Ranunculus acris

Buttercup Ranunculus acris, R. bulbosus (A of 7) AofVO/S Poisonous. Protection. 

MEADOW BUTTERCUP Ranunculus acris, L., Family Ranunculaceae, is a well-known plant. The whole plant is poisonous when fresh. Consumption of fresh plants gives a burning feeling in the mouth and throat caused by protoanemonin. Then follows, vomiting, stomach-ache and bloody diarrhoea. Dizziness, spasms, and irritations of the urinary tract with decreasing painful dysuria are among other symptoms. In very severe cases there is circulatory and respiratory collapse. 

O 8.21%. Carotenoid pigment. Often found in plants, but in minute amounts only and never as a principal pigment. Has same structural formula, mp, rotation, and absorption as chrysanthemaxanthin, <7. V., but differs sterical -ly. Isoln from Ranunculus acris L., Ranuncuiaceae Kuhn, Brockmann. Z. Physiol. Chem. 213, 192 (1932). Structure Karrer, Rutschmann, Heiv, Ckim. Acta 25, 1144 (1942). Partial synthesis Karrer, Jucker, ibid. 28, 300 (1945). 

Ranunculus acris It has been proposed that this plant represents the mao-ken or shui-langoiancient China, reputed to provoke delirium (Li 1978 Schultes Hof-... 

BERGSTROM, G., DOBSON, H.E.M., GROTH I., Spatial fragrance patterns within the flowers of Ranunculus-acris (Ranunculaceae). Plant Syst. EvoL, 1995,195, 221-242. 

Scott M G, Peterson R C 1979 The root endodermis in Ranunculus acris. II. Histochemistry of the endodermis and the synthesis of phenolic compounds in roots. Can J Bot 57 1063-1077... 

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