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Anthriscus sylvestris is a biennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Apiaceae family. It can grow up to 1.5 meters tall. The root is vertical and thick. The stem is erect, deeply grooved, ribbed, hollow, and covered with fine hairs at the top, branching out. Leaves are hairy, triangular, large, twice- and thrice-pinnately divided; the upper leaves are sessile with developed sheaths, while the lower leaves have long petioles. The umbels are arranged in a compound umbel inflorescence at the top of the stem and branches, with 8–15 equal, bare rays. There is no involucre, but the involucels consist of 5 ovate-lanceolate, sharp, ciliate leaflets bent downward; calyx teeth are insignificant; petals are white, the marginal ones slightly larger with a shallow notch at the apex and nearly straight. At the base of the fruits, a weakly expressed crown of bristles is present. Fruits measure 6–7 mm in length and 2 mm in width, gradually narrowing towards the apex, smooth and shiny. Each umbel contains 4–8 fruit-bearing flowers. The fruits are ovate-elongated, laterally compressed, single, dark brown, shiny, and smooth. Anthriscus sylvestris blooms from June to July. The flower formula is *♀♂ C5L5T5A. Fruits ripen in August–September. In spring, large leaves sprout from the overwintering root, emitting a pleasant aroma when crushed.
Harvesting of Raw Materials
The medicinal raw materials include the roots and the above-ground parts of the plant. Leaves are collected before flowering in the first half of summer during dry weather. They are dried in the shade, under a canopy, or in a dryer at 60-70°C. Roots are harvested in autumn, cleaned from soil, washed in cold water, cut into pieces, and dried. Stored in closed wooden or glass containers for up to 2 years.
For culinary use, young wood hedge parsley greens are harvested before the plant flowers. It is best to store them in the refrigerator to keep them fresh longer. For winter preservation, wood hedge parsley can be salted, pickled, dried, or frozen.
When harvesting this plant, care must be taken not to confuse it with poisonous look-alikes: spotted hemlock (Conium maculatum) and fool’s parsley or dog’s parsley (Aethusa cynapium).
One distinctive feature is that wood hedge parsley has a thick stem with pale green grooves and slight hairiness. Fool’s parsley has thin, smooth, ribbed, hollow stems. Spotted hemlock has thick, smooth stems that are often (but not always) purple-spotted.
Other plants similar to wood hedge parsley include giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum), large-flowered orlaya (Orlaya grandiflora), sweet cicely (Myrrhis odorata), wild carrot (Daucus carota), noble yarrow (Achillea nobilis), angelica, and valerian.
Chemical Composition
Wood Avens (Anthriscus sylvestris) is rich in essential oil, carotene, glycosides, minerals, and ascorbic acid. The roots contain glucose, fiber, organic acids, coumarin, and vitamin C.
The leaves contain 0.12% to 0.14% (sometimes up to 0.44%) ascorbic acid, starch, carotene (up to 0.015%), sugars (up to 4%), and protein (up to 3%). The fruits and stems contain essential oil (about 0.05%). The essential oil is yellowish with a brownish tint and has an unpleasant sharp odor. The fruits contain over 18% fatty oil, starch (over 20%), glucose (up to 6%), disaccharides (over 3%), and fiber (10%).
Pharmacological Properties
Wood Avens (Anthriscus sylvestris) contains a very high level of ascorbic acid, which accelerates the recovery of the body after severe infectious diseases. Vitamin C enhances the body's defenses and acts as a powerful antioxidant. Rutin, found in wood avens, strengthens blood vessels and improves their elasticity. Wood avens is beneficial in a dietary regimen because it is calorie-free and stimulates digestion.
Traditional Medicine Uses
In traditional medicine, Anthriscus sylvestris is used to treat kidney diseases, respiratory tract ailments, and bladder disorders. Decoctions of the plant were prescribed for intestinal infections and diarrhea.
Topically, the plant alleviates itching and dermatitis. For better results, healers recommend using the decoction both internally and externally. Freshly squeezed juice is also applied externally to treat non-healing wounds, furuncles, and abscesses.
Folk healers advise the use of Anthriscus sylvestris for gout patients. The plant helps lower blood pressure, and its anticonvulsant properties ease conditions in epilepsy sufferers.
Anthriscus sylvestris tea is used in folk medicine to improve memory loss and nervous disorders.
The decoction is also used for women's health issues, particularly during menopause.
For edema, the plant’s diuretic properties are employed, and its diaphoretic effects help reduce fever.