Bergenia is a genus of ten species of flowering plants in the family Saxifragaceae, native to central Asia, from Afghanistan to China and the Himalayan region. They are evergreen perennial plants with a spirally arranged rosette of leaves 6–35 cm long and 4–15 cm broad, and pink flowers produced in a cyme.The leaves are leathery, look like a heart, and often have wavy or saw-toothed edges.
Bergenin, C-glycoside of 4-O-methyl gallic acid, and its O-demethylated derivative norbergenin, are chemical compounds and drugs of Ayurveda, commonly known as Paashaanbhed. They can be isolated from Bergenia ciliata and Bergenia ligulata and from rhizomes of Bergenia stracheyi. It shows a potent immunomodulatory effect.
Bergenia purpurascens Engl. Forests, scrub, alpine meadows, alpine rock crevices; 2700-4800 m. SW Sichuan, E and S Xizang, N Yunnan [N Bhutan, NE India, N Myanmar, Nepal, Sikkim].