Gentian
Gentiana lutea L.Gentianaceae // root
Overview
Plant parts
root
Known constituents
secoiridoid bitters including gentiopicroside and amarogentin
Research corpus coverage
Chemistry notes
- CHEMISTRY: Relevant reported constituents include secoiridoid bitters including gentiopicroside and amarogentin; constituent presence alone does not establish clinical efficacy.
Uses & Evidence
Traditional / historical use
Documented traditional use — not a claim of established efficacy.
TRADITIONAL: Gentian has been used for loss of appetite; dyspepsia; this records historical/traditional use and does not establish efficacy.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries
Modern evidence
EVIDENCE: For the major use set (loss of appetite; dyspepsia), the evidence assessment is limited/mixed: Traditional-use support; insufficient clinical trial evidence.
MODERATE · randomized controlled trial · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries
Mixed findings, product heterogeneity, or indirect evidence are preserved in the detailed profile.
Preparation
Forms used traditionally
A listed form does not imply it suits every plant part, or that one preparation is interchangeable with another — see the plant’s own notes below.
PREPARATION: The medicinal material is root; traditional and modern forms include decoction, tincture, powder/capsule, standardized extract. No dose or potency is specified.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries
Preparation-specific evidence should not be generalized across extracts, teas, oils, or whole herb.
Safety
Additional safety notes (general, unstructured)
Free-text safety notes carried from their source — not broken out by species, route, or hazard type, and not equivalent to the structured records above. Each note names the kind of source it came from.
SAFETY: Major issues include Headache, GI irritation; substitution risk. Contraindications/cautions include Peptic ulcer.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries
SAFETY: Clinically relevant interaction concerns include No established major interactions; acid-modifying effects theoretical.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries
Some interactions are theoretical or based on case reports/pharmacokinetics rather than outcome trials.
SAFETY: Pregnancy/lactation reference: Insufficient pregnancy/lactation evidence.
MODERATE · regulatory monograph or evidence synthesis · EMA European Union herbal monographs and list entries
Absence of evidence is not evidence of safety.
Preparation × species risk matrix
Unknown means insufficient evidence was located — not that a form is safe.
Cats
- tinctureCaution
- concentrated extractUnknown
- essential oilUnknown
- glyceriteUnknown
- infused oilUnknown
- salveUnknown
- smoke/combustionUnknown
- tea/infusionUnknown
- whole herbUnknown
Dogs
- tinctureCaution
- concentrated extractUnknown
- essential oilUnknown
- glyceriteUnknown
- infused oilUnknown
- salveUnknown
- smoke/combustionUnknown
- tea/infusionUnknown
- whole herbUnknown
Identity
- Dangerous lookalikeWhite hellebore
Veratrum album has repeatedly been mistaken for Gentiana lutea; opposite versus alternate leaves are a key field distinction.
Why it matters: The confusion has caused acute human poisoning.
HIGH · Assessment report on Gentiana lutea L., radix
Botanical synonym
Asterias lutea (L.) Borkh.
Taxonomic identity note
- Gentian is treated here as Gentiana lutea L. in the family Gentianaceae; recorded older names include Asterias lutea (L.) Borkh..
Sources
Research records are source-linked but may not yet be editorially reviewed.
EMA monograph
- Plants of the World Online1 claim
botanical taxonomy database
WHO monograph
regulatory herbal assessment