Turner N J
J Ethnopharmacol. 1984 Jul;11(2):181-201. doi: 10.1016/0378-8741(84)90038-2.
At least 20 species in Ranunculaceae, the buttercup family, are reported as having been used medicinally by 19 different groups of native peoples in British Columbia and adjacent areas. These species are known to contain the skin-irritating, blister-causing compound, protoanemonin, in their fresh state. Protoanemonin is almost certainly the active principle involved in many of these medicinal applications. A majority involved the use of the plants as external poultices for boils, cuts, abrasions and other skin sores. Other disorders having a high frequency of treatment with ranunculaceous species include: muscular aches, colds and other respiratory ailments, and general, unspecified illness. Native groups in other parts of North America also used many ranunculaceous species as poultices, and for colds, headaches and many other ailments. A number were used for stimulation and "revival" of unconscious persons. It is suggested that the protoanemonin contained in these plants may have, through several different mechanisms, positively influenced the healing process physiologically and not just psychologically. If future research confirms this, these protoanemonin containing plants may have potential in certain treatments in modern medicine.
据报道，毛茛科（毛茛家族）中至少有20个物种被不列颠哥伦比亚省及周边地区的19个不同原住民群体用于医学用途。已知这些物种在新鲜状态下含有引起皮肤刺激、导致水泡的化合物原白头翁素。原白头翁素几乎肯定是许多这些医学应用中涉及的活性成分。大多数应用涉及将植物用作外部敷剂，用于治疗疖子、伤口、擦伤和其他皮肤溃疡。其他经常用毛茛科物种治疗的疾病包括：肌肉疼痛、感冒和其他呼吸道疾病，以及一般的、未明确的疾病。北美其他地区的原住民群体也将许多毛茛科物种用作敷剂，并用于治疗感冒、头痛和许多其他疾病。一些物种被用于刺激昏迷者并使其“苏醒”。有人认为，这些植物中含有的原白头翁素可能通过几种不同的机制，在生理上而非仅仅在心理上对愈合过程产生了积极影响。如果未来的研究证实这一点，这些含有原白头翁素的植物可能在现代医学的某些治疗中有潜力。
