Phytochemical profile of Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden. biomass as a basis for rational use

Introduction. Sosnowsky's hogweed (Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden.) is a dangerous invasive transformer species widespread in the European part of Russia. The inclusion of the plant in the list of hazardous invasive species from 2026 and the ongoing regional control programs necessitate the rational utilization of its biomass. A detailed study of the phytochemical profile is a key prerequisite for justifying processing prospects.

Aim. To study the phytochemical profile of H. sosnowskyi biomass, including the isolation of furanocoumarins, polysaccharides, and essential oils of pharmaceutical value, to provide a scientific basis for the rational use of this invasive species.

Materials and methods. The objects of the study were the herb and fruits of H. sosnowskyi collected in Perm Krai and Leningrad Oblast in 2024. Furanocoumarins were extracted with n-hexane (Soxhlet apparatus), purified by preparative HPLC; structures were confirmed by UV, NMR, and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Polysaccharide fractions (water-soluble polysaccharides – WSP, pectic substances – PS, hemicelluloses) were obtained by sequential extraction with water, ammonium oxalate, and alkali, then purified using the Sevag method. Yield was assessed gravimetrically, monosaccharide composition by HPTLC, structural features by IR spectroscopy, and molecular weights by size-exclusion chromatography. Essential oil from the fruits was obtained by hydrodistillation (Clevenger apparatus), and its component composition was analyzed by GC-MS.

Results and discussion. Five furanocoumarins – xanthotoxin, psoralen, angelicin, isopimpinellin, and bergapten – were isolated from the aerial part of H. sosnowskyi and identified. The total polysaccharide content in the herb was 4.1 %, with the yield of the PS fraction at 2.3 ± 0.2 % and the WSP fraction at 1.8 ± 0.1 %. The dominant monosaccharide in both fractions was arabinose. The average molecular weight of WSP was ~160 kDa, and PS was ~193 kDa. The yield of essential oil from the fruits was 1.01 ± 0.03 %; the main component was octyl acetate (61.8 %), along with hexyl butyrate (6.4 %), 2-methylhexyl butyrate (6.0 %), and hexyl isobutyrate (5.5 %).

Conclusion. H. sosnowskyi biomass is a promising multicomponent source of biologically active compounds. The proposed integrated processing approach allows the sequential isolation of furanocoumarins (5 compounds) and polysaccharides (4.1 %) from the herb, while the fruits serve as a source of essential oil with high octyl acetate content. These results provide a scientific basis for the rational use of this invasive species for pharmaceutical purposes.

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