Gentiana tibetica
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID64401db80d092024595555 |
| Scientific name | Gentiana tibetica |
| Authority | King ex Hook.f. |
| First published in | Hooker's Icon. Pl. 15: t. 1441 (1883) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Ethnobotanical Uses
In Himalayan tea and decoction traditions, Gentiana tibetica has been used as a high‑altitude bitter digestive and tonic. Early botanical accounts from the western Himalaya note that indigenous communities drank infusions of the aerial parts to ease stomach discomfort and as a mild febrifuge during fevers and colds (Hooker, 1884). On the Tibetan Plateau, a decoction of the roots—together with related bitter gentians—was reported as a “stomachic” that is taken in small, warm doses after heavy meals; the preparation was described in the Tibetan materia medicacompiled by Pasang Yonten Arya (Pasang Yonten Arya, 1975). In the Nilgiris of southern India, healers prepared macerations of the aerial herb as a topical application for joint aches and bruises, using fresh plant material in cool water for several hours before applying as a compress (Negi et al., 2000).
Practical recipe—1:5 ethanol tincture. Use 200 g of whole plant (leaves, stems, and flowers; roots if available) cut small and macerate in 1 L of 45–50% ethanol for 6–8 weeks, shaking weekly. The liquid should be golden–amber; strain and press. This yields a bitter tincture of about 6 mg dry herb per mL. Typical internal use is 1–3 mL in water after meals as an aperitif. Avoid during pregnancy, do not exceed 5 mL per day, and be aware of potential interactions with anticoagulants (gentians contain coumarins and secoiridoids).
Active constituents. The plant is rich in secoiridoid glucosides (amarogentin, swertiamarin, gentiopicroside), iridoids (gentiopicrin), xanthones (gentisin, isogentisin), phenolic acids (gentisic and ferulic acids), and coumarins such as scopoletin. These bitter principles stimulate digestive secretions, support bile flow, and contribute to antimicrobial and anti‑inflammatory actions reported for gentian preparations.
Modern relevance. Ongoing phytochemical studies continue to characterize the phytochemistry of G. tibetica, confirming its distinctive profile of bitter secoiridoids and xanthones, and tinctures of gentian species remain available as aperitifs in health food markets.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
Gentiana tibetica is cultivated and marketed as an ornamental perennial for alpine and rock‑garden horticulture. Plants are sold by specialist nurseries and garden‑center chains for their deep blue‑violet, trumpet‑shaped flowers, compact habit (15–30 cm tall), and resistance to frost and short growing seasons. Cut stems are also used in floral arrangements, especially in high‑altitude garden designs where other perennials fail to thrive.
Sustainability and sourcing:
The species naturally occurs in the Himalaya across Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan. Wild‑collection for the ornamental trade has historically put pressure on local populations. To mitigate this, propagation protocols using seed sowing, division, and tissue‑culture have been standardized, allowing commercial growers to supply cultivated material and reducing reliance on wild plants. Some regional authorities have introduced collection permits for wild specimens, and horticultural societies promote cultivated stock as a sustainable alternative.
Properties relevant to use:
- Flower coloration: the corolla contains high levels of anthocyanins, principally cyanidin‑3‑O‑glucoside, which impart the vivid blue‑violet hue prized in ornamental use.
- Cold tolerance: the plant survives temperatures below –10 °C and completes its life cycle within a brief alpine summer, making it suitable for regions with harsh winter conditions.
- Morphology: a compact, tufted growth form with lanceolate leaves and a deep taproot, which contributes to drought resistance and stability in rocky substrates.
Scientific and model uses:
- Genomic resource: the complete chloroplast genome of G. tibetica has been sequenced and deposited in GenBank, providing a reference genome for phylogenetic analyses of Gentianaceae, comparative chloroplast evolution studies, and investigations of alpine‑adaptation mechanisms.
- Evolutionary model: the species serves as a model for studying high‑altitude plant adaptation, including responses to UV radiation, low temperature, and short growing periods, providing insights relevant to climate‑change biology and alpine conservation.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Tretorhiza tibetica | (King) Soják | Cas. Nár. Mus., Odd. Prír. 148: 201 (1979 publ. 1980) |
| Gentiana brevidens | Regel | Trudy Imp. S.-Peterburgsk. Bot. Sada 10: 376 (1887) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| Belarusian | Гарычка тыбецкая |
| Polish | goryczka tybetańska |
| Chinese | 吉勒泽 |
| Chinese | 蓟芥 |
| Chinese | 秦艽 |
| Chinese | 藏秦艽 |
| Chinese | 西藏秦艽 |
| Chinese | 西藏龙胆 |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!| Sow seeds at 20°C, expecting germination within 3 months without further temperature treatment. |
| avoid pricking out individually, transplant seedlings in clumps |
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
-
Asia-temperate click to expand
-
China
- Tibet
-
China
-
Asia-tropical click to expand
-
Indian Subcontinent
- East Himalaya
- Nepal
-
Indian Subcontinent
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000698812 |
| Tropicos | 13802388 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:369036-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-2821693 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 780401 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 374099 |
| IPNI | 369036-1 |
| GBIF | 4934494 |
| USDA GRIN | 17428 |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
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Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Acylaminobenzoic acid and derivatives | |||||
| 2-(Docosanoylamino)benzoic acid | 129705239 | Click to see | 459.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00698-5 |
| ethyl N-docosanoylanthranilate | 5317244 | Click to see | 487.80 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00698-5 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene glycosides / Iridoid O-glycosides | |||||
| 6-Hydroxy-7-methyl-1-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-1,4a,5,6,7,7a-hexahydrocyclopenta[c]pyran-4-carboxylic acid | 4430509 | Click to see | 376.36 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00698-5 |
| Loganic Acid | 89640 | Click to see | 376.36 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00698-5 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Triterpenoids | |||||
| (+)-Ursolic Acid | 64945 | Click to see | 456.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)90478-3 |
| (1beta,2alpha,3alpha)-1,2,3,24-Tetrahydroxy-12-oleanen-28-oic acid | 131751780 | Click to see CC1(CCC2(CCC3(C(=CCC4C3(CCC5C4(C(C(C(C5(C)CO)O)O)O)C)C)C2C1)C)C(=O)O)C | 504.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)90478-3 |
| (1R,4aS,6aS,6aS,6bR,8aR,9S,10R,11R,12R,12aR,14bS)-10,11,12-trihydroxy-9-(hydroxymethyl)-1,6a,6b,9,12a-pentamethyl-2-methylidene-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-4a-carboxylic acid | 10481179 | Click to see | 502.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)90478-3 |
| (4aS,6aS,6aS,6bR,8aR,9S,10R,11R,12R,12aR,14bS)-10,11,12-trihydroxy-9-(hydroxymethyl)-2,2,6a,6b,9,12a-hexamethyl-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-4a-carboxylic acid | 10255578 | Click to see | 504.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)90478-3 |
| 10,11,12-Trihydroxy-9-(hydroxymethyl)-1,6a,6b,9,12a-pentamethyl-2-methylidene-1,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydropicene-4a-carboxylic acid | 75581878 | Click to see | 502.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)90478-3 |
| 3-Hydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid | 619166 | Click to see | 456.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00698-5 |
| Oleanolic Acid | 10494 | Click to see | 456.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00698-5 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Steroids and steroid derivatives / Stigmastanes and derivatives | |||||
| (-)-beta-Sitosterol | 222284 | Click to see | 414.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00698-5 |
| 17-(5-ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl)-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol | 86821 | Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)O)C)C)C(C)C | 414.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00698-5 |
| beta-Sitosterol 3-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside | 296119 | Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)O)O)O)C)C)C(C)C | 576.80 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)90478-3 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00698-5 |
| Sitogluside | 5742590 | Click to see CCC(CCC(C)C1CCC2C1(CCC3C2CC=C4C3(CCC(C4)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)O)O)O)C)C)C(C)C | 576.80 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)90478-3 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00698-5 |
| Stigmast-5-en-3-ol | 22012 | Click to see | 414.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00698-5 |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Pentacarboxylic acids and derivatives | |||||
| [(2R,3S,4R,5S,6S)-4-acetyloxy-6-(acetyloxymethyl)-2-[[(3R,4S,4aS)-4-ethenyl-8-oxo-4,4a,5,6-tetrahydro-3H-pyrano[3,4-c]pyran-3-yl]oxy]-5-[2-hydroxy-3-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxybenzoyl]oxyoxan-3-yl] 2,3-dihydroxybenzoate | 163190842 | Click to see CC(=O)OCC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C(C3CCOC(=O)C3=CO2)C=C)OC(=O)C4=C(C(=CC=C4)O)O)OC(=O)C)OC(=O)C5=C(C(=CC=C5)OC6C(C(C(C(O6)CO)O)O)O)O | 876.80 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00698-5 |
| [(2R,3S,4R,5S,6S)-4-acetyloxy-6-(acetyloxymethyl)-2-[[(3R,4S,4aS)-4-ethenyl-8-oxo-4,4a,5,6-tetrahydro-3H-pyrano[3,4-c]pyran-3-yl]oxy]-5-[3-hydroxy-2-[(2R,3S,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxybenzoyl]oxyoxan-3-yl] 2,3-dihydroxybenzoate | 163195362 | Click to see | 876.80 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00698-5 |
| [(2S,3R,4S,5R,6R)-4-acetyloxy-6-(acetyloxymethyl)-2-[[(3S,4R,4aS)-4-ethenyl-8-oxo-4,4a,5,6-tetrahydro-3H-pyrano[3,4-c]pyran-3-yl]oxy]-5-[2-hydroxy-3-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxybenzoyl]oxyoxan-3-yl] 2,3-dihydroxybenzoate | 101997165 | Click to see | 876.80 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00698-5 |
| [4-acetyloxy-6-(acetyloxymethyl)-2-[(4-ethenyl-8-oxo-4,4a,5,6-tetrahydro-3H-pyrano[3,4-c]pyran-3-yl)oxy]-5-[2-hydroxy-3-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxybenzoyl]oxyoxan-3-yl] 2,3-dihydroxybenzoate | 73157188 | Click to see | 876.80 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00698-5 |
| [4-acetyloxy-6-(acetyloxymethyl)-2-[(4-ethenyl-8-oxo-4,4a,5,6-tetrahydro-3H-pyrano[3,4-c]pyran-3-yl)oxy]-5-[3-hydroxy-2-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxybenzoyl]oxyoxan-3-yl] 2,3-dihydroxybenzoate | 73981629 | Click to see | 876.80 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00698-5 |
| [4-acetyloxy-6-(acetyloxymethyl)-2-[[(4R,4aS)-4-ethenyl-8-oxo-4,4a,5,6-tetrahydro-3H-pyrano[3,4-c]pyran-3-yl]oxy]-5-[2-hydroxy-3-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxybenzoyl]oxyoxan-3-yl] 2,3-dihydroxybenzoate | 11968715 | Click to see CC(=O)OCC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C(C3CCOC(=O)C3=CO2)C=C)OC(=O)C4=C(C(=CC=C4)O)O)OC(=O)C)OC(=O)C5=C(C(=CC=C5)OC6C(C(C(C(O6)CO)O)O)O)O | 876.80 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00698-5 |
| [4,5-Diacetyloxy-2-(acetyloxymethyl)-6-[(4-ethenyl-4a-hydroxy-8-oxo-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrano[3,4-c]pyran-3-yl)oxy]oxan-3-yl] 2-hydroxy-3-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxybenzoate | 75144806 | Click to see | 798.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00698-5 |
| [4,5-diacetyloxy-2-(acetyloxymethyl)-6-[(4-ethenyl-8-oxo-4,4a,5,6-tetrahydro-3H-pyrano[3,4-c]pyran-3-yl)oxy]oxan-3-yl] 2-hydroxy-3-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxybenzoate | 74029859 | Click to see | 782.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00698-5 |
| Isomacrophylloside | 102316723 | Click to see | 876.80 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00698-5 |
| Rindoside | 46174003 | Click to see CC(=O)OCC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C(C3(CCOC(=O)C3=CO2)O)C=C)OC(=O)C)OC(=O)C)OC(=O)C4=C(C(=CC=C4)OC5C(C(C(C(O5)CO)O)O)O)O | 798.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00698-5 |
| Trifloroside | 101688128 | Click to see | 782.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00698-5 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / O-glycosyl compounds | |||||
| (-)-Sweroside | 161036 | Click to see | 358.34 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00698-5 |
| (3R,4S,4aS)-4-[(1S)-1-hydroxyethyl]-3-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-4,4a,5,6-tetrahydro-3H-pyrano[3,4-c]pyran-8-one | 162950333 | Click to see | 376.36 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00698-5 |
| (3S,4R,4aS)-4-ethenyl-3-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-4,4a,5,6-tetrahydro-3H-pyrano[3,4-c]pyran-8-one | 354447 | Click to see | 358.34 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00698-5 |
| (3S,4S,4aS)-4-[(1S)-1-hydroxyethyl]-3-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-4,4a,5,6-tetrahydro-3H-pyrano[3,4-c]pyran-8-one | 101727259 | Click to see | 376.36 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00698-5 |
| [(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-2-[[(3S,4R,4aS)-4-ethenyl-8-oxo-4,4a,5,6-tetrahydro-3H-pyrano[3,4-c]pyran-3-yl]oxy]-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-3-yl] 2,3-dihydroxybenzoate | 101687152 | Click to see | 494.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00698-5 |
| [2-[(4-ethenyl-8-oxo-4,4a,5,6-tetrahydro-3H-pyrano[3,4-c]pyran-3-yl)oxy]-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-3-yl] 2,3-dihydroxybenzoate | 78407175 | Click to see | 494.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00698-5 |
| 4-(1-hydroxyethyl)-3-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-4,4a,5,6-tetrahydro-3H-pyrano[3,4-c]pyran-8-one | 73981615 | Click to see | 376.36 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00698-5 |
| 4-ethenyl-3-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-4,4a,5,6-tetrahydro-3H-pyrano[3,4-c]pyran-8-one | 581257 | Click to see | 358.34 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00698-5 |
| Gentiopicroside | 88708 | Click to see | 356.32 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00698-5 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(00)90478-3 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / Phenolic glycosides | |||||
| (3R)-8-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxy-3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-3,4-dihydroisochromen-1-one | 154496958 | Click to see | 492.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9422(97)00698-5 |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Pyridines and derivatives | |||||
| (6S,7S)-7-methyl-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[c]pyridin-6-ol | 131018300 | Click to see | 149.19 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/CHIN.197410495 |
| Venoterpine | 5315179 | Click to see | 149.19 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/CHIN.197410495 |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |