Herr.)
Gentiana kurroo Royle.
Family Gentianaceae.
Habitat Kashmir and North-West Himalayas.
English Himalayan Gentian, Indian Gentian Root.
Ayurvedic Traayamaana, Traayanti, Traayanta, Traayantikaa, Neelkanthi, Anujaa, Girijaa, Girishaanujaa,
(G]
284 Geophila repens (Linn.) I. M. Johnson.
Balbhra, Paalani. (Paakhaanabheda
is a wrong synonym)
Unani Ghaafis.
Action Sialagogue, digestant,
appetite-stimulant, antispasmodic,
anti-inflammatory, emmenagogue.
Used for alkalosis, feeble digestion
in the elderly from gastric acid
G)deficiency (increases gastric juices
without altering PH); also used for jaundice, nausea, vomiting, travel sickness, diarrhoea, malaria and nervous exhaustion. (In Chinese medicine, Gentiana sp., known as Longdan, are used for jaundice, hepatitis, urinary tract infections, pruritis and eczema.)
Key application Gentiana lutea— internally, for digestive disorders, such as lack of appetite, fullness and flatulence (German Commission E, WHO), for anorexia following illness and dyspepsia (ESCOP). The British Herbal Compendium approves gentian for lack of appetite, anorexia, atonic dyspepsia, gastrointestinal atony, and as antiemetic. The British Herbal Pharmacopoia recognizes it as a bitter tonic.
The rhizome and roots of G. Kurroo contain iridoid glycoside; major component was identified as 6’- cinnamoylcatalpol.
The rhizomes and roots of Picrorhiza kurrooa Royle ex Benth., found in the Himalayas, have similar properties and uses and are mixed or substituted for those of G. kurroo.
Gentiana lutea (Yellow Gentian) is a native of Europe and Asia Minor and
is imported into India. The most important constituents of the drug are secoiridoid bitter compounds,
