Journal of Ayurvedic and Herbal Medicine 2017; 3(3): 175-181
Review Article ISSN: 2454-5023 J. Ayu. Herb. Med. 2017;
J. Ayu. Herb. Med. 2017;
Om Prakash1, Ruchi Singh1, Saroj Kumar1, Shweta Srivastava1, Akash Ved1
1 Goel Institute of Pharmacy and Sciences, Faizabad Road, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh – 226016, Indi
ABSTRACT
Gentiana lutea Lin. commonly known as yellow gentian, bitter root and bitterwort belonging to family Gentianaceae is a common traditional medicine freely available in hilly areas in Japan, Europe and adjoining continents, its medicinal properties are also mentioned in Ayurveda. The plant is reported to posse’s antioxidant, antifungal, anti-inflammatory,
stomachic, appetizer and immunomodulatory properties etc.Gentiana lutea is an important source of bitter phytoconstituents such as amarogentin, gentiopicrinor gentiopicroside, gentiolutelin and its dimethyl acetal, gentioluteol, gentanine, amaroswerin, gentioside including a new iridoid named gentiolutelin. Traditionally the plant is
used as stomachic tonic, bitter tonic, dyspepsia, gastric inefficiency in infants, digestive tonic, catarrhal diarrhoea, anaemia, malarial disease etc. The present review is an effort to generate an interest among the mosses regarding its immense potential in preventing and treating several diseases.
Keywords:Gentiana lutea Lin., Yellow Gentian, Bitter Root, Gentianaceae, Phytochemistry,
Pharmacological activities.
INTRODUCTION
Gentiana lutea belonging to Gentianaceae family which comprises more than 400 species spread in the mountain areas of central and Southern Europe, Americas, Australia and New Zealand, Alps, Jura, Massif Central, Pyrenees as well asadjoining continent up to the altitude of 2500 m[1, 2]. Yellow gentian is also widely cultivated in China, France and Germany
[3]. Very early, it also started in Romania[4, 5] and later in
Italy, Finland, and the Balkans[6, 7]. The plant is commonly known by other names in Ayurvedic:
Traayamaana, Traayanti, Anujaa, Balbhra, Girisaanja, Girijaa; Chinese: Qin Jiao; German: Großer Enzian,
(Berg)-Fieberwurzel, Hochwurzel; English: Bitter wort, Common gentian, Great yellow gentian, Yellow gentian; French: Gentiane jaune, Grande gentiane; Ital.: genziana maggiore. The freshly sliced sections of roots and rhizomes appear white in colour and do not have any odour. However, air dried drugs are dark or yellow coloured that have a strong, disagreeable odour and the taste is slightly sweet at first, but afterward very bitter[8]. The root is long and thick, generally approximately a foot long and an inch in diameter, but sometimes even a yard or extended and 2 inches in diameter and The stem rises 3 or 4 feet
long or more, with a pair of wide lanceolate to elliptic leaves contrary to one another, at every joint[9, 10] The large flowers are in whorls in the axils of the uppermost few pairs of leaves, forming big orange-yellow clusters[11]. The yellow flowers have elongated stalks and carry 3 to 10 flowering cymes in the axils of cupshaped bracts. The fruit is a spiked cone-shaped capsule, up to 6cm long with numerous seeds. Flowering time is June to August. Strong plants produce seeds in abundance, and stock is easily raised from them[12, 13].For the flourishing cultivation of G. lutea, a heavy, loamy soil is extremely suitable, the deeper the better, as the stout roots sink a long way down into the soil. Plenty of moisture is also desirable and a
position where there is shelter from cold winds and exposure to sunshine[14, 15].The roots are abundant in medicinal properties before the plants have flowered. A big clump of G. lutea is worthy of a prominent position in any large flower garden, quite apart from its medicinal value
Gentian – LIFE FORCE HEALTH CENTER