The crude extracts and essential oils, obtained from species of Ranunculaceae family selected according to the phytochemical and ethnobotanical data, will be examined on various biological in vitro assays to evaluate their potential antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects in frame of this project. Subsequently, specific active fractions or pure compounds will be isolated and purified using bioassay-guided approach. Traditional analytical (e.g. HPLC, HPLC-MS, GC, GC-MS, NMR) and separation/purification methods (e.g. TLC, CC, MPLC) as well as some modern analytical and separation techniques (e.g. SFE, GCxGC-TOF-MS) will be used to obtain and characterize active fractions or pure compounds.The supposed results of this project could be used by food or pharmaceutical industry for development of new herbal-based nutraceuticals, functional foods, food additives and pharmaceutical or veterinary preparations. GA525/08/1179