Pharmaceutical Botany: Dicotyledons 2

Pharmaceutical Botany: Dicotyledons 2

• Course: PHAR 212
• University: Cyprus International University
• Professor: Emmanuel Mshelia Halilu
• Subclass: Dialypetalae
• Includes families Ranunculaceae and Papavaraceae

Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family)

• Large family of herbaceous and woody plants.
• Perianth and stamens have many free members.
• Acyclic arrangement of pistils.
• Many ovaries in one flower.
• 50 genera and 1800 species.
• Contains medicinal and poisonous plants.
• Example: Ranunculus sp.

Aconitum napellus (Wolf's Bane)

• Very poisonous plant.
• Grows in the mountains of Central Europe.
• Perennial, up to 50-200 cm tall.
• Has two tubers underground.
• One tuber provides the current year's plant, the other provides the following year's.
• Tubers contain Tubera Aconiti T.K. (aconite tuber).
• Contains 0.5-1.5% alkaloids, primarily aconitine.
• Used as a pain reliever, especially for nervous trigeminus neuralgia, and as a cough sedative.
• Other species exist: A. orientale, A. nasutum, and A. cochleare, also containing alkaloids.

Delphinium staphisagria (Licebane)

• Grows in a Mediterranean climate.
• Used in veterinary medicine to eliminate parasites.
• Contains staphisagrin alkaloid.
• Seeds are extremely poisonous.

Hydrastis canadensis (Goldenseal)

• Perennial herbaceous plant (30-40 cm).
• Found in North America.
• Short rhizome and numerous roots and just 2 leaves.
• Single flower.
• Also a poisonous plant.
• Roots and rhizomes yield Rhizoma Hydrastis T.K.
• Contains alkaloids like hydrastine and berberine.
• Used as a hemostatic (stops bleeding) in uterine hemorrhages.

Cimicifuga racemosa (Black Cohosh)

• Perennial herbaceous plant (up to 1-2 m).
• Native to North America.
• Roots/rhizomes produce Rhizoma Cimicifugae racemosae (dark brown).
• Contains acteine and cimicifugoside (triterpene glycosides) as active constituents.
• Used in menopause complications like hot flashes and sweating and also in sleep disorders and rheumatism.

Coptis chinensis (Chinese Gold Thread)

• Grows in the Far East (China and Japan).
• Rhizomes have a bitter taste.
• The drug Rhizoma Coptidis is used in gastrointestinal disorders, as an antibiotic, and antibacterial agent.
• Contains berberine, protoberberine, and palmatine alkaloids.
• Also protects heart muscle and decreases blood sugar.

Helleborus niger (Black Hellebore)

• Found in European forests.
• Roots/rhizomes yield Rhizoma Hellebori nigri, containing hellebroside glycoside.
• Has cardiotonic activity (increases heart muscle contractions).

Helleborus orientalis (Oriental Hellebore)

• Grows in Northern Anatolia.
• The drug Radix Hellebori (root) is used in chest diseases of cattle.
• Contains cardiotonic heterosides (glycosides).

Adonis vernalis (False Hellebore)

• Annual plant with yellow or red flowers.
• Found in Europe.
• Aerial parts (Herba Adonidis) contain a cardiotonic heteroside (adonitoxoside).
• Also used as diuretic.
• Other species include Adonis aestivalis and Adonis flammea.

Paonia officinalis (Peony)

• Roots (Radix Paeoniae) contain the heteroside peonol.
• Has astringent and antispasmodic activities.
• Used as a sedative in epilepsy and whooping cough.

Nigella sativa (Black Sesame)

• Cultivated in Central and West Anatolia.
• Annual plant.
• The oil (Oleum Nigellae) contains thymoquinone.
• Potentially effective in treating epilepsy, allergies, and boosting the immune system.

Papaveraceae Family (Poppy Family)

• Comprises herbaceous plants.
• Has annual to perennial plants, herbs, shrubs, or rarely trees.
• Some species are found as weeds worldwide.
• Contains latex(sometimes white or yellowish).
• Example: Papaver somniferum

Papaver somniferum (Cultivated Poppy)

• Seeds are a food condiment.
• Latex (from unripe fruit) yields opium.
• Opium contains morphine, codeine, narcotine alkaloids .
• Morphine is a pain reliever, codeine is used as a cough suppressant.

Morphine

• An opioid medicine used for severe pain relief, when other methods are insufficient.
• Long-term use can lead to withdrawal symptoms if stopped abruptly.

Sanguinaria canadensis (Bloodroot)

• Herbaceous perennial, native to eastern North America.
• Roots used in rheumatism, dyspepsia (indigestion), common colds, sinus infections.
• Believed to be an expectorant (removes phlegm/mucus) and to have inotropic effects (strengthening heart muscle contractions).
• Contains isoquinoline alkaloids like sanguinarine, chelerythrine.

Argemone mexicana (Prickly Poppy)

• Produces oil used to adulterate mustard oil; harmful.

Explore the fascinating world of dicotyledons in Pharmaceutical Botany, focusing on the families Ranunculaceae and Papavaraceae. This quiz covers the characteristics, medicinal uses, and dangers of various plants, including Aconitum napellus. Ideal for students in PHAR 212 at Cyprus International University.