Botanical Name: Gentiana lutea Common Names: Yellow Gentian, Great Yellow Gentian, Wild Gentian, Bitter Root, Bitterwort
Habitat/Range: Mountainous regions of southern and central Europe.
Description: Gentian is a perennial herb that produces pale yellow blossoms with feathery petals that look more like leaves than flowers. There are more than 400 species in the Gentiana genus and more than 80 genera in the Gentianaceae family, which includes flowering herbs, shrubs and trees. G. lutea has the distinction of being the variety featured in herbal bitters that were so popular before Alka-Seltzer came along.
Parts Used: Dried roots and fresh or dried aerial parts.
Traditional Uses: Due to the remarkable bitter characteristics of gentian, the plant has a long history of use as a digestive, a practice that began in the Greco-Roman period and continues today. Aside from being included in alcoholic bitters, the herb is a featured ingredient in vermouth.
Chemical Composition: The bitter properties of gentian root are due to the presence of certain glycosides, such as amarogentin, isogentisin, mangiferin and gentiopicrin. The former, a natural bitter terpenoid, is said to be the most bitter-tasting compound in the world. According to a paper published in the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry" in 2009, amarogentin triggers the activation of a dormant bitter taste receptor gene in humans known as hTAS2R50 (1).
Pharmacological Actions: The bitter compounds in gentian root lend the herb properties that stimulate digestion. A team of scientists from the Institute for Medicinal Plants Research has determined that mangiferin, isogentisin and gentiopicrin isolated from gentian demonstrate antimicrobial activity against the yeast Candida albicans and various strains of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (2). According to a study published in “Phytotherapy Research” in 2010, oral administration of gentian root extracts protect healthy cells in people exposed to x-ray irradiation without compromising efforts to destroy targeted malignant cells (3).
Side Effects/Drug Interactions: Gentian root is not intended for long-term use. Side effects reported include mild stomach upset. Do not use this herb if you have a history of gastric or duodenal ulcers.
For educational purposes only This Gentian information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
MBSC offers Herb
Become a Fan of