Gentiana lutea
Great yellow gentian
Gentiana lutea, commonly known as Great Yellow Gentian, is a perennial herb native to the mountainous regions of Europe. Renowned for its intense bitterness, its roots are highly valued in traditional medicine and herbalism. It is widely used to stimulate digestion, support liver function, and enhance overall metabolic health.
- Scientific name: Gentiana lutea
- Family: Gentianaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Gentianales and the family Gentianaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Gentiana.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Gentianales | WCVP |
| Family | Gentianaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Gentiana | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant is known by various names depending on the region and language. In Polish, it is referred to as Goryczka żółta, while in French, it is commonly called Gentiane jaune. In German, the species is known as Gelber Enzian, and in Hungarian, it goes by the name sárgatárnics. Additionally, in the Vec language, it is identified as Ansiana.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| vec | Ansiana | Wikidata |
| pl | Goryczka żółta | Wikidata |
| fr | Gentiane jaune | Wikidata |
| hu | sárga tárnics | Wikidata |
| de | Gelber Enzian | Wikidata |
| ja | ゲンチアナ | Wikidata |
| hsb | Žołty hórkowc | Wikidata |
| nl | gele gentiaan | Wikidata |
| pt | Genciana-amarela | Wikidata |
| eo | Flava genciano | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant is primarily found throughout various regions of Middle Europe. Its presence is well-documented in the mountainous landscapes of Austria and Germany. It also inhabits the territories spanning across Czechia and Slovakia. Additionally, the species can be located within the alpine environments of Switzerland. Beyond the mainland, its distribution extends to the island of Corse in Southwestern Europe.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Switzerland | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Corse | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | France | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Portugal | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Sardegna | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Spain | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Albania | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Gentiana lutea, is highly valued in traditional medicine for its potent therapeutic properties. The most significant part used for medicinal purposes is the roots, specifically the thick, bitter root system which contains high concentrations of bitter glycosides. In addition to the underground structures, the plant features elongated shoots that support the overall structure of the herb. The vibrant green leaves are also characteristic of the species, with each individual leaf contributing to the plant's ability to store the chemical compounds necessary for its medicinal efficacy.- Total parts
- 12
- Scientific sources
- 15
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| roots | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| root | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| shoots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaf | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hairy roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| hairy root clones | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flowers | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| aerial parts | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| adventitious roots | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Gentiana lutea has 14 reported phytochemicals identified across 28 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include gentiopicrin, isogentisin, mangiferin, gentiopicroside, flavonoids.
- Total chemicals
- 14
- Scientific sources
- 28
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| gentiopicrin | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| isogentisin | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| mangiferin | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| gentiopicroside | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| loganic acid | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| swertiamarin | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| BEA | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Secoiridoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| amarogentin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Gentiana lutea has 9 reported activities identified across 11 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Cardioprotective, Choleretic, Cytotoxic, Digestive.
- Total activities
- 9
- Scientific sources
- 11
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Cardioprotective | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Choleretic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cytotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Digestive | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Diuretic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Genotoxic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Hypotensive | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Vasodilator | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Gentiana lutea has 12 reported medicinal uses identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include gastrointestinal disorders, Candida albicans, angina pectoris, colon cancer, colorectal cancer.
- Total uses
- 12
- Scientific sources
- 13
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| gastrointestinal disorders | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Candida albicans | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| angina pectoris | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| colon cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| colorectal cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| common cold | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| diabetic complications | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| heart disorders | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| obesity | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| rheumatoid arthritis | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |