Süstemaatiline kuuluvus (APG IV)
Riik: Taimed (Plantae)
Klaad: Soontaimed (Tracheophyta)
Klaad: Katteseemnetaimed (Angiospermae)
Klaad: Päriskaheidulehelised (Eudicotyledonae)
Selts: Sarikalaadsed / Apiales
Sugukond: Sarikalised / Apiaceae
Perekond: Tähtputk / Astrantia
Liik: Suur tähtputk / Astrantia major L.

Botaaniline kirjeldus
Harilik tähtputk kuulub sarikaliste sugukonda, perekonda tähtputk. Taim kasvab (30)-60-(90) cm kõrguseks. Vars on püstine ja paljas, vähe harunev ja mõne vahelduvalt paikneva lehega. Alumised lehed on pikarootsulised, 10–20 cm pikad, 3–7 lõhega ja saagja leheservaga. Lehe suurus on 8–15 sentimeetrit. Varrelehti on tavaliselt kaks, need on rootsuta, kolmetiselt lõhestunud ja lantsetjate teravatipuliste segmentidega. [1,2]

Õisik on 2–3 cm läbimõõduga sarikas. Õiekattelehed on arvukad (10 - 20), 10–18 mm pikad, punakad (mõnikord valged) ja teritunud tipuga. Väikesed õied on rohekad-valged, punakate varjunditega. Sarika keskosas paiknevad õied on mõlemasoolised ja väliselt paiknevad õied on isased. Õiekate on lihtne, viietine, valge või kergelt punaka/lillaka varjundiga. Tolmukaid on viis ja need ulatuvad õiekroonist välja. Õite suurus on umbes 1 mm. Õitsemisperiood kestab juunist septembrini. Vili on kuiv lõhisvili. [1,2]

Levila
Taim on pärit Lõuna-Euroopast (Püreneede, Karpaatide ja Balkani aladelt), aga ka Kaukaasiast kuni Anatooliani. Metsistunud vanades parkides, kultiveeritud ilutaimena harva. [1] Kasvukohana eelistab tähtputk niiskeid metsi ja jõekaldad. [3]

Toime ja kasutamine
Peamiste komponentide eeterlikud õlid, samuti olulised rasvhapped nagu oleiinhape ja linoolhape, ja vahad nagu nonakosan. Lisaks on taime viljadest leitud ka mitmeid lignaane, sealhulgas eudesmiin, magnoliin, epimagnoliinid A ja B, epieudesmiin, jüangambiin ja epi-jüangambiin. Kogu taime infusioon on õrnalt diureetilise toimega. Taime on soovitatud külmetuse kaebuste ja nii mao- kui kogu keha rõhuvate haiguste korral. [4,5,6]. Juuretõmmis olevat organismi puhastava toimega. 

Droogiks on juur, mida korjatakse suvest varasügiseni ja kuivatatakse. Rahvameditsiinis kasutatakse söögiisu suurendamiseks ka kuivatatud lehti.

Kasutatud allikad
1.  Krall, H., Kukk, T., Kull, T., Kuusk, V., Leht, M., Oja, T., Pihu S., Reier Ü., Tuulik, T., Zingel, H. (2010). Eesti taimede määraja. Teine trükk. Tartu: Eesti Loodusfoto
2. WFO. (2023). Astrantia major L. World Flora Online. Kasutatud 23. detsembril 2023, aadressil http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000554832.
3. Wikipedia contributors. (2023, September 13). Astrantia major. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 06:33, December 23, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Astrantia_major&oldid=1175228274
4. Radulović, N. S., Mladenović, M. Z., & Ethorđević, N. D. (2012). Chemotypification of Astrantia major L. (Apiaceae): essential-oil and lignan profiles of fruits. Chemistry & biodiversity, 9(7), 1320–1337. https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.201100430
5. Practical Plants. (2013). Astrantia major. Kasutatud 2. oktoobril 2023, aadressil https://practicalplants.org/wiki/astrantia_major/#cite_note-PFAFimport-7-1.
6. Royal College of Physicians | Garden of Medicinal Plants. (2023). Astrantia major L. Kasutatud 2. oktoobril 2023, aadressil https://garden.rcplondon.ac.uk/plant/Details/171.

Classification (APG IV)
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Apiales
Family: Apiaceae
Genus: Astrantia
Species: Great masterwort  - Astrantia major L.

Botanical Description
Great masterwort belongs to the Apiaceae family. This perennial herb grows to a height of (30)–60–(90) cm. The stems are erect, hairless, and sparsely branched with a few alternate leaves. Basal leaves are long-petioled, measuring 10–20 cm in length and divided into 3–7 lobes with serrated edges. The size of basal leaves ranges from 8–15 cm. Stem leaves are usually two in number, sessile, and divided into three segments with lanceolate, pointed tips. [1,2]

The inflorescence is an umbel, 2–3 cm in diameter. The bracts are numerous (10–20), 10–18 mm long, reddish (occasionally white), and sharply pointed. Small flowers are greenish-white with reddish hues. Flowers in the center of the umbel are bisexual, while those on the periphery are male. The flowers are simple, pentamerous, and have a white or slightly reddish/lilac-tinted perianth. There are five stamens that protrude beyond the corolla. The flower size is approximately 1 mm. The flowering period extends from June to September. The fruit is a dry schizocarp. [1,2]

Distribution
The plant is native to Southern Europe, including the Pyrenees, Carpathians, and Balkans, as well as the Caucasus and Anatolia. It occasionally escapes cultivation and can be found naturalized in old parks, although it is rarely grown as an ornamental plant. [1] Great masterwort prefers damp forests and riverbanks as its habitat. [3]

Uses and Effects
Great masterwort contains essential oils, significant fatty acids such as oleic and linoleic acids, and waxes like nonacosane. Additionally, its fruits have been found to contain various lignans, including eudesmin, magnolin, epimagnolins A and B, epieudesmin, yuanhuacine, and epi-yuanhuacine. Infusions made from the whole plant exhibit mild diuretic effects. The plant has been traditionally recommended for alleviating cold symptoms and ailments affecting the stomach and overall body. Decoctions of the root are considered to have detoxifying properties. [4,5,6]

The root, collected from summer to early autumn and dried, is used as herbal material. Dried leaves are also used in folk medicine to stimulate appetite.

References
1. Krall, H., Kukk, T., Kull, T., Kuusk, V., Leht, M., Oja, T., Pihu S., Reier Ü., Tuulik, T., Zingel, H. (2010). Eesti taimede määraja. Second Edition. Tartu: Eesti Loodusfoto.
2. WFO. (2023). Astrantia major L. World Flora Online. Accessed December 23, 2023. http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000554832
3. Wikipedia contributors. (2023, September 13). Astrantia major. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved December 23, 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astrantia_major
4. Radulović, N. S., Mladenović, M. Z., & Ethorđević, N. D. (2012). Chemotypification of Astrantia major L. (Apiaceae): essential-oil and lignan profiles of fruits. Chemistry & Biodiversity, 9(7), 1320–1337. https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.201100430
5. Practical Plants. (2013). Astrantia major. Accessed October 2, 2023. https://practicalplants.org/wiki/astrantia_major
6. Royal College of Physicians | Garden of Medicinal Plants. (2023). Astrantia major L. Accessed October 2, 2023. https://garden.rcplondon.ac.uk/plant/Details/171