PHYTOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATION OF RANUNCULUS SCELERATUS L.

Summary and Conclusions

The investigation established the constants of Ranunculus sceleratus L. grown in Egypt, and revealed the nature of its main constituents by applying paper, T.L.C., and column Chromatographie techniques.

The plants were found to contain the glycoside ranunculin, its aglycone protoanemonin and its dimeric form, anemonin. The plant contains also the base choline, an unidentified alkaloid, as well as unsaturated sterols, pyrogallol tannins and flavonoid compounds.

Anemonin and protoanemonin were sucessfully separated from each other chromatographically after converting them into their complexes with 2:4 dinitro phenyl hydrazine.

Zusammenfassung

In Ranunculus sceleratus wurden das Glykosid Ranunculin, dessen Aglykon Protoanemonin bzw. das dimere Anemonin nachgewiesen. Ferner wurden Cholin, ein unidentifiziertes Alkaloid, ungesättigte Sterole, Pyrogallol, Tannine und Flavonoide gefunden.