Download PDF
Planta Med 1988; 54(3): 219-221
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-962408
Papers

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Chemistry and Pharmacology of Gentiana lactea

Daniel Schaufelberger1 , 2 , Kurt Hostettmann1
  • 1Institut de Pharmacognosie et Phytochimie, Ecole de Pharmacie, Université de Lausanne, CH-1005 Lausanne, Switzerland.
  • 2Cancer Research Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, USA.
Further Information

Publication History

1987

Publication Date:
24 January 2007 (online)

Also available at
  PDF Download  Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Flavonoids, secoiridoids, and xanthones of Gentiana lactea (Gentianaceae) were investigated and 14 compounds were identified, among these the previously undescribed 2-C-β-D-glucopyranosyl-1,3,7-trihydroxyxanthone (neolancerin). The known constituents of G. lactea include bellidifolin, bellidifolin-8-O-glucoside, deacetylcentapicrin, demethylbellidifolin, demethylbellidifolin-8-O-glucoside, gentiopicrin, isoorientin, isovitexin, loganic acid, mangiferin, swerchirin, sweroside, and swertiamarin. Xanthones with 1,3,5,8-substitution patterns were tested for inhibition of monoamino oxidase. Bellidifolin (1,5,8-trihydroxy-3-methoxyxanthone) was found to be a strong and selective inhibitor of MAO A in vitro.