The genus Heracleum comprises over 120 species and is among the largest genera within the Apiaceae family, widely distributed across the Northern Hemisphere, primarily in Asia and the Eurasian region.

Hogweeds are typically tall or dwarf monocarpic perennial herbs. They feature simple, lobed, or pinnate leaves—sometimes biternate—which may be hairy or glabrous. Their inflorescences consist of umbelliform cymes. Flowers have symmetrical or zygomorphic white, greenish-white, or pale pink petals. Fruits are dry, flattened, spiny or small oval glabrous two-winged mericarps.

Golpar, or Persian hogweed (Heracleum persicum), is a perennial herb generally growing 50–120 cm tall, with straight red-brown stems densely hairy at the base. Leaves are alternate with blunt-toothed margins, glabrous, and pinnate. Flowers are pale white, each with five petals and five stamens. Fruits are ridged schizocarps, obovate in shape.

Heracleum species—especially H. persicum—are traditionally significant medicinal plants as well as culinary spices and aromatherapy agents worldwide. In Scandinavian countries, it is known as “Tromsøpalme,” and in Germany as “Persischer Bärenklau.” Golpar is traditionally used to treat ailments including flatulence and stomachache, and is recognized for therapeutic effects on epilepsy, pain, and infections [1].

Golpar also has a rich culinary history in West Asia, used as a vegetable, an anise-like flavored tea, and incense (via burning leaves and fruits). Young stems are utilized for pickling, and fruits serve as spices or flavoring ingredients in various foods. Other Heracleum species are popular as teas in Canada, liqueurs in France, food flavorings in Britain and Southeast Asia, and edible vegetables in China [2–4]. Scientific studies have reported Golpar and its essential oil exhibiting antimicrobial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, hepatoprotective, and antioxidant properties.

Heracleum persicum contains multiple classes of natural compounds, including volatile constituents (aliphatic esters, carbonyls, phenylpropenes, and terpenes) and nonvolatile compounds (flavonoids, furanocoumarins, tannins, and alkaloids).

Its essential oil predominantly features four categories of compounds: monoterpenes, aliphatic esters, carbonyl compounds, and phenylpropenes [1].

Notably high levels of aliphatic esters are found in aerial parts and fruits, including hexyl butyrate (10%–65.6%), octyl acetate (7.5%–40.8%), hexyl isobutyrate (0.7%–9.1%), hexyl 2-methyl butanoate (5.2%–8.57%), dodecenyl acetate (7.81%), and octyl butyrate (0.9%–6.6%). Additional reported compounds include terpenoids such as α-bergamotene, terpinolene, γ-terpinene, limonene (trace), pulegone, ρ-cymene (trace), β-pinene, (E)-β-ocimene (trace), and linalool (trace). Sesquiterpenes (spathulenol, viridiflorol, α-farnesene, α-caryophyllene) and phenylpropenes (trans-anethole, cis-anethole, estragole, and myristicin) are also significant constituents [5].

**Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to replace consultation with a qualified healthcare professional.