Scientific name: Centella asiatica 

Common names: Gotu kola, Indian pennywort

Ayurvedic names: Brahmi

Chinese names: beng da wan, han ke cao

Bangladesh names: Thol-Khuri

Arabic names:   قصعة الماء الهندية (qas’at almaa’e alhindiyyah)

Rain Forest names:

Family: Fabaceae

Approximate number of species known:

Common parts used: Whole herb, sprouts

Collection:

Annual/Perennial: Perennial

Height: 0.2 m

Actions: Adaptogen;  Anticonvulsant;  Antidiarrhoeal;  Antiinflammatory;  Antipanic;  Antirheumatic;  Cardiac;  Depurative;  Diuretic;  Febrifuge;  Hypotensive;  

Nervine;  Sedative;  Skin;  Tonic

Known Constituents: Usually >6% triterpenoid derivatives expressed as asiaticoside (C48, H78, O19)

Constituents Explained:

Description: 

The leaves normally differ in sizes.  The lamina is 10-40mm long, and 20-70mmw wide.  The leaf is anywhere from 5-15 times the size of the lamina.  The flowers are normally very small, around 2mm. The umbel normally contains 3 flowers.  The fruit is brownish-grey, 5mm long and is very flattened.

Traditional Use:

Known as a nutritious plant, it contains Vitamins A, B vitamins, C, E, K and a varitey of minerals and trace minerals.  A green plant famed for its high chlorophyll content. When in bloom it contains beautiful purple flowers.

Clinical Studies:

A study tested the clinical efficacy and side effects of the oral Centella asiatica extract capsule in the diabetic wound healing and the side effects of Centella asiatica extract capsule.

This prospective randomized control study enrolled two hundred diabetic patients in the department of Surgery, Thammasat University Hospital. The exclusion criterion were low immune patients, oral steroid intake, age more than 80 year and less than 18 yeas, serum albumin less than 3.0 gm/dl, uncorrected peripheral arterial diseased patients, and uncontrolled infective wound. 

The termination criterion were patient refusal, wound infection, delayed primary sutured wound secondary healing wound. The patients were divided into two groups randomly, groupA was Centella asiatica extract capsule group and group B was placebo group. 

Centella asiatica extract capsule and placebo were prescribed in each group under the random sheet. The administration was 2 capsules after meal, three times a day (50 mg of extracted asiaticoside / capsule in group A). 

The general symptoms, wound characteristics, wound size and depth were examined at day 7, day 14 and day 21 by the same investigator. The demographic data of the sample were analyzed by student t test and comparative wound characteristics were analyzed by Pearson Chi-Square test.

Wound contraction in the study group is better than placebo group but granulation tissue forming is better in the placebo group. No serious adverse reaction in both groups.

Centella asiatica extract capsule is the Thai herb preparation capsule that is effective in the wound healing promotion and also suppress the scar in diabetic wound patients. There was no demonstrable serious side effect of the Centella asiatica extract capsule group. Centella asiatica extract capsule can shorten the course of diabetic wound and can be prescribed to the diabetic patients safely.

Centella asiatica is reputed for its beneficial effects in various neurological disorders. The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the role of 70% hydro-ethanolic extract of Centella asiatica (CA) on generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in man.

Hamilton’s Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) was used to screen the subjects. Thirty-three participants (18 male and 15 female; average age 33 yrs) were medicated with the CA in a fixed dose regime (500 mg/capsule, twice daily, after meal).

They were thoroughly investigated using standard questionnaires based on psychological rating scale at baseline (day 0), mid-term (day 30) and final (day 60). The scale also includes a number of direct queries about current levels of experienced stress. 

The observations revealed that, CA not only significantly attenuated anxiety related disorders but it also significantly reduced stress phenomenon and its correlated depression. CA further significantly improved the willingness for adjustment and cognition.

Results indicated that Centella asiatica may be useful in the treatment of GAD and may be used as a promising anxiolytic agent in near future.

References:

Paocharoen V. “The Efficacy And Side Effects Of Oral Centella Asiatica Extract For Wound Healing Promotion In Diabetic Wound Patients.” 2010 December http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21298840

Jana U, Sur TK, Maity LN, Debnath PK, Bhattacharyya D. “A Clinical Study On The Management Of Generalized Anxiety Disorder With Centella Asiatica.” 2010 March http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20677602