centaury herb

Centaury herb (*Centaurii herba*) is a traditional herbal preparation derived from the dried, flowering aerial parts of the common centaury plant (*Centaurium erythraea*). It contains active phytochemicals such as flavonoids, xanthone derivatives, and secoiridoid bitter glycosides (including swertiamarin, gentiopicroside, and sweroside). Traditionally used in European herbal medicine as a bitter tonic to stimulate appetite and treat dyspeptic or gastrointestinal complaints, centaury herb has no established therapeutic efficacy against malaria. In a Phase 1 clinical trial conducted by the Centre de Recherche Médicale de Lambaréné (CERMEL) in Gabon, an infusion of centaury herb was utilized strictly as an inert, inactive placebo comparator to evaluate the safety and efficacy of an *Artemisia annua* infusion for treating asymptomatic *Plasmodium falciparum* infection in semi-immune adults.

Other names

Centaurii herbaCentaurium erythraeacommon centauryfeverwort