Abstract
This chapter reviews the correlation between phylogeny, chemical constituents, and pharmaceutical aspects of Ranunculaceae (i.e., a pharmacophylogenetic study of this medicinal family). Phytochemical, ethnopharmacological, and pharmacological information are integrated in the context of systematics and molecular phylogeny of Ranunculaceae. Chemical components of this family include several representative groups: benzylisoquinoline alkaloid, ranunculin, triterpenoid saponin, diterpene alkaloid, etc. Ranunculin and magnoflorine were found to coexist in some genera. The most frequent ethnopharmacological uses are heat-clearing and detoxification, ulcer disease and sores, and as an antimicrobial and antiinflammatory. The most studied bioactivities are anticancer/cytotoxic, antimicrobial, and antiinflammatory activities. Our pharmacophylogenetic analysis, integrated with therapeutic information, agrees with the taxonomy proposed by Wang et al., in which Ranunculaceae is divided into five subfamilies: Ranunculoideae, Thalictroideae, Coptidoideae, Hydrastidoideae, and Glaucidioideae. It is plausible to organize Ranunculoideae into 10 tribes. We review the chemical constituents and therapeutic efficacy of each taxonomic group and reveal the underlying connection between phylogeny, chemical diversity, and clinical use, which facilitate conservation and sustainable utilization of Ranunculaceae pharmaceutical resources.
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