Pasque Flower
Scientific Name(s): Pulsatilla patens (L.) Mill., Pulsatilla pratensis L., Pulsatilla vulgaris Mill.
Common Name(s): Easter flower, Meadow anemone, Pasque flower, Pulsatilla, Wind flower
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Aug 16, 2023.
Clinical Overview
Use
Pasque flower has confirmed antibiotic and uterotonic activity; however, it is not recommended for human use.
Dosing
There is no recent evidence to support specific doses of pasque flower. The fresh plant is toxic; classical doses of the dried herb were from 0.1 to 0.4 g daily.
Contraindications
No longer considered safe.
Pregnancy/Lactation
Documented adverse effects. Avoid use. Uterine stimulant.
Interactions
None well documented.
Adverse Reactions
No data.
Toxicology
Pasque flower is extremely toxic and should not be ingested or applied to the skin.
Scientific Family
- Ranunculaceae (buttercup)
Botany
Several closely related species of pulsatilla have found medicinal use in Europe and North America. They are perennial herbs that grow in well-drained, sandy or rocky soil, blooming early in spring soon after snow has melted. The single large flower is characterized by the large, colored bracts, which have the appearance of petals. The whole plant is covered with silky hairs that give the ripe fruit the appearance of a mop head. All parts of the fresh plant have an acrid taste. Molecular research has defined the relationships between different species of pulsatilla and related genera, and has suggested that the genera Pulsatilla, Hepatica, and Knowltonia should be merged into the single genus Anemone.Hoot 1994
History
The dried whole plant of pulsatilla has been used in Europe for a variety of medicinal purposes, including dysmenorrhea and other gynecological disorders, skin diseases, asthma, and eye infections, and as a diuretic and expectorant.Grieve 1931 It is widely used in homeopathic preparations, once being considered specific for measles, and also used for toothache, earache, and indigestion. A large number of Asian species of pulsatilla (eg, Pulsatilla cernua. Spreng, Japanese name "Hakutoo," Pulsatilla chinensis (Bunge) Regel. and others, Chinese name "Bai Tou Weng") have also been used medicinally.Shimizu 1978, Ye 1999
Chemistry
The most notable compounds in pulsatilla and many other Ranunculaceae are ranunculin, protoanemonin, and anemonin. Ranunculin is a glycoside that is enzymatically hydrolyzed when the tissues are crushed to the volatile unsaturated lactone protoanemonin, which then dimerizes to anemonin on exposure to air. Protoanemonin is extremely volatile and vesicant. Anemonin was first isolated in 1792Heyer 1792 and protoanemonin was elucidated in 1920.Asahina 1920 Ranunculin was characterized in 1951, and the gross structure of anemonin was proposed.Hill 1951 The complete stereostructure of anemonin was determined by x-ray crystallography in 1965.Moriarty 1965
Triterpene saponins are found in various species of pulsatillaLi 1990, Shimizu 1978, Ye 1995, Ye 1996, Ye 1998, Ye 1999 while flavonoids also have been isolated.Yoshitama 1998 A novel bicyclic quinone was recently reported from P. koreana.Moon 2000
Uses and Pharmacology
Protoanemonin has been reported to have antibacterialBaer 1946, Carlson 1946, Holden 1974, Seegal 1945 antimalarialCarlson 1946 and antifungalMartin 1990, Misra 1980 activity, and has been found to be cytotoxic as well.Campbell 1979 These properties may be due to the ability of protoanemonin to alkylate reactive moieties on proteins and other biomolecules.
The saponins of pulsatilla species have been reported to have cytotoxicMimaki 1999 antifungal, molluscicidalEkabo 1996 and sucrase inhibitory properties.Zhang 2000 The lignan beta-peltatin, isolated from P. chinensis, was strongly cytotoxic.Mimaki 1999 Antibacterial properties were reported for pulsaquinone, the quinone isolated from P. koreana.Moon 2000
Animal data
In animals, protoanemonin and anemonin have a sedating effect, while anemonin was antipyreticMartin 1988 effects also seen in screening of the extract of P. alpina.Martin 1987 A uterotonic effect of the extract has also been documented.Farnsworth 1975
Paradoxically, protoanemonin is antimutagenic in the Ames test.Minakata 1983 Sheep and other animals have been killed by overgrazing on protoanemonin-containing plants, and abortions and teratogenic effects have been observed.American Botanical Council 1998
Dosing
There is no recent evidence to support specific doses of pasque flower. The fresh plant is toxic; classical doses of the dried herb were from 0.1 to 0.4 g daily.
Pregnancy / Lactation
Documented adverse effects. Avoid use. Uterine stimulant.Brinker 1998, Ernst 2002 A uterotonic effect of the extract has also been documented.Farnsworth 1975
Pulsatilla was identified as the most common herb used for malpresentation/breech labor induction by certified or licensed midwives in state-wide surveys conducted in California, Texas, and North Carolina.Dennehy 2010
Interactions
None well documented.
Adverse Reactions
Blistering of the skin is due to protoanemonin, which, since it is volatile and reactive, both evaporates or is converted to anemonin on drying of the plant.Hill 1951
Toxicology
Fresh plant material of pasque flower is extremely toxic and should not be ingested or applied to the skin. Paradoxically, protoanemonin is antimutagenic in the Ames test.Minakata 1983 Sheep and other animals have been killed by overgrazing on protoanemonin-containing plants, and abortions and teratogenic effects have been observed.American Botanical Council 1998
Index Terms
- Anemone
- Hepatica
- Knowltonia
References
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