceous, in some climbing (Clematis) or underground rhizome
or erect, branched.
Leaves:
Generally simple, alternate, or opposite (Clematis) exstipulate
rarely stipulate (Thalictrum), sheathing leaf base, petiolate rarely sessile
(Delphinium). In some aquatic species leaves may show dimorphy
(Ranunculus aquatilis); unicostate or multicostate reticulate venation.

7. C. Floral Character
Inflorescence:
Solitary terminal (Anemone), axillary (Clematis), raceme
(Aconitum, Delphinium) and cymose (Ranunculus spp.).
Flower:
Pedicellate, ebracteate rarely bracteate, hermaphrodite,
(unisexual in Thalictrum). Mostly actinomorphic (Ranunculus)
rarely zygomorphic (Delphinium and Aconitum) hypogynous,
complete, pentamerous.
Calyx:
There is distinction of calyx and corolla in most of the
flowers. Sepals 5, caducous, polysepalous, petaloid, imbricate
or valvate aestivation.
Corolla:

8. Petals 5, polypetalous, variously coloured, caducous or
wanting; nectaries present at the base of petals. Petals are
united to form spur (Delphinium).

9. Androecium:
Stamens indefinite, polyandrous, spirally arranged on the
thalamus, inferior; anther, extrose and adnate.
Gynoecium:
Polycarpellary (one carpel in Delphinium and 3 to 5 in
Aconitum), apocarpous rarely syncarpous (Nigellla), ovary
superior, marginal placentation (axile in Nigella).
Fruit:
Aggregate, etario of achenes (Ranunculus), etario of follicle
(Aconitum), follicle (Delphinium), septicidal capsule (Nigella)
or berry (Actaea), etario of drupes (Adonis), etario of berries
(Hydrastic) and simple pod (Xanthorhiza).
Seed:
Small, oily and endospermic.

11. Pollination:
Generally entomophilous (Delphinium, Aconitum, Aquilegia)
and anemophilous in Thalictrum.
Floral Formula:

12. Economic Importance Of Ranunculaceae:
1. Ornamental plants:
Most plants are cultivated for their beautiful flowers like
buttercup etc.
2.Medicinal plants:
Some members are used as medicinal plants. Aconitum
yields an alkaloid aconitina. Thallicirom yields mamira. It is
used in the treatment of opthalmia.
3.Condiments:
Some members are used as condiments. For example, seeds
of nigella. It is also used as drug.
4.Weeds:
Some members are need like R. Antriccaus.

13. 5. Importance of Honey:
Most members of this family have nectaries. F lic
nectaries have a great importance for honey bees.
6.Poisonous species:
Some members of this family produce acrid juice. It is
highly poisonous.

14. Crude Drug
Aconitum napellus
Botanical Origin: Aconitum napellus
Common Name: Aconite
Roots
Mitha
Zahar
Part used: Dried roots
Habit: Perennial herb
Habitat: It occurs in the mountain of
England, Germany, Himalaya & Asia.

15. Active Constituents: Aconitine
Hypoconitine
Pseudoconitine
Mesaconitine
Lycaconitine
Aconine
Medicinal Used: Local analgesic
Antipyretic
Anti-neuralgic
Liniments

17. 2. Crude Drug
Hydrastis
Botanical Origin: Hydrastic Canadensis
Common Name: Golden
Seal
Yellow
Puccoon
Part used: Dried roots & Rhizome
Habit: Perennial herb
Habitat: It occur in USA, Canada, North Carolina &
Washington

18. Active Constituents: Hydrastine
Berberine
Canadine
Medicinal used: Sedatives
Spasmolytic
Stimulant
Bacteriostatic
Bactericidal
Vasoconstricting
Hemostatic

20. 3. Crude Drug
Larkspur
Botanical Origin: Delphinium ajacis
Deliphinium denudatum
Common Name: Larkspur
Part used: Dried roots & seeds
Habit: Annual herb
Habitat: It occur mainly in central Europe.
Active Constituents: Ajacin
Ajaconine
Ajacinine
Dephinine

21. Medicinal Used: Parasiticidal Anodyne
(pain killer)

23. 4. Crude Drug
Pulsatilla
Botanical origin: Anemone pulsatilla
Pulsatilla vulgaris
Common name: Wind Flower
Part used: Dried whole herb
Habit: Perennial herb
Habitat: It occur mainly in central & southern Europe.
Active Constituents: Lectons
Lectonic
Glucoside
Protoanemonin
Anemonine

24. Medicinal used: Antibacterial
Local irritant

25. Trease & Evans Pharmacognosy