Evaluation of diversity in some morphological characteristics and essential oil antioxidant activity among of wild-growing populations of Golpar Heracleum persicum Desf. ex Fischer، from Northwest of Iran

Heracleum persicum Desf. Ex Fischer. Is belongs to Apiaceae family, which has been used as a spice and food flavor, pickles agent and anti-worm, carminative, appetizer, and diuretic properties in Iranian traditional medicine. Morphological variation among eight wild-growing populations of Heracleum persicum including Ahar, Kalibar, Marmishou, Silvana, Gardane hairan, Asalem, Aynalou, Meshkinshahr were studied in west North of Iran. In present work, 16 traits of this plant were applied for classifying samples by means of cluster and principal component analysis (PCA). Moreover phytochemical indices including essential oil (EO) % and antioxidant activity (DPPH and FRAP methods) were evaluated. The seed essential oil was obtained by water distillation (Clevenger apparatus), based on cluster analysis populations and were categorized in three groups. The results were showed that the highest and lowest percentage of essential oils was recorded in Aynalou and Meshkinshahr (5.8%) and Silvana (3 %) respectively. Also, the Maximum and the lowest antioxidant activity by DPPH and FRAP was belonged to Meshkinshahr and Gardaneheiran with 67.09% and 58.98 (µmol Fe /g DW) and Aynaloo and Asalem with 47.30 % and 15.52 (µmol Fe /g DW) respectively. Considering that the Meshkinshahr population with the highest antioxidant activity, maximum number of umbel and essential oil percentage, it was introduced as the elite genotype for priority projects of breeding and alsoas medicinally valuable source to local market consumption.