Phytochemical Profiling and Pharmacological Evaluation of Astrantia major L. Herb Extracts with Systemic Anti-Inflammatory and Topical Hemostatic,Wound-Healing, and Antimicrobial Activities

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Astrantia major L. (Apiaceae) is a non-official medicinal plant with a long history of use in the traditional medicine of many European countries; however, its phytochemical composition and pharmacological properties remain insufficiently studied. This study aimed to investigate the phenolic profile of A. major herb extracts and evaluate their biological activities. A total of 17 phenolic compounds were identified, including hydroxycinnamic acids, flavonoids, catechins and tannin-related metabolites. Chlorogenic acid was the predominant hydroxycinnamic acid, while rutin was the major flavonoid. Among the tannin-related metabolites, gallocathechin predominated in the aqueous extract (AM0), whereas epigallocatechin was the major constituent in the hydroethanolic extract (AM70). The total phenolic content ranged from 14.42 ± 0.13% to 16.91 ± 0.09%. Pharmacological evaluation of aqueous and 70% hydroethanolic extracts demonstrated statistically significant anti-inflammatory activity compared to the pathological control group, reduced bleeding time, and accelerated wound healing. The extracts also exhibited selective antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli. The selectivity pattern differed between the extracts. The observed biological activities are likely correlated with the phenolic profile of the plant. A. major represents a promising source of biologically active compounds with hemostatic, wound-healing, and anti-inflammatory potential.