Origin. - The dried rhizome and roots of Gentiana lutea L., a plant from 2 to 3 feet high, indigenous in the mountainous portions of Central Europe.

Description and Properties. - It appears in nearly cylindrical pieces or longitudinal slices about I inch (25 Mm.) thick, the upper portion closely annulate, the lower longitudinally wrinkled; externally deep yellowish-brown; internally lighter; somewhat flexible and rather thick, separated from the subspongiose medulla by a black cambium line. Odor peculiar, faint, stronger when moistened; taste sweetish and persistently bitter. Gentian contains a bitter glycoside (gentiopicrin) and also gentisic acid, to which its yellow color is due. It contains about 15 per cent. of glucose, but no starch nor pure tannin.

Dose. - 5-30 grains (0.3-20 Gm.) [15 grains (1 Gm.), U. S. P.].

Official Preparations

Extractum Gentianae - Extracti Gentianae - Extract of Gentian. - Dose, 2-10 grains (0.12-0.6 Gm.) [4 grains (0.25 Gm.), U. S. P.].

Fluidextractum Gentianae - Fluidextracti Gentianae - Fluidextract of Gentian.Dose, 5-30 minims (0.3-2.0 Cc.) [15 minims (1 Cc), U. S. P.].

Tinctura Gentianae Composita - Tinctiirae Gentianae Compositae - Compound Tincture of Gentian. - Dose, 1-2 fluidrams (4.0-8.0 Cc.) [1 fluidram (4 Cc), U. S. P.]. 10 per cent. with orange peel and cardamom.