Gentianella nitida explained

Gentianella nitida is a species of plant in the Gentianaceae family.^{[1] [2]} It is one of two types of hercampuri, which is traditionally used in herbal medicine as an infusion, the other type of hercampuri being Gentianella alborosea. Gentianella nitida has been used in Peruvian folk medicine since before the time of the Incas. These small shrubs are native to the high Andes of Peru. The Junin Province is a region of Peru that grows hercampuri.

Traditional use

The whole plant is used as an infusion. The roots are thin and yellow in color and the infusion of hercampuri also has a yellow color. Traditional uses of hercampuri include:

• digestive
  • treatment of hepatitis treatment of varicose veins
• reduction of blood cholesterol
• treatment of hypertension

Chemical constituents

The infusion of hercampuri is one of the most bitter flavors of all herbs. The chemical compounds that give hercampuri its unique taste contribute to the bitterness of the infusion. Chemical constituents isolated from Gentianella nitida include amaronitidin^[3] and nitiol.^[4]

Further reading

• Rojas R, Doroteo V, Bustamante B, Bauer J, Lock O . Antimicrobial and free radical scavenging activity of Gentianella nitida . . 75 . 7–8 . 754–757 . December 2004 . 15567257 . 10.1016/j.fitote.2004.09.011.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Gentianella nitida (Griseb.) Fabris . . n.d. . Plants of the World Online . The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . May 31, 2024.
2. Web site: Gentianella nitida (Griseb.) Fabris . . n.d. . Catalogue of Life . Species 2000 . May 31, 2024.
3. Nobuo Kawahara . Kazuo Masuda . Setsuko Sekita . Motoyoshi Satake . 2001 . A new secoiridoid glucoside, amaronitidin, from the Peruvian folk medicine "hercampuri" (Gentianella nitida) . . 49 . 6 . 771–772 . 11411536 . 10.1248/cpb.49.771. free .
4. Nobuo Kawahara . Masato Nozawa . Atsuyo Kurata . Takashi Hakamatsuka . Setsuko Sekita . Motoyoshi Satake . 1999 . A novel sesterterpenoid, nitiol, as a potent enhancer of IL-2 gene expression in a human T cell line, from the Peruvian folk medicine "hercumpuri" (Gentianella nitida) . . 47 . 9 . 1344–1345 . 10517015 . PDF.