A bitter substance that is found in gentian root and centaury and is responsible for the bitterness in these drugs. Several bitter substance receptors with which humans perceive amarogentin have been identified, including TAS2R1 and TAS2R50.
Chemically, it is a trihydroxydiphenlycarboxylic acid ester of sweroside. The substance is poorly soluble in water, well soluble in ethanol and acetone.