Envoy at 05:48, 16 October 2007

2007-10-16T05:48:42Z

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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Centella asiatica''
| image = Centella asiatica.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Apiales]]

| familia = [[Apiaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Centella]]''
| species = '''''C. asiatica'''''
| binomial = ''Centella asiatica''
| binomial_authority = ([[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]) [[Urban (botanist)|Urban]]
}}

'''''Centella asiatica''''' is a small [[herbaceous]] [[annual plant]] of the family [[Apiaceae]], the carrot and dill family, native to northern Australia, New Guinea, Melanesia, Malaysia, [[Iran]]][http://www.safetymessage.com/magtoc.asp?mgID=2139&Number=29] and other parts of [[Asia]]. Common names include '''Gotu Kola''', '''Asiatic Pennywort''', '''Luei Gong Gen''', '''Antanan''', '''Pegaga''', '''Kula kud''' and '''Brahmi''' (although this last name is shared with ''[[Bacopa monnieri]]'' and other herbs). It is used as a [[medicinal herb]] in [[Ayurvedic medicine]] and [[traditional Chinese medicine]]. [[Botanical synonym]]s include ''Hydrocotyle asiatica'' L. and ''Trisanthus cochinchinensis'' ([[João de Loureiro|Lour.]])

==Description==
===Stem===
The stems are slender, creeping [[stolon]]s, green to reddish green in color, interconnecting one plant to another. It has long-stalked, green, reniform [[Leaf|leaves]] with rounded apices which have smooth texture with palmately netted veins. The leaves are borne on pericladial petioles, around 20 cm. The rootstock consists of [[rhizome]]s, growing vertically down. They are creamish in color and covered with root hairs.

===Flowers===
The [[flower]]s are pinkish to red in color, born in small, rounded bunches (umbels) near the surface of the soil. Each flower is partly enclosed in two green bracts. The hermaphrodite flowers are minute in size (less than 3 mm), with 5-6 corolla lobes per flower. Each flower bears five stamens and two styles. The fruit are densely reticulate, distinguishing it from species of Hydrocotyle which have smooth, ribbed or warty fruit.

The crop matures in three months and the whole plant, including the roots, is harvested manually.

===Habitat===

Centella grows along ditches and in low wet areas. In Indian and Southeast Asian centella, the plant frequently suffers from high levels of bacterial contamination, possibly from having been harvested from sewage ditches. Because the plant is acquatic, it is especially sensitive to pollutants in the water, which easily are incorporated into the plant. <ref>http://www.unb.br/fs/far/tox/publicacoes/fct2004.pdf</ref><ref>http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/alt_formats/hpfb-dgpsa/pdf/pubs/bq-qhm_doc-02-02_e.pdf</ref>

===Culinary Uses===
Centella is used as a leafy green in Sri Lankan cuisine. It is most often prepared as mallung; a traditional accompaniment to rice and curry, and goes especially well with vegetarian dishes such as parippu' (dhal), and jackfruit or pumpkin curry. It is considered quite nutritious. In addition to finely chopped gotu kola, mallung almost always contains grated coconut and may also contain chillies, lime (or lemon) juice, dried fish, curry leaves, and spices such as fried mustard seeds.

Centella leaves are also used in the sweet "pennywort drink."

==Medicinal Uses==
===Pharmacology and Constituents===
Two main active constituents in Brahmi are Bacoside A and B. Bacoside A assists in release of nitric oxide that allows the relaxation of the aorta and veins, to allow the blood to flow more freely through the body. Bacoside B is a protein attributed to nourishing the brain cells. Asiaticosides stimulate the reticuloendothelial system where new blood cells are formed and old ones destroyed, fatty materials are stored, iron is metabolized, and immune responses and inflammation occur or begin. Centella appears to act on the various phases of connective tissue development, which are part of the healing process and increases keratinization which allows it to stimulate healing of ulcers, skin injuries, connective tissue and to decrease capillary fragility. Asiaticosides also stimulate the synthesis of lipids and proteins necessary for healthy skin.<ref>Lawrence P Miller''Phytochemistry'', 1978,17:287</ref>

*Calcium (Mineral)
*Iron (Mineral)
*Selenium (Mineral)
*Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin)
*Beta Carotene (Vitamin)
*Magnesium (Mineral)
*Camphor (Essential oil)
*Betulic Acid (Tripertene)
*Brahmic Acid (Triterpene)
*Brahmoside (Saponin)
*Isobrahmic Acid (Triterpene)
*Thankuniside (Saponin)
*Thankunic Acid (Triterpene)
*Asiaticoside A & B (Saponins)
*Brahminoside (Saponin)
*Madecassoside (Saponin)
*Quercetin (Flavone)
<ref>http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/duke/farmacy2.pl Duke database</ref>

===Actions===
Gotu kola is a mild [[adaptogen]], is mildly antibacterial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory.
anti-ulcerogenic, anxiolytic, a cerebral tonic, a circulatory stimulant, a diuretic, nervine and vulnerary. <ref>Winston, D., Maimes, S., Adaptogens: Herbs For Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief, 2007, pp. 226-7</ref><ref>A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study on the Effects of Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) on Acoustic Startle Response in Healthy Subjects. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology. 20(6):680-684, December 2000.
Bradwejn, Jacques MD, FRCPC *; Zhou, Yueping MD, PhD ++; Koszycki, Diana PhD *; Shlik, Jakov MD, PhD</ref>

===Medicinal uses and Studies===

When eaten raw as a [[salad leaf]], pegaga is thought to help maintain youthfulness. In Thailand cups with gotu kola leaves is used as an afternoon pick me up. <ref>http://www.herbaled.org/media/sp2v3(a).mov Herbal Ed Smith</ref> A decoction of juice from the leaves is thought to relieve hypertension. This juice is also used as a general tonic for good health. A poultice of the leaves is also used to treat open sores. Interestingly, chewing on the plant for several hours induces [[entheogen]]ic meditation, similar to the effects of [[salvia divinorum]], although this practice is widely considered dangerous, as it can cause [[temporomandibular joint]] pains.

Richard Lucas claimed in a book published in 1979 that a subspecies "Hydrocotyle asiatica minor" allegedly from Sri Lanka also called "Fo ti tieng", contained a longevity factor called 'youth Vitamin X' said to be 'a tonic for the brain and endocrine glands' and maintained that extracts of the plant help circulation and skin problems. <ref>Natures Medicine by Richard Lucas et al. Prentice Hall, 1979</ref> However according to master herbalist [[Michael Moore (herbalist)|Michael Moore]], it appears that there is no such subspecies and no Vitamin X is known to exist.<ref>http://www.henriettesherbal.com/archives/best/1994/fo-ti.html Michael Moore "Fo ti"</ref> Nonetheless some of the cerebral circulatory and dermatological actions claimed from centella (as hydrocotyle) have a solid basis.

Several scientific reports have documented Centella asiatica's ability to aid wound healing, which is responsible for its traditional use in leprosy. Upon treatment with Centella asiatica, maturation of the scar is stimulated by the production of type I collagen. The treatment also results in a marked decrease in inflammatory reaction and myofibroblast production<ref>{{cite journal | last = Widgerow | first = Alan D. | authorlink = Alan D. Widgerow | coauthors = [[Laurence A. Chait]] | title = New Innovations in Scar Management | journal = Aesthetic Plastic Surgery | volume = 24 | issue = 3 | pages = 227-234 | date = [[2000-07]] | publisher = Springer New York | url = http://www.springerlink.com/content/0g0nlx1dayyqjh2a/ | format = [[abstract]] | id = ISSN: 0364-216X (Print) 1432-5241 (Online) | accessdate = 2007-01-28}}</ref>.

The isolated steroids from the plant have been used to treat [[leprosy]].<ref>B. M. Hausen (1993)''Centella asiatica (Indian pennywort), an effective therapeutic but a weak sensitizer''Contact Dermatitis 29 (4), 175–179 doi:10.1111/j.1600-0536.1993.tb03532.x</ref> <ref>http://centella-asiatica.101herbs.com/</ref> In addition, preliminary evidence suggests that it may have [[nootropic]] effects. <ref>Bradwejn, J., Zhou, Y., et al, A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study On The Effects of Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) On Acoustic Startle Response in Healthy Subjects, J Clin Psychopharmacol 2000 Dec;20(6):680-4</ref> Centella asiatica is used to re-vitalize the brain and nervous system, increase attention span and concentration <ref>Brinkhause, B., Lindner, M., et al, Chemical, Pharmacological and Clinical Profile of The East Asian Medical Plant Centella asiatica, Phytomedicine 2000 Oct;7(5):427-48</ref>, and combat ageing.<ref>Bradwejn, J., Zhou, Y., et al, A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study On The Effects of Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) On Acoustic Startle Response in Healthy Subjects, J Clin Psychopharmacol 2000 Dec;20(6):680-4</ref> Centella asiatica also has anti-oxidant properties.<ref>Winston, D., Maimes, S., Adaptogens: Herbs For Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief, 2007, pp. 226-7</ref> It works for venous insufficiency. <ref>Cataldo, A., Gasbarro, V., et al, Effectiveness of the Combination of Alpha Tocopherol, Rutin, Melilotus, and Centella asiatica in The Treatment of Patients With Chronic Venous Insufficiency, Minerva Cardioangiol, 2001, Apr;49(2):159-63</ref> It is used in Thailand for opium detoxification.

==Folklore==

Gotu Kola is a minor feature in the longevity myth of the [[Tai Chi Chuan]] master [[Li Ching-Yun]]. He purportedly lived to be 256, due in part to his usage of traditional [[Chinese herbs]] including Gotu Kola.

A popular folklore tale from Sri Lanka speaks of a prominent king from the 10th century AD named Aruna who claimed that Gotu Kola provided him with energy and stamina to satisfy his 50-woman harem.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Centella asiatica1.jpg
</gallery>

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Apiaceae]]
[[Category:Dietary supplements]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
[[Category:Ayurveda]]

Gotu Kola - Revision history

Envoy at 05:48, 16 October 2007