Perennial tall herbaceous plants with large branching roots and alternate, pinnately compound leaves, which are often three- or four-fold. Flowers are in panicle inflorescences, inconspicuous, greenish, with a simple perianth. Numerous stamens on long filaments, protruding from the perianth, several pistils, with fruits being green achenes with longitudinal ridges.
Vasilistniks are widely distributed across the entire forest zone; they grow in meadows, forest edges, sparse forests, and along riverbanks.
Alkaloids have been found in the grass and roots of the studied species. Research continues.
Thalictrum minus L. (Small vasilistnik)
The herb contains alkaloids such as thalmin, thalmidin, thalictremin, and others. The tincture has bactericidal properties. The dichloride of thalictremin was studied as a uterine tonic. Flavonoids and saponins have also been detected.
Thalictrum foetidum L. (Stinky vasilistnik)
Alkaloids (0.4–0.73%) have been found in the herb, the main one being fetidin. Berberine is also present, along with flavonoids (about 1%), including rutin and a new glycoside, glucoramnin, which, when broken down, yields glucose and rhamnetin (the methyl ether of quercetin). Additionally, tannins (1.63%), resins (3.4%), and saponins have been found; the fresh plant contains traces of essential oil. A tincture of vasilistnik herb (1:10 in 700 alcohol) is used in the early stages of hypertension. It is taken in doses of 20 drops 3 times a day.