Gentiana macrophylla Pall.:a review of the basic source,traditional use,chemical components,pharmacological activities and quality control

Gentiana macrophylla Pall.(G.macrophylla),whose genus and family belong to the Gentianaceae and Gentiana.The main distribution centers of G.macrophylla resources were the Loess Plateau and the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in China.G.macrophylla,as a traditional medicine,has a long history and was used in different ethnic medicines.Its roots were used in traditional Chinese medicine,which had the effect of anti-inflammatory,anti-rheumatism,antiviral,promote blood circulation,eliminate swelling and pain,while its flowers were used in traditional Mongolian medicine,which had the effect of removing“Xieriwusu”(“Xieriwusu”means rheumatism),antiviral,reducing swelling.From previous studies,it could be found that there were more than forty components isolated and identified from G.macrophylla.The main chemical components were iridoids,flavonoids,triterpenoids,steroids,phenylpropanoids,and alkaloids.Iridoid terpenoid components represented by gentiopicroside and Loganic acid were the main components of the root of G.macrophylla,which had anti-inflammatory,antioxidant,hepatoprotective,analgesic,antibacterial and promote gastrointestinal tract activities.The flower mainly contains isoorientin and isovitexin as the representative of flavonoids.They have anti-tumor,liver protection,heart protection,inhibition of acetylcholinesterase and inhibition of melanin.It could be seen from previous studies that the research on G.macrophylla was mainly focused on the root,and the flower was rarely studied.It was reported that the experimental data of the anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects of G.macrophylla flowers show that its curative effect was very good.Therefore,the flowers of the flower of G.macrophylla can be used as potential medicinal parts for research.Given that flavonoids are mostly found in flowers and exhibit a range of functions,it is possible to investigate the flowers in order to learn more about G.macrophylla’s potential medical benefits.Based on botanical books,Chinese classic texts,medical monographs and academic search engines(Google,Google Scholar,Web of Science,SciFinder,Pubmed,CNKI,Sci-hub,Elsevier and Wanfang),the data and information on G.macrophylla in the past 20 years are inquired and summarized comprehensively.The basic source,traditional use,chemical composition,biological activity,pharmacodynamics and quality control of G.macrophylla was systematically reviewed,in order to provide reliable basis for the subsequent development and utilization of G.macrophylla.