A anti-microbial composition includes an effective amount of an extract of a plant of the Ranunculaceae family, a surfactant, and optionally an essential oil. To disinfect an object using the anti-microbial composition, the anti-microbial composition is brought into contact with the object. The composition of the invention may be used in the form of packaged towelettes, which are saturated with the composition of the invention. The composition is effective in disinfecting objects contaminated with anthrax, pneumococci, straphylococci, streptococci, tuberculi and a variety of fungi.