Omnia SanaCommon names in 26 European languages →
The complete database record: 3 documented constituents, 2 pharmacological actions, 3 traditional / indicated uses, with 18 cited sources.
Botanical Description
Tall, robust perennial herb with a thick, fleshy taproot and large, broadly oval, strongly veined opposite leaves (a distinguishing feature from the deadly Veratrum album, which has alternate leaves). Bright golden-yellow, star-shaped flowers are borne in dense whorls in the leaf axils along the upper stem.[11]
Habitat & Distribution
Grows in subalpine and alpine meadows and pastures of central and southern Europe, typically at moderate to high elevations on calcareous soils.[11]
Harvesting
The root is dug in autumn from plants at least several years old, when bitter secoiridoid content is highest, then cleaned and dried; careful identification against the deadly Veratrum album (white hellebore), which shares similar habitat and, before flowering, a superficially similar rosette, is essential before wild-harvesting.[11]
Key Constituents
Amarogentin is one of the bitterest natural compounds known; these stimulate digestive secretions. Genus-level reviews identify these secoiridoids, together with xanthones and flavonoids, as the main bioactives and report gastrointestinal, hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory activity.
Carbohydrate constituents of the root.
Pharmacological Actions
Traditional & Indicated Uses
Aromatic bitter for temporary loss of appetite
Digestive aid for mild dyspeptic complaints - indigestion, bloating and fullness (stimulates gastric acid, enzyme and bile secretion)
Digestive aid for mild dyspeptic complaints - indigestion, bloating and fullness (stimulates gastric acid, enzyme and bile secretion)
Traditional Use & History
Gentian root is one of the classic bitter digestive herbs of European tradition, used to stimulate appetite and digestive secretions for temporary loss of appetite and mild dyspeptic complaints, and has long been a base ingredient of bitter tonics, aperitifs and digestifs.[11]
Preparations
Dosage
The EU herbal monograph gives a single dose of 0.6-2 g of the comminuted root in 150 mL of boiling water as an infusion, 1-3 times per day (daily dose 0.6-6 g), or 1 mL of tincture 1-3 times daily, in adults and elderly. For loss of appetite the liquid preparations are taken half an hour before a meal. Not recommended under 18 years. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
Because bitters increase stomach-acid secretion, gentian is contraindicated in peptic (stomach or duodenal) ulcer disease and hyperacidity.
Traditional use only; appetite loss or dyspepsia that persists needs medical assessment, and use in pregnancy and breastfeeding is not recommended.
Dangerous Lookalikes
Harvest Readiness
[14]
External Identifiers
References & Sources
- Ponticelli, M., Lela, L., Moles, M., Mangieri, C. and others (2022) 'The healing bitterness of Gentiana lutea L., phytochemistry and biological activities: A systematic review', Phytochemistry, 206, pp. 113518. doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2022.113518 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2022.113518 - Kitic, N., Zivkovic, J., Savikin, K., Randjelovic, M. and others (2024) 'Spasmolytic Activity of Gentiana lutea L. Root Extracts on the Rat Ileum: Underlying Mechanisms of Action', Plants, 13(3), pp. 453. doi:10.3390/plants13030453 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13030453 - Jiang, M., Cui, B.W., Wu, Y.L., Nan, J.X. and Lian, L.H (2020) 'Genus Gentiana: A review on phytochemistry, pharmacology and molecular mechanism', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, pp. 2020. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2020.113391 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2020.113391 - Joksic, G., Filipovic Trickovic, J. and Joksic, I (2019) 'Potential of Gentiana lutea for the Treatment of Obesity-associated Diseases', Current Pharmaceutical Design, 25(18), pp. 2071-2076. doi:10.2174/1381612825666190708215743 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.2174/1381612825666190708215743 - Joksic, G., Radak, D., Sudar-Milovanovic, E., Obradovic, M. and others (2021) 'Effects of Gentiana lutea Root on Vascular Diseases', Current Vascular Pharmacology, 19(4), pp. 359-369. doi:10.2174/1570161118666200529111314 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.2174/1570161118666200529111314 - Park, E., Lee, C.G., Kim, J., Yeo, S. and others (2020) 'Antiobesity Effects of Gentiana lutea Extract on 3T3-L1 Preadipocytes and a High-Fat Diet-Induced Mouse Model', Molecules, 25(10), pp. 2453. doi:10.3390/molecules25102453 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25102453 - Savic, A. and others (2022) 'Leaves of Yellow Gentian (Gentiana lutea) as an Alternative Source of Bitter Secoiridoid Glycosides', Journal of Natural Products, 85(9), pp. 2118-2126. doi:10.1021/acs.jnatprod.2c00529 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jnatprod.2c00529 - Kesavan, R. and others (2016) 'Gentiana lutea exerts anti-atherosclerotic effects by preventing endothelial inflammation and smooth muscle cell migration', Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, 26(4), pp. 293-301. doi:10.1016/j.numecd.2015.12.016 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.numecd.2015.12.016 - Akileshwari, C. and others (2012) 'Inhibition of aldose reductase by Gentiana lutea extracts', Experimental Diabetes Research, 2012, pp. 147965. doi:10.1155/2012/147965 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/147965 - Toriumi, Y., Kakuda, R., Kikuchi, M., Yaoita, Y. and Kikuchi, M (2003) 'New triterpenoids from Gentiana lutea', Chemical & Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 51(1), pp. 89-91. doi:10.1248/cpb.51.89 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1248/cpb.51.89 - European Medicines Agency (HMPC) (n.d.) 'European Union herbal monograph on Gentiana lutea L., radix (Gentianae radix)'. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/herbal/gentianae-radix Traditional / reference
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/herbal/gentianae-radix - Olennikov, D.N., Kashchenko, N.I., Chirikova, N.K. and Tankhaeva, L.M (2015) 'Iridoids and Flavonoids of Four Siberian Gentians: Chemical Profile and Gastric Stimulatory Effect', Molecules. doi:10.3390/molecules201019172 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules201019172 - Pan, Y., Zhao, Y.L., Zhang, J., Li, W.Y. and Wang, Y.Z (2016) 'Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Activities of the Genus Gentiana (Gentianaceae)', Chemistry & Biodiversity, 13(2), pp. 107--150. doi:10.1002/cbdv.201500333 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.201500333 - Plants For A Future 'Gentiana lutea (Yellow Gentian, Great Yellow Gentian)'. Available at: https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Gentiana+lutea Traditional / reference
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Gentiana+lutea - Garnier, R. and Carlier, P. and Hoffelt, J. and Savidan, A (1985) 'Acute dietary poisoning by white hellebore (Veratrum album L.). Clinical and analytical data. A propos of 5 cases', Annales de Medecine Interne (Paris), 136(2), pp. 125-8. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/4073696/ Clinical study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/4073696/ - Festa, M. and Andreetto, B. and Ballaris, M. A. and Panio, A. and Piervittori, R (1996) 'A case of Veratrum poisoning', Minerva Anestesiologica, 62(5), pp. 195-6. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9045097/ Clinical study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9045097/ - Grobosch, T. and Binscheck, T. and Martens, F. and Lampe, D (2008) 'Accidental intoxication with Veratrum album', Journal of Analytical Toxicology, 32(9), pp. 768-73. doi:10.1093/jat/32.9.768 Clinical study
https://doi.org/10.1093/jat/32.9.768 - Rauber-Luthy, C. and Halbsguth, U. and Kupferschmidt, H. and Konig, N. and Megevand, C. and Zihlmann, K. and Ceschi, A (2010) 'Low-dose exposure to Veratrum album in children causes mild effects - a case series', Clinical Toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.), 48(3), pp. 234-7. doi:10.3109/15563650903575243 Clinical study
https://doi.org/10.3109/15563650903575243
Selected studies & references
All 13 studies in the Knowledge Finder →
This profile is assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database, which we curate by hand. How this site is built.