Bioassay-guided fractionation of a $H_2O$ extract of the roots of Gentiana scabra has furnished 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-furfural (1) as an inhibitory compound for nitric oxide (NO) production in murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells stimulated with $interferon-{gamma}$ plus lipopolysaccharide. Compound 1 showed the moderate inhibition of NO production with $IC_{50}$ value of $803;{mu}M$.