Swertia


Swertia is a genus in the gentian family containing plants sometimes referred to as the felworts. Some species bear very showy purple and blue flowers. Many members of this genus have medicinal and cultural purposes.
Plants of genus Frasera are sometimes considered part of this genus, sometimes as a separate genus, and sometimes as synonymous.

Selected species

According to Plants of the World Online, the genus has 165 species. Species in the genus Swertia include, but are not limited to:Swertia angustifolia Buch.-Ham. ex D. DonSwertia bimaculata C. B. Clarke
  • * Swertia bimaculata Hook. f. & Thoms.Swertia calcicola Kerr.Swertia chinensis Franch.
  • * Swertia diluta Benth. & Hook. f.Swertia chirayita H. Karst.
  • * Swertia chirata C. B. ClarkeSwertia ciliata B. L. Burtt.Swertia cordata C.B. ClarkeSwertia dilatata C. B. ClarkeSwertia hookeri C. B. ClarkeSwertia japonica Swertia leduci Franch.
  • * Swertia mileensis T. N. Ho & W. L. ShihSwertia macrosperma C. B. ClarkeSwertia multicaulis D. DonSwertia nervosa C. B. ClarkeSwertia perennis L.Swertia pseudochinensis H.HaraSwertia punicea Hemsl.Swertia purpurascens A. Wall ex E. D. ClarkeSwertia striata Collett & Hemsl.Swertia tashiroi MakinoSwertia tetrapetala Pall.Swertia tibetica Batal.Swertia tongluensis BurkillSwertia tozanensis HayataSwertia trichotoma Wight ex C.B.ClarkeSwertia uniflora Mildbr.Swertia usambarensis Engl.Swertia veratroides Maxim. ex Kom.Swertia verticillifolia T.N.Ho & S.W.LiuSwertia virescens Harry Sm.Swertia volkensii GilgSwertia wardii C.MarquandSwertia wattii C.B.ClarkeSwertia welwitschii Engl.Swertia wolfgangiana GrüningSwertia woodii J.ShahSwertia yezo-alpina H.HaraSwertia younghusbandii BurkillSwertia yunnanensis BurkillSwertia zayuensis T.N.Ho & S.W.LiuSwertia zeylanica Walker ex C.B.Clarke

Chemical constituents

Swertia contains the chemicals sawertiamarine, mangeferin and amarogenitine 1,5,8-trihydroxy-3-methoxyxanthone, 1-hydroxy-2,3,5,7-tetramethoxyxanthone, 1-hydroxy-3,5,8-trimethoxyxanthone, 1-hydroxyl-2,3,4,6-tetramethoxyxanthone, 1-hydroxy-2,3,4,7-tetramethoxyxanthone, 1,8-dihydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyxanthone, 1,7-dihydroxy-3,8-dimethoxyxanthone, 1,3,5,8-tetrahydroxyxanthone, balanophonin, oleanolic acid, maslinic acid, and sumaresinolic acid. Swerilactones from Swertia mileensis showed anti-hepatitis B virus activity in vitro.

Traditional medicine

Swertia is used in Indian Ayurvedic Herbal System to cure Fever as in Laghu sudarshana churna, Maha sudarshan Churna and in Tibetan folk medicine. It is also one of the most widely used medicinal plants of Sikkim, and is considered Vulnerable based on IUCN CAMP Criteria.