[Advances in chemical components and pharmacology of genus Gentiana]

The recent progresses on chemical components and pharmacological activities of the genus Gentiana were summarized. The main chemical constituents of this genus are iridoids, xanthone and flavone. There were more than ninety iridoid compounds, one hundred xanthone compounds, and thirty four flavone compounds isolated up till now. And flavone compounds were obtained mainly from aerial part. The plants of this genus had broad bioactivities such as antifungal activity, anti-inflammatory activity and liver protective effect. These mentioned above would be helpful for further studies on the plants of the genus Gentiana.