The genus Centaurium Hill (Gentianaceae) comprises short-lived herbaceous plants (ca 50-60 species), mostly annuals and biennials, that are glabrous, with pentamerous pink flowers (often tetramerous in the short-flowered species) forming lax to compact cymes (racemose, paniculate or corymbiform).
The systematics of Centaurium is not well resolved, due the lack of an overall study of the group.
Van der Sluis, W.G., 1985: Chemotaxonomical investigations of the genera Blackstonia and Centaurium (Gentianaceae).
Centaurium has a bitter taste and owes this property to the group of compounds called bitter glycosides.
The taste of bitter foods stimulates the appetite and triggers the secretion of digestive juices in the stomach, which in turn improves the breakdown of food.
In the use of bitter herbs, the bitter taste is essential to their therapeutic action, so do not attempt to disguise the taste.
This reduces the tendency for reflux of the gastric contents into the oesophagus, a condition which is seen with hiatus hernia and other causes of reflux, which give rise to the symptom of heartburn.
The ability of Centaurium to improve the appetite in those with anorexia can be of use in both children and adults.
Centaurium owes its action to the group of compounds called bitter glycosides.
Benzophenone synthase from Hypericum androsaemum yields 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzophenone from benzoyl-CoA by a pathway alternate to one proposed by Peters for Centauriumerythraea in Planta (1997) Schmidt 1997
Gentiopicroside (1), a secoiridoid glycoside isolated from the methanol extract of the aerial parts of Centauriumerythraea, was assessed for antibacterial and free radical scavenging activities.
When shoots of Centauriumerythraea Rafn were cultivated in 5 l mist trickling bioreactor for 21 and 28 days increased their dry weight from 0.54 g to 13.7 g and 18.3 g, respectively.
This reduces the tendency for reflux of the gastric contents into the oesophagus, a condition which is seen with hiatus hernia and other causes of reflux, which give rise to the symptom of heartburn.
The ability of Centaurium to improve the appetite in those with anorexia can be of use in both children and adults.
Centaurium owes its action to the group of compounds called bitter glycosides.
Centaurium is a genus [older name Erythraea], containing about 50 species, in the Gentian family (Gentianaceae), tribe Chironieae, subtribe Chironiinae.
The genus was named after the centaur Chiron, famed in Greek mythology for his skill in medicinal herbs.
However, a species such Centaurium littorale is widespread, but not common, between the Northern Mediterranean and Scandaniavia
en.wikipedia.org /wiki/Centaurium (122 words)
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Centaurium exaltatum (Griseb.) W. Wight ex Piper - Desert centaury.
Centaurium muehlenbergii (Griseb.) W. Wight ex Piper - Monterey centaury.
Das Centaurium ist ein neues Zentrum für Gesundheit, Heilen und Entwicklung, getragen von der Heilpraktikerschule Kastanienhof und angeschlossenen Heilpraxen.
"Centaurium" - das Tausendgüldenkraut - ist eine Pflanze, die durch ihre Bitterstoffe die Verdauungssäfte anregt.
Dadurch kann der Körper die für ihn wichtigen Stoffe aus der Nahrung herauslösen und verwerten.
centaurium.de (139 words)
Digital Flora of Texas Vascular Plant Image Library query results: Centaurium(Site not responding. Last check: )
Gentianaceae: Centauriumerythraea from Otto Wilhelm Thomé's - Flora von Deutschland Österreich und der Schweiz (1885 - 1905)
Gentianaceae: Centaurium pulchellum from Carl Lindman's Bilder ur Nordens Flora
Gentianaceae: Centaurium vulgare from Carl Lindman's Bilder ur Nordens Flora
Mansion G. 2001 Phylogenetic relationships within the subtribe Chironiinae (Gentianaceae), with a particular focus on the evolutionary trends and biogeographic patterns of the genus Centaurium Hill s.l.
Mansion G. 2004 A new classification of the polyphyletic genus Centaurium Hill (Chironiinae-Gentianaceae): description of the New-World endemic Zeltnera, and reinstatement of Gyrandra Griseb.
Reveal J. Broome J. Beatley 1974 A new Centaurium from the Death Valley region of Nevada and California.
It has many characteristics in common with members of the Pink family (Caryophyllaceae), but it differs in having a calyx with long slender lobes that are at least half the length of the tubular corolla.
According to official records, this is the only Centaurium sp.
A closely related species from Europe, the biennial Centauriumerythraea (Forking Centaury), has been observed in Indiana and may occur somewhere in Illinois.
Bastyr University: Academic Programs: Botanical Medicine: Herbal Monographs(Site not responding. Last check: )
It was also burned on its own and the smoke was said to repel snakes from an area.
There are many species of Centaurium and others in the Gentianaceae family that are easily mistaken for this species.
"Antioxidant activity of Centauriumerythraea infusion evidenced by its superoxide radical scavenging and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity." Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
Click on a thumbnail to view an image, or see all the Centaurium thumbnails at the PLANTS Gallery
Centaurium exaltatum (Griseb.) W. Wight ex Piper occures in the following states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming
Centaurium exaltatum (Griseb.) W. Wight ex Piper – desert centaury
