Summary
This flower, which is found mostly in Europe, can certainly build you up. The leaves can be poisonous until they are dried. The plant’s actual herb can be used to promote joint and tissue health, cure bronchitis, and other similar respiratory problems.
The medicinal part of buttercup is the herb. If taken internally, buttercup can irritate the digestive track. Buttercup can be found as a ground dried herb as well as an extract.
Description
Medicinal Parts
The medicinal part is the herb.
Flower and Fruit
The golden-yellow, medium-sized flowers are on long, round pedicles. The 5 sepals and 5 petals are close. There are numerous stamens and ovaries. The broad obovate petals are very glossy and have a broad scale on the surface. The small fruit is in an almost globular capitulum.
Leaves, Stem, and Root
The leafy plant grows from 30 to 80 cm. The erect stem has few branches. The petioles and pedicles are appressed and downy. The basal leaves are long-petioled and palmate with rhomboid tips, which are divided into 2 or 3 sections. The similar cauline leaves have shorter-petioles.
Characteristics
The fresh herb is spicy and poisonous; once dried, it is no longer poisonous.
Habitat
The plant is indigenous to northern Europe.
Production
Buttercup is the fresh herb Ranunculus acris.
Other Names
Acrid Crowfoot, Batchelor's Buttons, Blisterweed, Burrwort, Globe Amaranth, Gold Cup, Meadowbloom, Yellows, Yellowweed
Actions & Pharmacology
Compounds
Glycoside ranunculin: as protoanemonine-forming agent in the freshly harvested plant (0.36-2.66% 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, which quickly dimerizes to non-mucous-membrane-irritating anemonine. Once dried, the plant may not be capable of protoanemonine formation.
Saponins
Effects
The active agents are ranunculin, protoanemonin, and anemonin. On contact with the skin, the juice of the plant causes redness, swelling, and blisters. If taken internally, it can lead to burning in the mouth, vomiting, stomachache, and pains in the liver.
Indications & Usage
Unproven Uses
Buttercup is used for bronchitis, chronic skin complaints, neuralgia, and rheumatism.
Precautions & 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 should consist of mucilaginosa, after irrigation with diluted potassium permanganate solution. In case of internal contact, administration of activated charcoal should follow gastric lavage.
Overdosage
Death by asphyxiation following the intake of large quantities of protoanemonine-forming plants has been observed in animal experiments.
Dosage
Mode of Administration
Buttercup is available as a ground dried herb and as an extract.
