Gentiopicroside—An Insight into Its Pharmacological Significance and Future Perspectives
Lemonia Antoniadi,
Magdalena Bartnik,
Apostolis Angelis,
Anna Wawruszak,
Maria Halabalaki,
Wirginia Kukula-Koch,
Leandros A. Skaltsounis
Affiliations
Lemonia Antoniadi
Division of Pharmacognosy and Natural Products Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupoli Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece
Magdalena Bartnik
Department of Pharmacognosy with Medicinal Plants Garden, Medical University of Lublin, 1 Chodźki Str., 20-093 Lublin, Poland
Apostolis Angelis
Division of Pharmacognosy and Natural Products Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupoli Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece
Anna Wawruszak
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of Lublin, 1 Chodźki Str., 20-093 Lublin, Poland
Maria Halabalaki
Division of Pharmacognosy and Natural Products Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupoli Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece
Wirginia Kukula-Koch
Department of Pharmacognosy with Medicinal Plants Garden, Medical University of Lublin, 1 Chodźki Str., 20-093 Lublin, Poland
Leandros A. Skaltsounis
Division of Pharmacognosy and Natural Products Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupoli Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece
Gentiopicroside (GPS) is a leading component of several plant species from the Gentianaceae botanical family. As a compound with plenty of biological activities and a component of herbal drugs, GPS has an important role in the regulation of physiological processes in humans. The results of recently published scientific studies underline a meaningful role of this molecule as an active factor in metabolic pathways and mechanisms, which may have an influence in the treatment of different diseases, including digestive tract disorders, malignant changes, neurological disorders, microbial infections, bone formation disorders, inflammatory conditions, and others. This review aims to collect previously published reports on the biological properties of GPS as a single compound that were confirmed by in vitro and in vivo studies, and to draw attention to the newly discovered role of this bitter-tasting secoiridoid. Thanks to these properties, the research on this substance could be revisited.
