Ranunculus rhomboideus, Buttercup, (Ranunculaceae, the Crowfoot Family), 1-2 dm in height, yellow flowers, habitat: dry open woods and prairies (102, 103).
Ancient physicians, including Hippocrates and Dioscorides, used various Ranunculus spp. as an external application to remove psora, leprous nails, steatomatous, and other tumors as well as fomentations to chilblains, and toothache. Arabic physicians found it to be a powerful treatment for skin diseases and the Bedouins used them as rubefacients. In Europe, Buttercups were applied to the wrists and fingers to cure intermittent fevers. Early English practitionsers utilized the bulb to produce vesication when a "lasting blister" was believed necessary, but they did not use it internally because of negative reactions such as violent attacks of epilepsy (88, 267).
Recent scientific findings have shown Buttercup contains anemonol and anemoninic acid. Among the components is protoanemonin C5H4O2, which has been found to be an effective antifungal agent. An extract of Buttercup (BE) has been found to inhibit RNA and DNA synthesis by HL-50 promyelocytic leukemia cells. When the cells were exposed to BE for 18 hours, RNA synthesis was dramatically inhibited without loss of cell viability. After a period of 12 to 24 hours the researchers found the RNA level returned. This research warrants further study (174, 267).
Rosa suffulta, Wild Rose, (Rosaceae, the Rose Family), to 5 dm in height, pink flowers, habitat: prairies and plains (102, 103).
Herbalists consider rose hips one of the best sources of Vitamin C and were used to treat colds, flu, and disorders of the urinary tract. They also contain A, K, and many of the B Vitamins. Rose oil acts as an astringent and treats inflammation of the mouth and pharynx. The Chinese have used roses, both fruit and petals, for intestinal and uterine disorders (6, 239, 267).
It is also known to produce 3,5-Diglucoside, 3-glucoside, and quercetin C15H10O7 (169, 238).
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