Pulsatila Pharmacognosy Pharmacology

1. Pulsatilla

2. Introduction
• Family: Ranunculaceae
• Botanical name: Pulsatilla Vulgaris
• English name: Wind Flower, pasque flower
• Urdu name: Shaqaik ul numan, gul e lalaa.
• Part used : Whole herb.
• Toxicity: highly toxic when fresh (even cause severe burning )

3. Chemical
Constituents
•Anemonin (active constituent, which controls the anti
inflammatory response.Antibacterial drugs have high
concentration of anemonin in them)
•Pentadecane (major component of oils obtained
•from the plant.)

4. Chemical
Constituents
•Acrid (oily principle, with a burning, peppery taste, Oil
of Anemone. Its therapeutic value is not considered
great. When kept for some time, this oily substance
becomes decomposed into Anemonic acid.
•Anemonic acid (inert form of acrid. Anti-microbial
activity)
•Volatile oils ( for inhalation purposes/ also used for
dermal infections )

5. Uses
•Used as Anti-microbial.
anemonic acid increases membranous permeability.They
effect the polymyxins that combines with the
phosphatides and increases the membranous
permeability)
As a result of which bacterial cell death occurs.
•Use as Antibacterial.
anemonin inhibits cell wall synthesis by binding with the
bacterial cell wall.its acidic nature inhibits its synthesis)

6. Uses
• For treatment of allergies of nose etc.
(pentadecane is major constituent.Inhilation sprays
are prepared by addition of volatile oils to certain
extent).
•As an Anti-inflammatory drug
anemonin is responsible for treating pain mainly
by blocking COX-2 mostly in the central nervous
system

7. Usual dosage
• Therapeutically, pulsatilla is used in two forms - infusion and tincture.
• Infusion: To prepare an infusion with pulsatilla, add half to one
teaspoonful of the dried up herb to one cup (250 ml) of boiling
water and allow it to permeate for about 10 to 15 minutes. For best
results, this infusion should be taken thrice every day or whenever it
is required.
• Tincture: The standard dosage of the pulsatilla tincture is 1 ml to 2 ml
taken thrice every day.

8. Contraindications
• Only dried plant should be used.
• Not recommended to treat Gastritis.
• Use of excessive volatile oils may cause irritation to nose and mouth as
it effects the mucous membrane.

9. Side effects
• Over use of pulsatilla drugs can cause the constriction of
vessels.
• Pulsatilla is unsafe if taken by mouth during
pregnancy.because it causes constraction of muscles,which
will lead to certain abnormalities..
• When applied directly on skin, it causes severe irritation,
inflammation, rash and itching.

10. Drug Interactions
When taking any pulsatilla homeopathic remedy:
• peppermint products
• coffee
• or alcohol
These products will cause the remedy to be ineffective.

11. References
www.webmd.com
www.vitaminestore.com
www.herblist.com
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
book of medical pharmacology
American medicinal plants.