Botany, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Heracleum candicans: A review

Abstract

Heracleum candicans, a perennial herb of the Heracleum genus in the Umbelliferae family, is naturally distributed in Pakistan, northwestern India, as well as Sichuan and Xizang of China. In the Xizang region, its dried roots have long been utilized as a traditional Tibetan medicine. Ethnopharmacologically, it possesses multiple efficacies including insecticidal, hemostatic, wound healing and anti-leprosy effects, and is clinically applied for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases, leprosy, carbuncles, furuncles and other skin ulcers, presenting promising prospects for further exploitation. This article systematically reviews the research advances regarding its morphological characteristics, chemical constituents and pharmacological activities. Modern pharmacological studies have demonstrated that H. candicans is rich in diverse bioactive components. Among them, coumarins are recognized as the predominant active ingredients, which exert extensive pharmacological properties such as anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, bone-protective and skin-repairing effects. The present review summarizes the current research status and existing limitations of H. candicans, aiming to provide a solid scientific basis and valuable references for its further fundamental research, rational development and comprehensive utilization.