GOTU KOLA (China)
INDIAN PENNYWORT
MANDUKPARNI(India)
HYDROCOTYLE (France)

CENTELLA ASIATICA

APIACEAE



The Apiaceae (formerly umbellifera for the umbel shape of their inflorescence) are not very represented in tropical regions, on the other hand they are very widespread and constitute an important family in all temperate regions, especially in the North hemisphere.

Centella asiatica is an apiaceae native the countries bordering the Indian Ocean (Indian subcontinent, Madagascar, South Africa, Indonesia).
It is a small, perennial herbaceous plant, crawling on the ground, with a rooting stem, rather slender and which spreads horizontally on wet soils with the help of runners, often at a great distance from the foot of origin.
In other words, it is a small grassy plant that can become invasive.
It can be recognized by its small rounded and kidney-shaped leaves 2 to 3 cm in size and carried by a slender erect stem sometimes hairy 5 to 25 cm long.
The inflorescence is very discreet, quite rare, the petals are reddish.

It is a robust plant that acclimates quickly and that can be found in the majority of hot and humid areas where it is sometimes introduced as an ornamental plant.
In the West Indies, for example, it is found from sea level to the top of the highest mountains (1400 m).
Centella asiatica thrives in humid areas and can withstand partial immersion.

It is known in many countries as "gotu kola" (, (the word kola having nothing to do with the African kola nut).

The Asian or Indian pennywort or gotukola, is a plant widely used since several thousand years in traditional Indian medicine (Ayurvedic medicine, where it almost considered a panacea) and more recently in Western medicine.

The whole plant and its extracts are medicinal.

CENTELLA ASIATICA GOTU KOLA HEALING VARICOSES ULCERS MICROANGIOPATHIY ANXIETY INSOMNIA CENTELLA ASIATICA

The most pharmacologically active constituents of gotu-kola are saponosides with a triterpenoid structure: mainly asiaticoside, centelloside, madecassoside.
Some studies show that genins (components without their carbohydrate fractions) may be more active: asiatic acid and madecassic acid.

The Indian pennywort or gotukola also contains anti-inflammatory, anti-free radical or vascular protective flavonoids but not specific to this plant: naringin, quercitin, rutin, kaempferol, apigenin.

In addition, Centella asiatica contains very little essential oil (0.1%), a little tannin, phytosterols and a content in carotenoids, vitamin C and proteins interesting from a dietary point of view.

The majority of pharmacological studies on Centella asiatica or gotukola link its medicinal properties to triterpenoids.

Asiatic and madecassic acids as well as asiaticoside and madecassoside seem to stimulate and regulate the production of collagen, a fibrous matrix essential for wound healing.
Gotu kola extracts increase the action of fibroblasts, cells specialized in the synthesis of collagen and the repair of tissue destruction (wounds, ulcers, abscesses).

One could suppose and fear that this increase in the activity of fibroblasts with healing power leads to an increase in the thickness of the scars but on the contrary it appears that hydrocotyl extracts by an anti-inflammatory and anti-free radical action limit the inflammation of the scar area and thus prevent the occurrence of an unsightly keloid scar.

The combined action of triterpenoids and flavonoids seems to strengthen the walls of the veins and limit the permeability of small blood vessels and therefore the exudation responsible for edema in the lower limbs when venous circulation is poor.

Inflammation of small blood vessels (microangiopathy linked to atherosclerosis or diabetes for example) is also reduced by extracts of Asiatic pennywort, gotu kola.

Medical Doctors in Asia, both in India and in China, recognize extracts of Centella asiatica, gotukola, a power both stimulating and calming (in other words regulator) on the central nervous system.
The aqueous extract (infusion) of centella asiatica leaves is believed to increase cognitive abilities, learning, memory and "intelligence scores" while reducing feelings of anxiety.

Part of the healing power of hydrocotyl may be due to its ability to facilitate the regeneration of axons in the nerves that line the wound.

Several modern studies show that Asian Hydrocotyl (the juice of the fresh plant) and the aqueous extract (infusion) of this plant protect the gastric mucosa against substances that cause an ulcer of the stomach wall by increasing the secretion of mucus (protective) and also accelerate the healing of the gastric ulcer when it exists.
This healing effect, especially of the aqueous extract, is thought to be due both to an anti-inflammatory action and to an increase in the activity of the fibroblasts.
This corresponds to the traditional use of Centella asiatica to calm stomach pain in Ayurvedic medicine.

Several studies show that the aqueous extract of centella asiatica has an anti-inflammatory power similar to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs commonly used in cases of rheumatic pain or lower back pain.

Centella asiatica, gotu kola, contains an interesting percentage of carotenoids (antioxidants and protectors of the retina ): 0.25 mg / g of Beta carotene, approximately 1 mg / g of lutein, 0.25 mg / g of viola xanthine, measures carried out on the dry plant.

These water soluble carotenoids are easily absorbed by the digestive system