Compound Monograph
Madecassoside
Madecassoside is a triterpene glycoside (saponin) of gotu kola, the glycoside of madecassic acid.
Classification
Madecassoside is a triterpene glycoside (saponin), part of the terpenoids class. The largest class of plant compounds, built from five-carbon isoprene units — the essential-oil aromatics, resins, bitter principles, saponins, and plant sterols.
Where Does It Come From? (1)
Madecassoside is a naturally occurring triterpene glycoside (saponin), found in Gotu kola. It is well tolerated orally (low toxicity).
Research & Evidence
Madecassoside is a triterpenoid saponin of gotu kola (Centella asiatica) — essentially the sugar-bearing glycoside of madecassic acid — and one of the main bioactive components of the standardised triterpene fraction used to characterise the plant. With asiaticoside and the corresponding triterpene acids, it is studied in connection with gotu kola’s reputation for supporting wound healing, skin and connective tissue, mostly through laboratory and topical research. Human evidence largely concerns Centella extracts as a whole rather than madecassoside alone.
Toxicity & Safety
Madecassoside occurs in a herb with a long record of traditional and cosmetic use and is generally regarded as low in toxicity at those levels. Its profile as an isolated compound has not been thoroughly characterised.