Heracleum maximum
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID6440470d7bf48706976537 |
| Scientific name | Heracleum maximum |
| Authority | W.Bartram |
| First published in | Travels Carolina : 344 (1791) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Heracleum maximum, commonly called American cow parsnip, has been recorded in several Native American traditions as a medicinal plant. The Cherokee of the southeastern United States prepared a mild leaf infusion to relieve sore throat and cold symptoms (Moerman, 1998). The Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) of the northeastern woodlands made a decoction of the root for digestive upset and dysentery (Moerman, 1998). Along the Pacific Northwest, the Tlingit and other coastal peoples used fresh leaves as a poultice on bruises, wounds, and skin irritations (Moore, 2003). In each case the preparation involved either an infusion or decoction of the aerial parts, a macerated root, or a direct poultice.
One widely cited preparation is the leaf tea employed by the Cherokee. To make a mild tea, place 2 g of dried leaves (about 1–2 teaspoons) in a cup of 240 ml freshly boiled water. Cover and steep for 5–10 minutes, then strain. The infusion is consumed warm, 1–2 cups per day. Because the plant contains phototoxic furanocoumarins, avoid applying the fresh leaves to skin that will be exposed to sunlight and limit use to short‑term, no more than two weeks without a break. Pregnant or nursing individuals should refrain from using this tea, and children under twelve should not use the preparation without professional guidance. Dried leaf material is preferred, as it reduces the concentration of photosensitizing compounds compared with fresh foliage.
Phytochemical analyses of Heracleum maximum have consistently identified furanocoumarins such as bergapten, xanthotoxin and imperatorin, which are known for their skin‑photosensitizing and anti‑inflammatory activity (WHO, 2009). The herb also contains flavonoids like quercetin and kaempferol, as well as phenolic acids, and a volatile oil rich in limonene, α‑pinene and myrcene (Miller et al., 2015). These constituents plausibly underlie the traditional anti‑spasmodic, antimicrobial and soothing effects reported in ethnobotanical accounts.
Recent pharmacological studies have examined furanocoumarins from cow‑parsnip for dermatologic applications such as treating psoriasis, and the plant remains a minor component of niche herbal preparations sold by specialty growers in the Pacific Northwest and online. While commercial products are limited, small‑scale herbalists continue to collect the dried root for tinctures and the fresh leaves for occasional topical poultices, maintaining a link with centuries‑old Indigenous practices.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
Young shoots and leaf stalks, harvested in early spring, are cooked and used as a vegetable in soups, stews, or fried dishes. Mature stems provide bast fibers that can be processed into cordage and rope.
Industrial and craft applications:
Bast fibers are extracted from stems by retting and scutching, yielding a rope‑making material historically used for twine, netting, and simple rope by Indigenous peoples of North America. The fibers consist of approximately 70–80 % cellulose and 10–15 % lignin on a dry‑weight basis, giving high tensile strength comparable to other bast fibers. The plant’s sap is a source of furanocoumarin compounds (e.g., bergapten, xanthotoxin) that serve as standard reference materials in laboratory studies of phototoxic mechanisms.
Food and beverages (non‑medicinal):
After removing outer leaves, the young shoots and leaf stalks are boiled or steamed and consumed as a cooked vegetable. Thorough cooking is required to inactivate the furanocoumarins present in the sap; raw consumption is not recommended. The plant is not used for beverages.
Wood and fiber:
Heracleum maximum is an herbaceous species and does not produce timber. The bast fibers from the stems constitute the primary usable fiber product.
Properties relevant to use:
The bast fibers’ high cellulose content and moderate lignin ratio result in strong, flexible fibers suitable for cordage. The seed oil is rich in linoleic acid (≈60–70 % of total fatty acids) and has a low iodine value, indicating non‑drying oil characteristics useful for analytical studies. Furanocoumarins in the sap are phototoxic compounds that are employed in research to investigate photodermatitis and related biological pathways.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Heracleum douglasii | DC. | Prodr. 4: 193 (1830) |
| Heracleum inperpastum | Koidz. | Acta Phytotax. Geobot. 8: 53 (1939) |
| Heracleum sphondylium subsp. lanatum | (Michx.) Á.Löve & D.Löve | Taxon 31(2): 350 (1982):. |
| Heracleum lanatum var. asiaticum | Hiroe, H.dulce Fisch. | |
| Sphondylium lanatum | Greene | Man. Bot. San Francisco : 157 (1894) |
| Pastinaca lanata | (Michx.) Koso-Pol. | Bull. Soc. Imp. Naturalistes Moscou , n.s., 29: 113 (1915 publ. 1916) |
| Heracleum sphondylium var. lanatum | (Michx.) Dorn | Vasc. Pl. Wyoming : 295 (1988) |
| Heracleum tsurugisanense | Honda | |
| Heracleum sphondylium var. tsurugisanense | (Honda) H.Ohba | J. Jap. Bot. 69: 119 (1994) |
| Heracleum auritum | Bisch. | Index Seminum [Heidelberg] 4. 1839 [28 Feb 1839] |
| Heracleum dulce | Fisch. | Index Seminum [St.Petersburg (Petropolitanus)] 9, Suppl.: 23. 1844 [25 Jan 1844] |
| Heracleum lanatum | Michx. | Fl. Bor.-Amer. (Michaux) vol. 1: 166. 1803 [19 Mar 1803] |
| Heracleum sphondylium f. dissectum | H.Ohba | J. Jap. Bot. 69: 119 (1994) |
| Heracleum sphondylium f. rubriflorum | H.Ohba | J. Jap. Bot. 69: 119 (1994) |
| Heracleum lanatum f. dissectum | (H.Ohba) T.Yamaz. | J. Jap. Bot. 76(6): 320 (2001). |
| Heracleum lanatum f. rubriflorum | (H.Ohba) T.Yamaz. | J. Jap. Bot. 76(6): 320 (2001). |
| Heracleum turugisanense | Honda | Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 57: 108 (1943) |
| Heracleum barbatum var. turugisanense | (Honda) M.Hiroe | Acta Phytotax. Geobot. 14: 5 (1949) |
| Heracleum moellendorffii var. turugisanense | (Honda) Ohwi | Bull. Natl. Sci. Mus. Tokyo 33: 81 (1953) |
| Heracleum lanatum subsp. asiaticum | M.Hiroe | Acta Phytotax. Geobot. 14: 4 (1949) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | common cowparsnip |
| English | cow parsnip |
| English | american cow-parsnip |
| English | indian celery |
| English | indian rhubarb |
| English | pushki |
| Arabic | هرقلية صوفية |
| French | berce laineuse |
| French | heracleum lanatum |
| Croatian | heracleum lanatum |
| Japanese | オオハナウド |
| nv | azeeʼ haagaii |
| Ukrainian | Борщівник велетенський |
| Vietnamese | heracleum lanatum |
| Chinese | 北美独活 |
Germination/Propagation Top
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No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
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Asia-temperate click to expand
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Eastern Asia
- Japan
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Russian Far East
- Kamchatka
- Khabarovsk
- Kuril Islands
- Sakhalin
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Eastern Asia
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Northern America click to expand
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Eastern Canada
- Labrador
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland
- Nova Scotia
- Ontario
- Prince Edward Island
- Québec
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North-central U.S.A.
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Wisconsin
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Northeastern U.S.A.
- Connecticut
- Indiana
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- West Virginia
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Northwestern U.S.A.
- Colorado
- Idaho
- Montana
- Oregon
- Washington
- Wyoming
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South-central U.S.A.
- New Mexico
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Southeastern U.S.A.
- Delaware
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- North Carolina
- Tennessee
- Virginia
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Southwestern U.S.A.
- Arizona
- California
- Nevada
- Utah
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Subarctic America
- Alaska
- Aleutian Islands
- Northwest Territorie
- Yukon
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Western Canada
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- Saskatchewan
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Eastern Canada
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0001068396 |
| Canadensys | 2583 |
| USDA Plants | HEMA80 |
| Tropicos | 1702106 |
| INPN | 761992 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:843087-1 |
| The Plant List | tro-1702106 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 903092 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 40918 |
| Nature Serve | 2.139324 |
| IUCN Red List | 64314237 |
| IPNI | 843087-1 |
| iNaturalist | 53094 |
| GBIF | 3034826 |
| Freebase | /m/02nhn_ |
| WisFlora | 13072 |
| FEIS | plants/forb/hermax |
| EPPO | HERMA |
| Calflora (Californian flora) | 9546 |
| USDA GRIN | 319139 |
| Wikipedia | Heracleum_maximum |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:978093-1 |
| IPNI | 978093-1 |
| GBIF | 11963581 |
| UNII | 72QK05Z3A0 |
| Canadensys | 10042 |
| Tropicos | 1700134 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:120614-2 |
| The Plant List | tro-1700134 |
| Observations.org | 131277 |
| IPNI | 1211240-2 |
| GBIF | 3034828 |
| Freebase | /m/02nhn_ |
| EPPO | HERLA |
| EOL | 489575 |
| USDA GRIN | 18895 |
| Wikipedia | Heracleum_lanatum |
| Tropicos | 50191110 |
| INPN | 613825 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:978092-1 |
| IPNI | 978092-1 |
| CMAUP | NPO12730 |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
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Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Eicosanoids / Prostaglandins and related compounds | |||||
| 8-[(1R,5S)-4-oxo-5-[(Z)-pent-2-enyl]cyclopent-2-en-1-yl]octanoic acid | 14037060 | Click to see | 292.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty alcohol esters | |||||
| Neryl isovalerate | 6429039 | Click to see CC(C)CC(=O)OCC=C(C)CCC=C(C)C | 238.37 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| (3S,6E)-Nerolidol | 5281525 | Click to see CC(=CCCC(=CCCC(C)(C=C)O)C)C | 222.37 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 9-Oxonerolidol | 73331190 | Click to see | 236.35 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Eudesmane, isoeudesmane or cycloeudesmane sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| (2R,4aR,8aR)-1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,8a-Octahydro-4a,8-dimethyl-alpha-methylene-2-naphthaleneacetic acid | 168796 | Click to see | 234.33 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 2-[(2R,4aS,8aR)-4a,8-dimethyl-6-oxo-1,2,3,4,5,8a-hexahydronaphthalen-2-yl]prop-2-enoic acid | 26087990 | Click to see CC1=CC(=O)CC2(C1CC(CC2)C(=C)C(=O)O)C | 248.32 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Costic acid | 6451579 | Click to see CC12CCCC(=C)C1CC(CC2)C(=C)C(=O)O | 234.33 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Germacrane sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| Germacrene D | 5317570 | Click to see CC1=CCCC(=C)C=CC(CC1)C(C)C | 204.35 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Himachalane and lippifoliane sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| beta-Himachalol | 12310488 | Click to see | 222.37 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene lactones | |||||
| 1-epi-Tatridin B | 7605278 | Click to see | 264.32 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Tamirin | 10106765 | Click to see | 262.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| tatridin B | 14191260 | Click to see CC1=CC(C2C(CC(=C)C(CC1)O)OC(=O)C2=C)O | 264.32 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene lactones / Sesquiterpene lactones / Eudesmanolides, secoeudesmanolides, and derivatives | |||||
| [(3aR,4S,4aS,5S,8R,8aR,9aS)-5,8-dihydroxy-5,8a-dimethyl-3-methylidene-2-oxo-3a,4,4a,6,7,8,9,9a-octahydrobenzo[f][1]benzofuran-4-yl] (Z)-2-methylbut-2-enoate | 101967035 | Click to see | 364.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Chrysanin | 101316713 | Click to see CC=C(C)C(=O)OC1C2C(CC3(C1C(=C)CCC3O)C)OC(=O)C2=C | 346.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene lactones / Sesquiterpene lactones / Germacranolides and derivatives | |||||
| (3aS,6E,9R,10E,11aR)-9-hydroxy-6,10-dimethyl-3-methylidene-3a,4,5,8,9,11a-hexahydrocyclodeca[b]furan-2-one | 12443214 | Click to see | 248.32 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| tatridin A | 14466151 | Click to see CC1=CC(C2C(C=C(C(CC1)O)C)OC(=O)C2=C)O | 264.32 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives | |||||
| gamma-Sitosterol | 457801 | Click to see | 414.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Alcohols and polyols / Secondary alcohols | |||||
| Allohimachalol | 10585158 | Click to see | 222.37 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbonyl compounds / Ketones | |||||
| (4aR,9aR)-4,4,6,9a-tetramethyl-1,2,3,4a,7,8-hexahydrobenzo[7]annulen-9-one | 10536930 | Click to see | 220.35 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Benzofurans | |||||
| Bisabolangelone | 12300142 | Click to see | 248.32 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Coumaric acids and derivatives | |||||
| 2-Propenoic acid, 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-, 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl ester, (E)-; 4-Hydroxyphenethyl trans-ferulate | 20979927 | Click to see | 314.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.30.4554 |
| p-Hydroxyphenethyl trans-ferulate | 637308 | Click to see COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)C=CC(=O)OCCC2=CC=C(C=C2)O)O | 314.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.30.4554 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids | |||||
| 3-(4-Hydroxy-3-Methoxyphenyl)Prop-2-Enoic Acid | 709 | Click to see | 194.18 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(82)85180-7 |
| 4-Coumaric acid | 322 | Click to see | 164.16 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(82)85180-7 |
| Ferulic Acid | 445858 | Click to see | 194.18 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(82)85180-7 |
| P-Coumaric Acid | 637542 | Click to see | 164.16 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(82)85180-7 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives | |||||
| 7-Isopent-enyloxycoumarin | 129819481 | Click to see | 230.26 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/BPB.25.244 |
| 7-Prenyloxycoumarin | 320362 | Click to see | 230.26 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1248/CPB.30.4554 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Furanocoumarins / Angular furanocoumarins | |||||
| 2H-Furo(2,3-h)-1-benzopyran-2-one, 8,9-dihydro-9-hydroxy-8-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)- | 159015 | Click to see | 262.26 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(82)85180-7 |
| 9-Hydroxy-8-[2-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxypropan-2-yl]-8,9-dihydrofuro[2,3-h]chromen-2-one | 5245822 | Click to see CC(C)(C1C(C2=C(O1)C=CC3=C2OC(=O)C=C3)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O | 424.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(82)85180-7 |
| Apterin | 57459455 | Click to see CC(C)(C1C(C2=C(O1)C=CC3=C2OC(=O)C=C3)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O | 424.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(82)85180-7 |
| Isobergapten | 68082 | Click to see | 216.19 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)85242-5 |
| Pimpinellin | 4825 | Click to see | 246.21 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00993733 |
| Sphondin | 108104 | Click to see COC1=C2C(=C3C(=C1)C=CC(=O)O3)C=CO2 | 216.19 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Vaginidiol | 11817856 | Click to see CC(C)(C1C(C2=C(O1)C=CC3=C2OC(=O)C=C3)O)O | 262.26 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(82)85180-7 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Furanocoumarins / Psoralens | |||||
| 4-(2,3-Dihydroxy-3-methylbutoxy)furo(3,2-g)chromen-7-one | 483513 | Click to see | 304.29 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Isoimperatorin | 68081 | Click to see | 270.28 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Isooxypeucedanin | 625383 | Click to see | 286.28 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Pangelin | 44144315 | Click to see | 286.28 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Psoralen | 6199 | Click to see | 186.16 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Furanocoumarins / Psoralens / 5-methoxypsoralens | |||||
| Bergapten | 2355 | Click to see COC1=C2C=CC(=O)OC2=CC3=C1C=CO3 | 216.19 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Phellopterin | 98608 | Click to see CC(=CCOC1=C2C(=C(C3=C1OC(=O)C=C3)OC)C=CO2)C | 300.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00993733 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Furanocoumarins / Psoralens / 8-methoxypsoralens | |||||
| Isopimpinellin | 68079 | Click to see COC1=C2C=COC2=C(C3=C1C=CC(=O)O3)OC | 246.21 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Methoxsalen | 4114 | Click to see COC1=C2C(=CC3=C1OC=C3)C=CC(=O)O2 | 216.19 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01014095 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Hydroxycoumarins / 7-hydroxycoumarins | |||||
| Scopoletin | 5280460 | Click to see | 192.17 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(82)85180-7 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 7-O-methylated flavonoids | |||||
| Salvigenin | 161271 | Click to see | 328.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / Pyranoisoflavonoids | |||||
| Psoralenol | 5320772 | Click to see CC1(C(CC2=C(O1)C=CC(=C2)C3=COC4=C(C3=O)C=CC(=C4)O)O)C | 338.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |