Solvent Polarity-Dependent In Vitro Antioxidant and Enzyme Inhibition Profile of Heracleum persicum: A Preliminary Comparative Screening

Heracleum persicum, an aromatic Apiaceae species rich in phenolic compounds, has attracted growing interest, yet comparative data on solvent-dependent bioactivity remain limited. In the present study, the aerial parts of Heracleum persicum were subjected to maceration with solvents of graded polarity (water, ethanol, methanol, and n-hexane), and the resulting extracts were evaluated for antioxidant capacity and for inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), and urease. Antioxidant activity was determined by the ABTS, FRAP, and CUPRAC assays. All measurements were performed in triplicate (n = 3) and expressed as mean ± standard deviation. Data were compared by one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc test, while Pearson correlation analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) were employed for exploratory purposes. Polar extracts exhibited markedly higher antioxidant activity; the aqueous extract showed the strongest urease inhibition, whereas the n-hexane extract was most active against AChE. Antioxidant assays correlated strongly, while AChE inhibition was inversely related to antioxidant parameters. These findings demonstrate that solvent polarity is a decisive determinant of the antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory profile of Heracleum persicum extracts and provide a rational basis for selecting solvent systems in subsequent bioactivity-guided studies.