Ranunculus bulbosus
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID643fff9b301c8375901272 |
| Scientific name | Ranunculus bulbosus |
| Authority | L. |
| First published in | Sp. Pl. : 554 (1753) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Traditional use of Ranunculus bulbosus (bulbous buttercup) as an external irritant is recorded across several European folk traditions. English herbalists reported that fresh leaves, when bruised, were applied as a warm poultice to relieve rheumatic aches (Grieve, 1931). Swiss Alpine healers crushed the aerial parts and packed the mixture onto bruises or sprains, believing the irritation would draw blood to the area and speed healing (Ludwig, 1969). In the Basque Country of western Spain and southern France, the leaf paste was used on contusions and for the treatment of superficial skin inflammation (Heinrich et al., 2004). The plant material employed in all three contexts is the fresh above‑ground foliage, often collected in early summer when the leaves are tender.
A classic preparation that can be reproduced safely in small amounts is a fresh‑leaf poultice. Roughly 30 g of freshly harvested Ranunculus bulbosus leaves are washed, patted dry, and finely chopped or bruised in a mortar. The resulting pulp is spread onto a clean cotton cloth, applied to the affected area, and left in place for 10–15 minutes. Because the plant contains the glycoside ranunculin, which converts to the irritating compound proto‑anemonin when tissue is damaged, the compress should not be used on broken skin, should not exceed 15 minutes of contact, and must be washed off promptly with soap and water. Pregnant or nursing individuals and children under five should avoid this remedy altogether.
The pharmacological basis for the external irritation is well documented. Phytochemical analyses of Ranunculus bulbosus have repeatedly identified the glycoside ranunculin, the sesquiterpene lactone proto‑anemonin (formed upon enzymatic hydrolysis), as well as flavonoid glycosides such as quercetin‑3‑O‑glucoside and phenolic acids including caffeic acid (Kumar et al., 2018). Ranunculin/proto‑anemonin are responsible for the rubefacient effect, while the flavonoids may contribute modest anti‑inflammatory activity.
Contemporary interest remains modest because of the plant’s irritant profile, but recent in‑vitro studies have examined its anti‑inflammatory potential at sub‑toxic concentrations. Small‑batch tinctures are occasionally sold by niche herbal companies, and the poultice continues to be employed by a handful of traditional practitioners in Alpine and Basque communities who value its rapid counter‑irritant action. Ongoing phytochemical work aims to isolate less irritating analogues for future topical formulations.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
Bulbous buttercup (Ranunculus bulbosus) is cultivated as an ornamental herbaceous perennial for its bright yellow, cup‑shaped flowers. It is sold by commercial nurseries in pots or as seed and is listed in horticultural catalogs such as the Royal Horticultural Society Plant Finder. The species is used in garden borders, rock gardens, naturalistic meadow plantings, and school‑yard gardens to illustrate flower morphology, pollination, and plant life cycles. Selected cultivars are offered for traits including larger flowers, longer bloom periods, and compact habit.
Properties relevant to use:
The plant’s tissues contain ranunculin, a glucoside that hydrolyses to the irritant lactone protoanemonin. This chemical property causes skin and mucous‑membrane irritation and therefore requires protective handling by growers; it also limits any processing that could release the compound. Flower colour derives from flavonoid pigments (e.g., flavonols) that give the characteristic yellow hue, but these pigments are not extracted commercially for natural dyes because of limited stability and safety concerns. Growth characteristics include a tuberous rootstock, moderate vigour, and occasional self‑seeding in suitable habitats, which influence spacing recommendations, propagation methods, and seed‑collection timing.
Sustainability and sourcing:
Ranunculus bulbosus is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List and is widely distributed across Europe and western Asia, indicating a stable population. Commercial supply is derived from cultivated stock propagated by division or seed; wild harvesting is uncommon because of the plant’s toxicity and limited ornamental value in natural settings. Cultivation has moderate water and nutrient demands and no documented invasive behaviour outside its native range, making it a low‑impact ornamental species.
Scientific/model‑organism use:
The species serves as a reference taxon in molecular phylogenetic studies of the Ranunculaceae family, providing data for investigations of flower evolution, inflorescence diversity, and petal initiation using ITS and plastid markers. Leaf and flower tissue has been employed in developmental‑biology research on floral symmetry and petal formation; expressed‑sequence‑tag (EST) libraries from these tissues are deposited in public databases (e.g., NCBI) to support comparative genomics. Specimens are housed in major herbaria (e.g., K, GH) and are used as voucher material for floristic surveys and for training in plant identification.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Ranunculus cibiniensis | Schur | Enum. Pl. Transsilv. : 22 (1866) |
| Ranunculus heucherifolius | C.Presl | Fl. Sicul. : 15 (1826) |
| Ranunculus anemonerhizos | Coincy | J. Bot. (Morot) 12: 1 (1898) |
| Ranunculus rapaceus | Bubani | Fl. Pyren. 3: 386 (1901) |
| Ranunculastrum sparsipilum | Fourr. | Ann. Soc. Linn. Lyon , n.s., 16: 324 (1868) |
| Ranunculastrum valdepubens | Fourr. | Ann. Soc. Linn. Lyon , n.s., 17: 194 (1869) |
| Ranunculastrum albonaevum | Fourr. | Ann. Soc. Linn. Lyon , n.s., 17: 194 (1869) |
| Ranunculastrum bulbiferum | Fourr. | Ann. Soc. Linn. Lyon , n.s., 17: 194 (1869) |
| Ranunculastrum bulbosum | Fourr. | Ann. Soc. Linn. Lyon , n.s., 16: 324 (1868) |
| Ranunculus albonaevus | Jord. | Ann. Soc. Linn. Lyon , n.s., 7: 449 (1861) |
| Ranunculus brachiatus | Schleich. | Cat. Pl. Helv. , ed. 3: 24 (1815) |
| Ranunculus bulbifer | Jord. | Ann. Soc. Linn. Lyon , n.s., 7: 448 (1861) |
| Ranunculus valdepubens | Jord. | Ann. Soc. Linn. Lyon , n.s., 7: 450 (1861) |
| Ranunculus villiferus | Jord. | Diagn. Esp. Nouv. : 82 (1864) |
| Ranunculus sparsipilus | Jord. | Ann. Soc. Linn. Lyon , n.s., 7: 448 (1861) |
| Ranunculus sennenii | Pau | Bol. Soc. Aragonesa Ci. Nat. 6: 24 (1907) |
| Ranunculus pseudoaleae | Rouy | Fl. France 6: 460 (1900) |
| Ranunculus bulbosus var. valdepubens | Briq. | |
| Ranunculus bulbosus var. dissectus | Babey | |
| Ranunculus hornemannii | Schlecht. | Animadv. Bot. Ranunc. Cand. 2: 36 (1820) |
| Ranunculus bulbosus f. linearis | F.Seym. | Fl. New England , ed. 2: 270 (1982) |
| Ranunculus bulbosus subsp. cacuminalis | (G.López) Muñoz Garm. | Anales Jard. Bot. Madrid 41: 477 (1984 publ. 1985) |
| Ranunculus bulbosus var. osiae | P.Monts. ex G.López | Anales Jard. Bot. Madrid 41: 474 (1984 publ. 1985) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | st. anthony's turnip |
| English | bulbous buttercup |
| Spanish | hierba velluda |
| Spanish | ranunculo bulboso |
| Spanish | ranúnculo bulboso |
| Arabic | حوذان بصيلي |
| Belarusian | Казялец клубняносны |
| Czech | pryskyřník hlíznatý |
| Welsh | blodyn menyn bondew |
| Welsh | blodyn ymenyn bondew |
| Welsh | crafanc orweddol |
| Welsh | egyllt ymlusgol |
| Welsh | chwys mair |
| Danish | knold-ranunkel |
| German | knolliger hahnenfuss |
| German | knolliger hahnenfuß |
| Esperanto | bulba ranunkolo |
| Estonian | mugultulikas |
| Basque | urrebotoi |
| Persian | رنانکولوس بالبوسس |
| Finnish | mäkileinikki |
| French | renoncule bulbeuse |
| Irish | tuile thalún |
| Upper Sorbian | dulkata maslenka |
| Hungarian | hagymás boglárka |
| Hungarian | gumós boglárka |
| Indonesian | yolanda umbi |
| Italian | ranuncolo bulboso |
| Japanese | タマキンポウゲ |
| Cornish | paw bran bollennus |
| li | knolbótterbloom |
| Lithuanian | gumbuotasis vėdrynas |
| Latvian | sīpoliņu gundega |
| Macedonian | луковичесто лутиче |
| Norwegian Bokmål | knollsoleie |
| Dutch | knolboterbloem |
| Polish | jaskier bulwkowy |
| Russian | Лютик клубненосный |
| Russian | Лютик луковичный |
| Slovak | iskerník hľuznatý |
| Slovenian | gomoljasta zlatica |
| Swedish | knölsmörblomma |
| Turkish | düğmeli çinginotu |
Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Ranunculus bulbosus subsp. aleae | (Willk.) Rouy & Foucaud | Fl. France 1: 106. 1893 (1893) |
| Ranunculus bulbosus subsp. castellanus | (Boiss. & Reut. ex Freyn) P.W.Ball & Heywood | Feddes Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 66: 151 (1962) |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!| Sow seeds at 20°C, expecting germination within 3 months without further temperature treatment. |
| Sow seeds immediately as their viability decreases rapidly, or they best germinate when fresh. If stored, seeds might need temperature cycling and patience to germinate. |
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
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Africa click to expand
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Macaronesia
- Azores
- Madeira
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Northern Africa
- Algeria
- Egypt
- Morocco
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Macaronesia
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Asia-temperate click to expand
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Caucasus
- North Caucasus
- Transcaucasus
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Eastern Asia
- Japan
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Middle Asia
- Tadzhikistan
- Uzbekistan
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Western Asia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Turkey
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Caucasus
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Australasia click to expand
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New Zealand
- New Zealand North
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New Zealand
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Europe click to expand
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Eastern Europe
- Baltic States
- Belarus
- Central European Russia
- Krym
- Northwest European Russia
- Ukraine
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Middle Europe
- Austria
- Belgium
- Czechoslovakia
- Germany
- Hungary
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Switzerland
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Northern Europe
- Denmark
- Finland
- Great Britain
- Ireland
- Norway
- Sweden
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Southeastern Europe
- Albania
- Bulgaria
- Italy
- Sicilia
- Turkey-in-Europe
- Yugoslavia
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Southwestern Europe
- Baleares
- Corse
- France
- Portugal
- Sardegna
- Spain
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Eastern Europe
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Northern America click to expand
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Eastern Canada
- Newfoundland
- Nova Scotia
- Ontario
- Québec
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North-central U.S.A.
- Illinois
- Kansas
- Missouri
- Nebraska
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Northeastern U.S.A.
- Connecticut
- Indiana
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- West Virginia
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Northwestern U.S.A.
- Oregon
- Washington
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Southeastern U.S.A.
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Delaware
- District Of Columbia
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Virginia
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Southwestern U.S.A.
- California
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Western Canada
- British Columbia
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Eastern Canada
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Southern America click to expand
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Western South America
- Bolivia
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Western South America
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000461562 |
| UNII | AEQ8NXJ0MB |
| Flora of Alabama | 3055 |
| Canadensys | 8504 |
| USDA Plants | RABU |
| Tropicos | 27100144 |
| INPN | 116952 |
| Flora of Italy | 1107 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:712367-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-2524688 |
| PFAF | Ranunculus bulbosus |
| Open Tree Of Life | 784354 |
| Observations.org | 7292 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 74828 |
| NBN Atlas | NBNSYS0000002710 |
| Nature Serve | 2.151950 |
| IPNI | 712367-1 |
| iNaturalist | 78820 |
| GBIF | 3033329 |
| Freebase | /m/08wwdk |
| EPPO | RANBU |
| EOL | 473783 |
| Calflora (Californian flora) | 7031 |
| USDA GRIN | 30817 |
| Wikipedia | Ranunculus_bulbosus |
| CMAUP | NPO13869 |
| Plantarium | 31275 |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
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Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids | |||||
| (3S,5R,8R,9R,10R,13R,14R,17R)-17-[(4E)-6-hydroxy-6-methylhepta-1,4-dien-2-yl]-4,4,8,10,14-pentamethyl-2,3,5,6,7,9,11,12,13,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol | 9955042 | Click to see | 442.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Diosgenin | 99474 | Click to see CC1CCC2(C(C3C(O2)CC4C3(CCC5C4CC=C6C5(CCC(C6)O)C)C)C)OC1 | 414.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Yamogenin | 441900 | Click to see | 414.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Steroidal glycosides / Steroidal saponins | |||||
| (2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-2-[(2R,3S,4S,5R,6R)-4-hydroxy-6-[(1S,2S,3'S,4S,5'R,6S,7S,8R,9S,12S,13R,16S)-3'-hydroxy-5'-(hydroxymethyl)-7,9,13-trimethylspiro[5-oxapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,9.04,8.013,18]icos-18-ene-6,2'-oxane]-16-yl]oxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-5-[(2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-3-yl]oxy-6-methyloxane-3,4,5-triol | 102155845 | Click to see CC1C2C(CC3C2(CCC4C3CC=C5C4(CCC(C5)OC6C(C(C(C(O6)CO)OC7C(C(C(C(O7)C)O)O)O)O)OC8C(C(C(C(O8)C)O)O)O)C)C)OC19C(CC(CO9)CO)O | 901.00 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-2-[(2R,3S,4S,5R,6R)-4-hydroxy-6-[(1S,2S,3'S,4S,5'S,6S,7S,8R,9S,12S,13R,16S)-3'-hydroxy-5'-(hydroxymethyl)-7,9,13-trimethylspiro[5-oxapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,9.04,8.013,18]icos-18-ene-6,2'-oxane]-16-yl]oxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-5-[(2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-3-yl]oxy-6-methyloxane-3,4,5-triol | 102155844 | Click to see | 901.00 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-2-[(2S,3R,4S,5R,6S)-4,5-dihydroxy-6-[(2R,3S,4S,5R,6R)-4-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-6-[(1S,2S,4S,5'S,6S,7S,8R,9S,12S,13R,16S)-5',7,9,13-tetramethylspiro[5-oxapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,9.04,8.013,18]icos-18-ene-6,2'-oxane]-16-yl]oxy-5-[(2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-3-yl]oxy-2-methyloxan-3-yl]oxy-6-methyloxane-3,4,5-triol | 16204183 | Click to see | 1015.20 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-2-[(2S,3R,4S,5R,6S)-6-[(2R,3S,4R,5R,6R)-4,5-dihydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-6-[(1S,2S,4S,5'R,6R,7S,8R,9S,12S,13R,16S)-5',7,9,13-tetramethylspiro[5-oxapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,9.04,8.013,18]icos-18-ene-6,2'-oxane]-16-yl]oxyoxan-3-yl]oxy-4,5-dihydroxy-2-methyloxan-3-yl]oxy-6-methyloxane-3,4,5-triol | 21603983 | Click to see CC1CCC2(C(C3C(O2)CC4C3(CCC5C4CC=C6C5(CCC(C6)OC7C(C(C(C(O7)CO)OC8C(C(C(C(O8)C)OC9C(C(C(C(O9)C)O)O)O)O)O)O)O)C)C)C)OC1 | 869.00 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-2-[(2S,3R,4S,5R,6S)-6-[(2R,3S,4R,5R,6R)-4,5-dihydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-6-[(1S,2S,4S,5'S,6R,7S,8R,9S,12S,13R,16S)-5',7,9,13-tetramethylspiro[5-oxapentacyclo[10.8.0.02,9.04,8.013,18]icos-18-ene-6,2'-oxane]-16-yl]oxyoxan-3-yl]oxy-4,5-dihydroxy-2-methyloxan-3-yl]oxy-6-methyloxane-3,4,5-triol | 16204068 | Click to see CC1CCC2(C(C3C(O2)CC4C3(CCC5C4CC=C6C5(CCC(C6)OC7C(C(C(C(O7)CO)OC8C(C(C(C(O8)C)OC9C(C(C(C(O9)C)O)O)O)O)O)O)O)C)C)C)OC1 | 869.00 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (3beta,25S)-Spirost-5-en-3-yl 2-O-(6-deoxy-alpha-L-mannopyranosyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside | 441901 | Click to see | 722.90 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 3-O-[alpha-L-ramnopyranosyl(1 to 2)]-O-[alpha-L-ramnopyranosyl(1 to 4)]-O-beta-D-galactopyranosid(1)]-(25S)-spirost-5-ene-3beta-ol | 10653210 | Click to see | 869.00 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Asperin | 21603986 | Click to see | 1015.20 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| CID 16204180 | 16204180 | Click to see | 722.90 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| CID 16204181 | 16204181 | Click to see | 869.00 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Dioscin | 119245 | Click to see CC1CCC2(C(C3C(O2)CC4C3(CCC5C4CC=C6C5(CCC(C6)OC7C(C(C(C(O7)CO)OC8C(C(C(C(O8)C)O)O)O)O)OC9C(C(C(C(O9)C)O)O)O)C)C)C)OC1 | 869.00 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Methylprotodioscin | 11263254 | Click to see CC1C2C(CC3C2(CCC4C3CC=C5C4(CCC(C5)OC6C(C(C(C(O6)CO)OC7C(C(C(C(O7)C)O)O)O)O)OC8C(C(C(C(O8)C)O)O)O)C)C)OC1(CCC(C)COC9C(C(C(C(O9)CO)O)O)O)OC | 1063.20 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Progenin II | 44429638 | Click to see CC1CCC2(C(C3C(O2)CC4C3(CCC5C4CC=C6C5(CCC(C6)OC7C(C(C(C(O7)CO)OC8C(C(C(C(O8)C)O)O)O)O)O)C)C)C)OC1 | 722.90 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Prosapogenin A | 11061578 | Click to see | 722.90 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Protodioscin | 441891 | Click to see CC1C2C(CC3C2(CCC4C3CC=C5C4(CCC(C5)OC6C(C(C(C(O6)CO)OC7C(C(C(C(O7)C)O)O)O)O)OC8C(C(C(C(O8)C)O)O)O)C)C)OC1(CCC(C)COC9C(C(C(C(O9)CO)O)O)O)O | 1049.20 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Pseudoprotodioscin | 21637110 | Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C(OC(C(C2O)OC3C(C(C(C(O3)C)O)O)O)OC4CCC5(C6CCC7(C(C6CC=C5C4)CC8C7C(=C(O8)CCC(C)COC9C(C(C(C(O9)CO)O)O)O)C)C)C)CO)O)O)O | 1031.20 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Trigonelloside C | 441899 | Click to see | 1049.20 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Trillin | 11827970 | Click to see | 576.80 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives | |||||
| (-)-beta-Sitosterol | 222284 | Click to see | 414.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Sitogluside | 5742590 | Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)O)O)O)C)C)C(C)C | 576.80 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / O-glycosyl compounds | |||||
| 4-O-beta-D-mannopyranosyl-alpha-D-mannopyranose | 5288769 | Click to see C(C1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C(OC(C(C2O)O)O)CO)O)O)O)O | 342.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Gal(a1-6)a-Man | 11724912 | Click to see C(C1C(C(C(C(O1)OCC2C(C(C(C(O2)O)O)O)O)O)O)O)O | 342.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Oligosaccharides | |||||
| beta-D-Manp-(1->4)-beta-D-Manp-(1->4)-beta-D-Manp | 5287808 | Click to see C(C1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C(OC(C(C2O)O)OC3C(OC(C(C3O)O)O)CO)CO)O)O)O)O | 504.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Dihydrofurans / Furanones / Butenolides | |||||
| Protoanemonin | 66948 | Click to see C=C1C=CC(=O)O1 | 96.08 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/PTR.2650070107 |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |