Centaurium pulchellum (Swartz) Centaurium pulchellum (Swartz) Druce, Druce FI. Berkshire 342 (1898), Gentianaceae Gentiana pulchella Swartz; Gentiana ramosissima (Vill.) Pers.; Erythraea pulchella (Sw) Fr.; Centaurium ramosissima (Vill.) Druce Names Arabic: Qantariuon English: Branching Centaury French: Centaurea I Status The plant grows in specific moist habitats, which Compiled by: Prof. F. M. Hammouda, Prof. S. I. Ismail, are subjected to changes and drying. The plant is Dr. N. S. Abdel-Azim and Dr. K. A. Shams endangered in Egypt. Edited by: Prof. K. H. Batanouny I Part(s) Used I Morphological Description The whole flowering and fruiting herb. Erect annual, glabrous herb 5-20cm high, without a basal leaf-rosette. The stem is erect and stiff, usually I Collection branched in the lower part. 2-4 cauline internodes. flowering and fruiting herb stage from July to Leaves are rosette, sessile, ovate, lanceolate, acute; September basal leaves are obtuse. The upper leaves are ovate, lanceolate, acute and smaller. Flowers are 1-1.2 I Preparations cm, pink, rarely white, forked, cymose-paniculate, infusion, decoction and ointments usually long-pedicellate, corolla tube, 1-2 times longer than calyx segments. Lobes are oblong and I Use obtuse. Stamens are inserted at the apex of the oral and external corrolla-tube. Stigma is oval, the anthers oblong. The fruit is a two-valved many seeded capsule. I Constituents Seeds are minute and bright brown. Flowers from Coumarins and coumarin glycosides; ammoidin March to May. (xantotoxin), ammidin and majudin (bergapten), alkaloid gentianine, a bitter principle kantaurin, I Geographical Distribution oleanolic acid, erythrosterol and xanthones. Local: Fairly common, grows mainly among culti- vated crops by water sides in Fayoom area and the I Pharmacological Action and North coast, in Sinai Toxicity Regional: Some North African Countries Not available Global: Eurasia. Western Europe, Eastwards to China I Pharmacopoeia Not available I Ecology Moist soils, sheltered mountain crevices of Sinai and I Traditional Medicinal Uses around fresh water springs • Anti-diabetic A Guide to Medicinal Plants in North Africa 75 • Elimination of stones from the kidney and "Phytochemical investigation of Prosopis glan- urethra dulosa stem", Planta Med. Nov; 32(3):244-6. • Gastric and abdominal pain • Hypertension General References • Healing agent for wounds Batanouny, K. H., (1999). "Wild Medicinal Plants in • Renal colic Egypt". (With contribution of: E. Aboutabl, M. • Rheumatic pains Shabana & F. Soliman). With support of the Swiss Development Co-operation (SDC). I References Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, Egypt. The World Conservation Union (IUCN), Ahmed ZF, Hammouda FM, Rizk AM, Ismail SI. Switzerland. pp. 133. (1971), "Phytochemical studies of certain Boulos, L. (2002). "Flora of Egypt", volume two, pp. Centaurea species Lipid", Planta Med. Feb; 206-208, printed by Al Hadara Publishing, 19(3):264-9. Cairo, Egypt. Khafagy SM, Mnajed H. (1970), "Phytochemical Britton, N. L.and Brown, H. A. (1970), "An illustra- investigation of Centaurium pulchellum (Sw.)" ted Flora of the Northern United States and Druce .Acta Pharm Suec. Dec; 7(6):667-72. Canada".Vol. III. Dover Publ. Inc., New York. Khafagy SM, Metwally AM. (1971), "Phytochemical H met-Ahti, L., Suominen, J., Ulvinen, T. & Uotila, P. investigation of Xanthium occidenta", Planta (eds), 1998; Retkeilykasvio (Field Flora of Med. Feb; 19(3):234-40. Finland); Ed. 4. 656 pp.; Finnish Museum of Kostens J, Willuhn G. (1973), "Sterol glycosides and Natural History, Botanical Museum. Helsinki. fatty acid esters of sterol glycosides in the lea- Mela, A. J., Cajander, A. K. (1906); Suomen Kasvio; ves of Solanum dulcamara", Planta Med. Nov; Viides painos. 24(3):278-85. German. Tackholm, Vivi. (1974) "Student’s Flora of Egypt". Zirvi KA, Jewers K, Nagler MJ . (1977), 2nd edition, Cairo University, Egypt. 76 A Guide to Medicinal Plants in North Africa.