Ranunculin
Ranunculin is a glycoside found in many members of the buttercup family, including species of Helleborus, Anemone, Clematis and most commonly Ranunculus. Glycosides are common in plants, where they serve as defense mechanisms against herbivores and microorganisms. When plant cell wall structures are damaged, glycosidase enzymes hydrolyze the inactive glycoside into its components- a sugar and practically any other molecule, which is called the aglycone. Ranunculin is a glucoside, which indicates that glucose is the specific sugar attached its aglycone protoanemonin.