Anemone obtusiloba Health Dictionary

D. Don

Synonym: A. pulsatilla Linn.

Family: Ranunculaceae.

Habitat: Native to Europe; thrives in dry grassland in central and northern parts of the continent.

English: Wind-Flower, Wood Anemone, Pasque Flower, Pulsatilla.

Unani: Gul-laalaa, Shaqaaq-un- Nomaan.

Action: Nervine and sedative (used for anxiety neurosis, nervous exhaustion, tension, headache, migraine, insomnia), antispasmodic (in catarrh); used for amenorrhoea, inflammation of ovaries, painful menstruation and genito-urinary infections. The rootstock is given with milk for concussions. The seeds cause vomiting and purging.

The seed oil is used in rheumatism.

Pulsatilla contains ranunculin, which hydrolyzes to a toxic, unstable compound protoanemonin, which readily dimerizes to non-toxic anemonin.

Anemonin and protoanemonin exhibit sedative and antipyretic activity. Protoanemonin is also antimicrobial. (Topically, Pulsatilla is used for infectious diseases of the skin.)