Centaurium erythraea as a multipurpose medicinal plant

Centaurium erytheraea is a valuable medicinal plant with a long history in traditional medicine and the treatment of many diseases. The present study reviewed the various aspects of this medicinal plant. Using SID, Iranmedex, Web of Science, and Science Direct databases, the articles that were presented on various aspects of the use of C. erytheraea were analyzed using the keywords of Centaurium erytheraea, therapeutic effect and medicinal plant. C. erytheraea is a plant species of the Gentianaceae family that grows in Europe and parts of West Asia and North Africa. Phytochemical investigations of the presence of several groups of bioactive substances including secoiridoid glycoside (gentioside, gentiopicroside, sweroside, swertiamarin), xanthonoids (6 methoxylated xanthones, eustomin and 8-demethyl-eustomin), terpenoids, flavonoids, (flavones and anthocyanins), organic phenolic acids, fatty acids, phytosterols (sitosterol, stigmasterol, campesterol), coumarins (5-formyl-2,3-dihydroisocoumarin). Due to the variety of effective compounds, this plant is used in the treatment of diseases (from digestive problems and parasites to diabetes, pain, inflammation, blood pressure, etc.) in the traditional medicine of many countries from the distant past until now. Also, due to the proven antioxidant effects of this plant and the increasing demand for the introduction of natural antioxidants, centaury has become one of the most popular plants. The traditional uses of C. erytheraea in the treatment of diseases and the existence of valuable medicinal compounds in it can create a basis for the discovery of new drugs of plant origin in the production of antibiotics, drugs for the treatment of blood pressure, inflammation and pain.