Variation of the morphological characteristics and active principles in wild and cultivated Gentiana lutea L. from Romania

Gentiana lutea L., whose use as Radix Gentianae is well-known [1], is an endangered plant because of its large scale cropping and now is protected in Romania [2].

In order to start its large scale cultivation in Sibiu area, by in vitro multiplication, we have analyzed several plants from various locations, considering both certain morphological characteristics, as well as the amount of volatile oil and active principles. The results are briefly shown in the table below.

Origin	Material	Bitterness degree	Volatile oil (%)
Experimental field Braşov –1	radix folia	11400 4270	0,025
Experimental field Braşov –2	radix folia	9230 4090	0,022
Piatra Craiului wild flora	radix folia	10450 4600	0,028
Postăvarul (wild flora)	radix folia	11150 5600	0,031

Due to these characteristics and morpholigical data (radix length and weight, crown diameter, number of fruits, shoot height) we decided to focus our attention and start the in vitro multiplication from plants originating from the Experimental field Brasov –2, and Postavaru Mountain. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of the hydro-ethanolic (50:50, v/v) radix extracts [3] gave the following results (%, DW): Gentian from Postavaru Mountain – amarogentin: 0.05–0.5, gentiopicrin: 3.5–2.0, gentianin: 0.03, sugars: 27.0–35.0; experimental field Brasov (2) – amarogentin: 0.02–0.2, gentiopicrin: 3.0–1.9, gentianin: 0.01, sugars: 25.3–29.0.

Acknowledgements: The research was performed within the Romanian CEEX grant no.2619/2006.

References: [1] Lange, D. (1998) Europe's medicinal and aromatic plants: their use, trade and conservation. TRAFFIC International, Cambridge, Great Britain. [2] Parvu, C. (2005) Enciclopedia Plantelor, Ed. Stiintifica, Bucuresti. [3] Arino A. et al. (1997) Z. Lebensm.-Unters. -Forsch. A, Eur. Food Res. Technol., 205(4): 295–299