Gentiana lutea L. (Gentianaceae)

Abstract

It is a perennial plant that grows naturally in the central and southern areas of Europe. Dioscorides described two types: one called Roman that grows in damp, cold and snowy mountains; the second type also grows in damp places, but its roots are less bitter and weaker in properties than the first one. Gentian is anthelmintic, antiseptic, emmenagogue, febrifuge, stimulant, stomachic, and tonic, and is used to stimulate gastric secretion, improve appetite and digestion and alleviate debility; also, for blood disorders, cancer, cold, convulsions, diarrhea, dog-bite, dysmenorrhea, dyspepsia, gastritis, gout, jaundice, malaria, oliguria, snakebite, splenitis, stomachache, syncope and wounds. In the central and southern Europe, gentian extract is used in nonalcoholic beverages, frozen dairy desserts, candy, baked goods, gelatins and puddings; and in some antismoking compounds and cosmetics. In Montenegro, leaves are traditionally utilized as hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic and anti-inflammatory agents. G. lutea is approved for GI disorders use in Europe since Sep. 2007 by the HMPC of the European Medicines Agency. The roots contain glucosides: gentiopicrine; also, gentiamarine, amarogentine, the glycoside gentiin; the tannin like principle gentiamarin, gentisin, gentisic acid and the trisaccharide gentianose, triterpinoids, iridoids, secoiridoids, xanthones, xanthone glycosides, and MAO-B inhibitors. Amarogentin is one of the most bitter natural compounds and is used to measure comparative bitterness. In a crossover randomized study, a microencapsulated bitter ingredient of the root extract consumed by twenty healthy subjects at breakfast on two different occasions, significantly reduced energy intake over the postlunch period, and showed a trend for a higher response of glucagon-like peptide-1, but no significant difference from placebo on appetite. Administration of gentian flavored water to healthy individuals increased peripheral vascular resistance and decreased cardiac output, primarily by reducing stroke volume.