Swertia chirata

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ophelia chirayita
• Agathotes chirayita
• Eyrythalia floribunda
• Ericoila chirayita
• Henricea pharmacearcha
• Swertia tongluensis
• Gentiana chirayita

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is classified within the order Gentianales and the family Gentianaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by its placement in the genus Swertia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across various regions of the Indian Subcontinent. It can be found growing in the lush landscapes of Assam. Additionally, its range extends throughout the East Himalaya region. The plant is also widely documented within the borders of Nepal. Finally, it is commonly situated across the West Himalaya area.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Swertia chirayita is defined by its preference for high-altitude montane environments, where it thrives within specific altitudinal constraints. This species is primarily found in subalpine and alpine zones, occupying an elevational range that begins at 1500 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 2700 m AMSL. Within these elevations, the plant typically colonizes moist, temperate regions, often favoring rocky slopes, forest margins, or open meadows where soil moisture is consistent and sunlight exposure is moderate to high. Its distribution is closely tied to the climatic conditions of the Himalayan mountain systems, where it adapts to the cooler temperatures and seasonal moisture patterns characteristic of these mid-to-high altitude habitats.

Elevational range max:

2700 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1500 m AMSL

Morphology

The morphology of Swertia chirayita is characterized by its growth form as a herb, presenting a non-woody structure throughout its development. It functions as an independent organism, neither exhibiting parasitic behavior nor acting as an epiphyte, as it maintains a strictly terrestrial existence. In terms of its structural habit, the plant acts as a self-supporting climber, utilizing its physical form to navigate its environment without relying on a host.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Swertia chirayita has 2 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root, leaf.

Root

1. Pharmacognosy research
2. Phytochemistry
3. Planta medica

Leaf

1. Pharmacognosy research
2. Scientific reports

Chemicals

Swertia chirayita has 71 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Amarogentin, Mangiferin, Swertiamarin, Swerchirin, Flavonoids.

Amarogentin

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy
3. Natural product research
4. Cryo letters
5. BMC research notes

Mangiferin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research
3. Cryo letters
4. BMC research notes
5. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Swertiamarin

1. Natural product research
2. BMC research notes
3. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
4. Recent patents on anti-infective drug discovery
5. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Swerchirin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Indian journal of experimental biology
3. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
4. Planta medica
5. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Flavonoids

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
2. Journal of natural medicines
3. Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology

Gentiopicroside

1. Natural product research
2. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
3. Recent patents on anti-infective drug discovery

beta-Amyrin

1. Dr. Duke
2. PloS one
3. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics

1,8-dihydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyxanthone

1. Planta medica
2. The Indian journal of medical research

1-hydroxy-3,5,8-trimethoxyxanthone

1. Dr. Duke
2. The Indian journal of medical research

Amaroswerin

1. Natural product research
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Activities

Swertia chirayita has 117 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Hepatoprotective, Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, Antimalarial.

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecular biology reports
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association
5. Scientific reports

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmacognosy research
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Bioinformatics and biology insights
5. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmacognosy research
3. PloS one
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Scientific reports

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. PloS one
3. Natural product research
4. Molecular biology reports
5. Pharmacognosy magazine

Antimalarial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Recent patents on anti-infective drug discovery
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Scientific reports

Hypoglycemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Recent patents on anti-infective drug discovery
3. Scientific reports

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecular biology reports

Anticarcinogenic

1. Recent patents on anti-infective drug discovery
2. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP

Antihepatotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Recent patents on anti-infective drug discovery

Antimicrobial

1. PloS one
2. Recent patents on anti-infective drug discovery

Medicinal Uses

Swertia chirayita has 21 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include antidiabetic, liver diseases, antioxidant, diabetes mellitus, malaria.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations