Swertia angustifolia
Swertiia angustifolia, commonly known as Swertia or Kurchi, is a perennial herb highly valued in Ayurvedic medicine. Renowned for its intense bitter properties, it serves as a potent therapeutic agent for digestive disorders, liver ailments, and fever. This botanical powerhouse plays a vital role in traditional holistic healing practices.
- Scientific name: Swertia angustifolia
- Family: Gentianaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Gentianales, it is classified under the family Gentianaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is established within the genus Swertia.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Gentianales | WCVP |
| Family | Gentianaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Swertia | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Swertia angustifolia, is known by various common names depending on the linguistic context. In Chinese, it is referred to as 狭叶獐牙菜 (zh) or 苦马豆 (zh), with the simplified form 狭叶獐牙菜 (zh-cn) and the traditional form 狹葉獐牙菜 (zh-tw) used to denote its specific regional nomenclature.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh | 狭叶獐牙菜 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 狭叶獐牙菜 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 狹葉獐牙菜 | Wikidata |
| zh | 苦马豆 | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several key regions in Asia. Within China, it can be found in the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan areas. Its presence also extends significantly into the Indian Subcontinent. Specifically, it is documented to grow in the Assam region and throughout the East Himalaya. Together, these locations highlight the diverse habitats where the species thrives.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | Hainan | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Assam | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | East Himalaya | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | India | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Nepal | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | West Himalaya | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Cambodia | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Laos | WCVP |
Chemicals
Swertia angustifolia has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include mangiferin.
- Total chemicals
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| mangiferin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Swertia angustifolia has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Antidiabetic.
- Total uses
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antidiabetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |