Sanicula europaea L. Herb and Rhizomes with Root Extracts with Hemostatic, Wound Healing, Anti-Inflammatory and Antimicrobial Activity: Phytochemical and Pharmacological Research

Abstract

Sanicula europaea L. (Apiaceae), commonly known as European sanicle, has long been used in traditional medicine as a hemostatic agent, for accelerating wound healing, and for treating inflammatory and dermatological conditions. However, scientific evidence supporting these uses remains limited. Comprehensive phytochemical and pharmacological screening of extracts from the herb and rhizomes with roots of S. europaea holds promise, as aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts were obtained from its aerial and underground parts. Phytochemical analysis identified 16 phenolic compounds, including tannins, flavonoids (3.61–5.46% in the herb extracts; 0.13–0.21% in the rhizome-root extracts), hydroxycinnamic acids, and coumarin. The total phenolic content in the extracts ranged from 11.08% to 15.02%. Rosmarinic acid was the most abundant among the hydroxycinnamic acids. Quercetin and apigenin emerged as the leading flavonoids, and epicatechin gallate and gallocatechin were identified as the predominant tannin-related compounds. All tested extracts demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity in a formalin-induced paw oedema model. Hemostatic properties were assessed using the Duke bleeding time method, and the herb extracts significantly reduced bleeding time. The use of herb extracts also accelerated wound healing. Both herb and rhizome-root extracts exhibited inhibitory effects against P. aeruginosa, E. coli, P. vulgaris, S. aureus, and S. epidermidis in the agar diffusion method with paper discs. Based on the results of pharmacological screening, herb extracts of S. europaea demonstrated pronounced hemostatic, wound-healing, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities. Future studies should focus on expanding the experimental model and conducting clinical trials to assess safety, optimal dosage, and long-term efficacy.