The anemonin content of four different Ranunculus species.

The Ranunculus species are poorly known as medicinal plants. They have potential toxicity given by the ranunculin and its enzymatic degradation compounds: protoanemonin and anemonin. This paper aims to evaluate the anemonin content of four species: R. bulbosus, R. ficaria, R. sardous and R. sceleratus. The evaluation was performed by TLC and HPLC. There were evaluated two types of extracts hydroalcoholic (HA) and glycerol-ethanol (GE). The most concentrated extract in anemonin was found to be the R. sardous aerial part HA extract: 2.66 mg/ml. The lowest anemonin content is in R. sceleratus: 0.13-0.19 mg/ml. In R. bulbosus aerial part the anemonin content is less than the used HPLC method detection limits (7.68 mg/ml). In all cases the GE extracts are less concentrated in anemonin, being more safely for human administration.