Unlocking Nature’s Pharmacy: Phytochemical investigation of Succisa pratensis

Succisa pratensis , or devil’s-bit scabious, is a member of the Caprifoliaceae family and found across Europe, western Siberia, and North Africa. Traditionally, it has been used in the British Isles to treat rheumatism, bruises, toothache, throat sores, dog bites, and scurvy, and in Ireland, it is particularly employed for treating skin problems like boils [ 1 ]. Previous studies have shown the plant’s diverse pharmacological potential, including antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative activities, especially in the methanolic extract of its leaves. Additionally, S. pratensis extract have been reported to reduce NF-κB activation and lower NF-κB and COX-2 gene expression in HepG2 cells [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ]. Although some phytochemical analyses using LCMS and GCMS have been conducted, limited work has been done to isolate and characterise its active constituents. In this study, the methanolic extract of S. pratensis leaves was fractionated using chromatographic techniques, resulting in the isolation of 10 compounds, including scopoletin, scopolin, chlorogenic acid, and various dicaffeoyl quinic acid derivatives – 3,5-dicaffeoyl quinic acid, 3,4-dicaffeoyl quinic acid, 3,5-dicaffeoyl quinic acid methyl ester, 3,4-dicaffeoyl quinic acid methyl ester, along with secologanin and gentiopicroside. Structural confirmation was achieved through mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy. Notably, scopolin, secologanin derivatives, and dicaffeoyl quinic acid derivatives were isolated and characterised for the first time in S. pratensis . These findings contribute to the exploration of native Irish medicinal plants for bioactive compounds and enhance the understanding of S. pratensis ’s chemical constituents, highlighting its potential for future pharmacological applications. Publication History Article published online: 05 March 2026 © 2026. Thieme. All rights reserved. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany