Symptom → Plant Sources
Centaury (Centaurium erythraea) as a tool for helping with Indigestion
Digestive aid for mild dyspeptic complaints such as indigestion and bloating (stimulates gastric and bile secretion) - a comprehensive review also documents gastroprotective, hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory activity
Ethnopharmacological relevance Centaurium erythraea is an important medicinal plant in many countries, e.g. Morocco, Algeria, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and countries of Balkan Peninsula. It is used in folk medicine to treat various illnesses. It is also used as an antiapoplectic, anticoagulant, anticholagogue, antipneumonic, hematocathartic, and as a hypotensive agent. Aim of the review In this review, previous reports on the taxonomy, botanical description, geographic distribution, ethnomedicinal applications, phytochemistry, pharmacological properties, and toxicity of Centaurium erythraea were critically summarized. Materials and methods Scientific search engines including PubMed, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, Web of Science, Scopus, Wiley Online, SciFinder, and Google Scholar were consulted to collect data on C. erythraea. The data presented in this work summarized the main reports on C. erythraea phytochemical compounds, ethnomedicinal uses, and pharmacological activities. Results C. erythraea is used in traditional medicine to treat various diseases such as diabetes, fever, rhinitis, stomach ailments, urinary tract infections, dyspeptic complaints, loss of appetite, and hemorrhoids, and as diuretic. The essential oils and extracts of C. erythraea exhibited numerous biological properties such as antibacterial, antioxidant, antifungal, antileishmanial, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, insecticidal, diuretic, gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, dermatoprotective, neuroprotective, and inhibitory agent for larval development. Phytochemical characterization of C. erythraea revealed the presence of several classes of secondary metabolites such as xanthonoids, terpenoids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and fatty acids. Conclusions Ethnomedicinal studies demonstrated the use of C. erythraea for the treatment of various disorders. Pharmacological reports showed that C. erythraea especially its aerial parts and roots exhibited potent, and beneficial activities. These findings confirmed the link between the traditional medicinal use and the results of the scientific biological experiments. Considering these results, further investigation using diverse in vivo pharmacological assays are strongly recommended to validate the results of its traditional use. Toxicological tests and pharmacokinetic studies are also required to validate the safety and efficacy of C. erythraea and its bioactive contents.
3 sources supporting Centaury for Indigestion. Includes scientific publications, books, monographs and traditional-use references.
Mechanistic basis
This use is associated with the plant's bitter digestive tonic / stomachic, digestive aid, gastroprotective actions. Further evidence for that pharmacology:
Two secoiridoid glycosides, swertiamarin and sweroside, were isolated from the aerial parts of Centaurium erythraea and their bioactivity assessed, characterising the bitter secoiridoid constituents of common centaury.
Decoctions of Centaurium erythraea leaves showed antioxidant activity and inhibited enzymes relevant to its traditional use for gastrointestinal disorders and hypercholesterolemia, supporting the digestive use of common centaury.
The gastroprotective and antioxidant activity of a 50% aqueous-ethanolic Centaurium erythraea (small centaury) extract was investigated in an aspirin-induced acute gastric ulcer model in rats. The centaury extract significantly reduced the ulcer index by 77% versus aspirin alone, raised glutathione and vitamin A and lowered lipid peroxidation and myeloperoxidase, indicating protection against gastric damage through antioxidant activity, supporting its traditional digestive use.