Anti-Inflammatory Compounds From Roots of Heracleum sphondylium subsp. cyclocarpum

Heracleum sphondylium subsp. cyclocarpum (K. Koch) P.H. Davis from Heracleum L. genus, which is one of the widest genera of the Apiaceae family and known as “Hogweed or Tavşancılotu”. This genus has a variety of traditional uses, including treating gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, gynecological, and cognitive disorders, skin problems, rheumatism, and inflammation. In particular, these plants are commonly used for inflammatory diseases. This research aimed to examine in detail the anti-inflammatory properties of Heracleum sphondylium subsp. cyclocarpum roots. Bioactivity-guided fractionation was used to isolate the active compounds. Carrageenan- and prostaglandin E2-induced inflammation models were employed to test the activity. Dichloromethane and methanolic extracts of the plant material were tested for activity and found to be effective in inhibiting inflammation. The subfractions obtained by column chromatography were further evaluated for their activities. The active fractions were used to obtain responsible compounds by using semipreparative HPLC. Five coumarin derivatives were isolated and identified as heraclenol (1), byakangelicin (2), heraclenol-3″-O-β-glucoside (3), byakangelicin-3″-O-β-glucoside (4), and meranzin hydrate III (5). The isolated compounds were investigated for their anti-inflammatory activities, and heraclenol-3″-O-β-glucoside was found to inhibit the carrageenan and prostaglandin E2-induced edema significantly compared to the control group and have higher activity than the extracts.