Heracleum moellendorffii: A Medicinal Wonder in Your Backyard

Heracleum moellendorffii, commonly referred to as short-haired hogweed, is a variant within the Umbelliferae family’s hogweed genus.

The plant features a conical, substantial root that often branches and exhibits a gray-brown tint. The stem is erect with distinct ridges and grooves, and it branches out towards its upper section.

Morphological Features:

• Root: It has a conical and thick shape, branching out often and showcasing a gray-brown hue. The stem stands upright, characterized by ridges and grooves, and branches out at its upper section.
• Leaf: Leaves are stalked, spanning a length of 10-30 cm. Their silhouette is broadly ovate and membranous in nature. They exhibit a trifoliate division, with their segments ranging from a broad ovate to a heart shape. These segments irregularly split 3-5 times, measuring 10-20 cm in length and 7-18 cm in width. Their edges boast large, sharp serrations that taper to an elongated tip. The petioles of these smaller leaves range from 3-8 cm, while the upper stem leaves have a noticeably expanded sheath.

• Flower: The compound umbel flower arrangement emerges both terminally and laterally. The flower stalk measures between 14-15 cm. It has a few slender, lance-shaped bracts. The rays are 12-30 in number and vary in length, with 5-10 slender lance-shaped secondary bracts. The pedicels are elongated, ranging from 4-20 mm. The calyx teeth aren’t very prominent. The petals are white and come in two types. The base of the flower’s style is short and conical, splitting at the end.
• Fruit: The fruit, termed a mericarp, is round and ovate. Its top is indented, and its back is flat, approximately 8 mm in diameter. It can either be sparsely hairy or nearly smooth. The dorsal and central ridges protrude linearly, while the lateral ridges are broad. Each ridge groove houses one oil duct, and there are two on the commissural face, which are rod-shaped, half the length of the mericarp. The endosperm displays a flat ventral surface.

Distribution Range:

The plant is native to several provinces and regions, thriving alongside shadowed mountain slopes, near forest edges, or within meadows. The type specimen hails from Baihua Mountain in Hebei.

Primary Value:

• Other Names: Northeastern Cow Parsnip, Short-haired Angelica, Buruga.
• Scientific Name: Heracleum moellendorffii Hance (Umbelliferae)
• Medicinal Part Used: The root.
• Collection and Processing: The roots are harvested in spring and autumn. The stems, leaves, and fibrous roots are removed. After being cleaned of soil, they’re dried, sliced, and set aside for future use.
• Pharmacological Properties: The entire plant and its fruits contain coumarins. Injecting mice or rats with furanocoumarin compounds amplifies the anti-convulsive effects of barbiturates and phenobarbital. Moreover, furanocoumarin compounds can reduce rats’ body temperature.