Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) — The Sunlight Experiment

What is Gotu Kola?

Gotu Kola, also known as Brahmi in India where it originates from, is a common brain tonic herb in the Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese medical systems.

Modern research has since shed more light on this classification — identifying how and to what extent it improves cognitive function.

You can find gotu kola or gotu kola its derivatives in various nootropic formulas.

Other uses for gotu kola include the promotion of skin and wound healing, eczema, digestive support, and infections.

It’s also great as a vegetable — rich in vitamins B and C, amino acids, minerals, and various other phytonutrients.

What is Gotu Kola Used For?

Gotu kola is mainly used for treating neurological and skin disorders.

Topically it’s used for healing wounds and infections.

Traditional Uses

Western Herbal Medicine

In western herbal medicine, gotu kola was used mainly as a nervine, depurative, and vulnerary. It was especially useful in connective tissue and skin healing. ^{4Reference 4Bone K · 2013Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy}.

In Australia, the leaves were consumed from a similar species for arthritis ^{4Reference 4Bone K · 2013Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy}.

Ayurveda

Gotu kola is one of the highly esteemed Rasayana herbs of the Ayurvedic medical system. This means it is used to improve the mind body and spirit in much the same way as a tonic herb from China, or an adaptogenic herb of western herbal medicine.

The Sanskrit name Brahmi means “from Brahma,” who is a central deity in the Hindu pantheon ^{4Reference 4Bone K · 2013Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy}. This shows the level of distinction gotu kola has in this medical system.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Gotu Kola was used in the traditional Chinese medical system for its ability to clear “damp-heat,” cool the blood, stop bleeding and clear the liver. It was also suggested to brighten the eyes. ^{4Reference 4Bone K · 2013Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy}.

Many of the medical systems of South Asia used gotu kola for skin conditions and infections ^{4Reference 4Bone K · 2013Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy}.

Botanical Information

The Apiaceae family of plants is most commonly known as the carrot family. This family contains 3700 species separated into 434 genera.

Other important members of this large family include angelica, anise, asafoetida, carrot, chervil, coriander, cumin, dill, fennel, hemlock, lovage, parsley, and sea holly.

Habitat, Ecology & Distribution

Centella asiatica is native to Southeast Asia, including India, Sri Lanka, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, and is also found in South Africa and Madagascar ^{2Reference 2Ilkay Erdogan Orhan · 2012Centella asiatica (L.) Urban: From Traditional Medicine to Modern Medicine with Neuroprotective PotentialView study →}.

Also cultivated for its medicinal value in some countries including turkey ^{2Reference 2Ilkay Erdogan Orhan · 2012Centella asiatica (L.) Urban: From Traditional Medicine to Modern Medicine with Neuroprotective PotentialView study →}.

Pharmacology & Medical Research

Anxiety

Methanol and ethyl acetate extracts of C. asiatica have been shown to reduce anxiety in mice ^{2Reference 2Ilkay Erdogan Orhan · 2012Centella asiatica (L.) Urban: From Traditional Medicine to Modern Medicine with Neuroprotective PotentialView study →}.

Antioxidant

Centella asiatica has been shown to produce antioxidant effects significantly in multiple studies ^{2Reference 2Ilkay Erdogan Orhan · 2012Centella asiatica (L.) Urban: From Traditional Medicine to Modern Medicine with Neuroprotective PotentialView study →}.

Convulsions

Shown to produce anticonvulsant effects ^{2Reference 2Ilkay Erdogan Orhan · 2012Centella asiatica (L.) Urban: From Traditional Medicine to Modern Medicine with Neuroprotective PotentialView study →}.

Nootropic

The positive effects on brain aging, as reported by Ilkay Erdogan Orhan, (2012), is generally attributed to its 2 major triterpene saponosides (asiatic acid, madecassic acids), and their heterosides, and is due to multiple mechanisms.

The hydroalcoholic extract of Centella asiatica was shown to inhibit acetylcholinesterase (50% inhibition rate at 150μg/ml concentration of extract). This has been the target of many medications for Alzheimer’s, as an increase in acetylcholine has been found pertinent to the progression of the disease ^{2Reference 2Ilkay Erdogan Orhan · 2012Centella asiatica (L.) Urban: From Traditional Medicine to Modern Medicine with Neuroprotective PotentialView study →}.

Tyrosinase has been linked with Parkinson’s disease through its role in neuromelanin formation in the brain and may be associated with dopamine neurotoxicity associated with the neurodegeneration associated with Parkinson’s disease. Centella asiatica ethanol extract has been shown to produce inhibitory effects against this enzyme ^{2Reference 2Ilkay Erdogan Orhan · 2012Centella asiatica (L.) Urban: From Traditional Medicine to Modern Medicine with Neuroprotective PotentialView study →}.

The succas and fresh leaf extract of this plant has been shown to augment dendritic arborization in neurons, and reduce levels of β-amyloid plaques in the hippocampus in mice ^{2Reference 2Ilkay Erdogan Orhan · 2012Centella asiatica (L.) Urban: From Traditional Medicine to Modern Medicine with Neuroprotective PotentialView study →}.

Additionally, relevant actions found in Gotu Kola include:

Shown to produce protective effects against mitochondrial damage ^{2Reference 2Ilkay Erdogan Orhan · 2012Centella asiatica (L.) Urban: From Traditional Medicine to Modern Medicine with Neuroprotective PotentialView study →}.
Shown to produce anticonvulsant effects ^{2Reference 2Ilkay Erdogan Orhan · 2012Centella asiatica (L.) Urban: From Traditional Medicine to Modern Medicine with Neuroprotective PotentialView study →}.
Reduces lipid peroxidation ^{2Reference 2Ilkay Erdogan Orhan · 2012Centella asiatica (L.) Urban: From Traditional Medicine to Modern Medicine with Neuroprotective PotentialView study →}.
potentiated the effects of sleep-inducing drugs (pentobarbital) ^{2Reference 2Ilkay Erdogan Orhan · 2012Centella asiatica (L.) Urban: From Traditional Medicine to Modern Medicine with Neuroprotective PotentialView study →}.
Increased activity of Na+/K+/ATPase ^{2Reference 2Ilkay Erdogan Orhan · 2012Centella asiatica (L.) Urban: From Traditional Medicine to Modern Medicine with Neuroprotective PotentialView study →}.

Neuroprotective effects are likely the result of decreasing protein carbonyl, and lipid peroxidation in the brain, dendritic arborization augmentation, increased Na+/K+/ATPase activity, inhibition of tyrosinase and acetylcholinesterase ^{2Reference 2Ilkay Erdogan Orhan · 2012Centella asiatica (L.) Urban: From Traditional Medicine to Modern Medicine with Neuroprotective PotentialView study →}. N. Giribabu et al., (2014) reports C. asiatica may stimulate nerve cell regeneration in vitro (a significant finding) ^{3Reference 3Nelli Giribabu et al. · 2014AnimalCentella asiatica Attenuates Diabetes Induced Hippocampal Changes in Experimental Diabetic Rats}. This study was able to prove in their research that this botanical provides protective effects in the hippocampus against diabetes-induced damage, and suggested this was through anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. These effects were reflected by ATPase activity in this region of the brain.

The hippocampus of the brain is involved in both short, and long term memory. Both hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia has been shown to cause hippocampal injury which may lead to amnesia or other memory disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Centella asiatica has also been shown to increase the activity of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), which is an enzyme responsible for GABA metabolism ^{2Reference 2Ilkay Erdogan Orhan · 2012Centella asiatica (L.) Urban: From Traditional Medicine to Modern Medicine with Neuroprotective PotentialView study →}.

Cancer

Centella asiatica succas has been shown to reduce liver tumors and may prove useful in preventing and treating liver cancers. A few studies have shown this botanical can induce apoptosis in many types of cancer and produces cytotoxic effects on fibroblast cells ^{1,3Reference 1Faridah Hussin et al. · 2014The centella asiatica juice effects on DNA damage, apoptosis and gene expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)Reference 3Nelli Giribabu et al. · 2014AnimalCentella asiatica Attenuates Diabetes Induced Hippocampal Changes in Experimental Diabetic Rats}.

Centella asiatica extracts (including succas) also offers its chemoprotective effects through a change in the expression of c-myc (promotes cell cycle progression), c-fos (cell cycle regulation, differentiation, and transformation), and c-erbB2 (induces changes carried out by c-fos) oncogenes in exposed cells. ^{1Reference 1Faridah Hussin et al. · 2014The centella asiatica juice effects on DNA damage, apoptosis and gene expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)}.

The antioxidant actions of chemoprotection may also play a significant role in chemoprotection ^{1Reference 1Faridah Hussin et al. · 2014The centella asiatica juice effects on DNA damage, apoptosis and gene expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)}.

Gastrointestinal Tract

Strengthens the gastrointestinal barrier ^{3Reference 3Nelli Giribabu et al. · 2014AnimalCentella asiatica Attenuates Diabetes Induced Hippocampal Changes in Experimental Diabetic Rats}.

Hepatoprotective

F. Hussin et al., (2014) suggested that Centella asiatica juice (succas) can prevent, and treat hepatocarcinomas, and maintain the overall health of this organ.

Immunomodulator

Reported to produce modulatory effects on the immune system ^{3Reference 3Nelli Giribabu et al. · 2014AnimalCentella asiatica Attenuates Diabetes Induced Hippocampal Changes in Experimental Diabetic Rats}.

Sedative

The sedative effects of Centella asiatica are mainly attributed to brahmoside and brahminoside (triterpene derivatives).

Phytochemistry

The characteristic and most-studied constituents of Centella asiatica are its triterpenes — specifically the four “centellosides”: the saponin glycosides asiaticoside and madecassoside, and their corresponding aglycone acids asiatic acid and madecassic acid. These four are the markers used to standardise extracts and underlie most of the herb’s wound-healing and neuroprotective activity ^{2,4Reference 2Ilkay Erdogan Orhan · 2012Centella asiatica (L.) Urban: From Traditional Medicine to Modern Medicine with Neuroprotective PotentialView study →Reference 4Bone K · 2013Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy}. Beyond them the plant carries a broad range of additional triterpenes, flavonoid derivatives such as quercetin and kaempferol, polysaccharides, sterols, phenolic acids, and a volatile oil in which the sesquiterpene α-copaene predominates ^{2Reference 2Ilkay Erdogan Orhan · 2012Centella asiatica (L.) Urban: From Traditional Medicine to Modern Medicine with Neuroprotective PotentialView study →}.

Centelloside content varies enormously with accession, growing conditions and plant part; madecassoside is usually the most abundant of the four markers and asiatic acid the least ^{4Reference 4Bone K · 2013Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy}.

Constituent Summary

Figures are % of dry herb across surveyed accessions ^{4Reference 4Bone K · 2013Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy}; ranges are wide and extract grades are often standardised far higher. Classes other than the four centelloside markers are listed qualitatively.

Triterpenes & saponins

Grouped by class · 14 compounds

Saponin8 compounds2 with data

SaponinMadecassoside~0.15–5.27% (dry) ^{4Reference 4Bone K · 2013Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy}

SaponinAsiaticoside~0.04–2.41% (dry) ^{4Reference 4Bone K · 2013Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy}

SaponinCentellasaponin ANo data

SaponinCentellasaponin BNo data

SaponinCentellasaponin CNo data

SaponinCentellasaponin DNo data

SaponinBrahmosideNo data

SaponinBrahminosideNo data

Triterpene6 compounds2 with data

TriterpeneMadecassic acid~0.02–0.72% (dry) ^{4Reference 4Bone K · 2013Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy}

TriterpeneAsiatic acid~0–0.29% (dry) ^{4Reference 4Bone K · 2013Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy}

TriterpeneMadasiatic acidNo data

TriterpeneBrahmic acidNo data

TriterpeneBetulinic acidNo data

TriterpeneUrsolic acidNo data

Flavonoids & phenolics

Grouped by class · 7 compounds

Flavonoid6 compoundsno data

FlavonoidQuercetinNo data

FlavonoidKaempferolNo data

FlavonoidRutinNo data

FlavonoidApigeninNo data

FlavonoidMyricetinNo data

FlavonoidPatuletinNo data

Phenolic acid1 compoundno data

Phenolic acidIsochlorogenic acidNo data

Volatile oil & other

Grouped by class · 6 compounds

Sesquiterpene2 compoundsno data

Sesquiterpeneα-CopaeneNo data

SesquiterpeneSesquiterpene derivativesNo data

Monoterpene1 compoundno data

MonoterpeneMonoterpene derivativesNo data

Sterol1 compoundno data

SterolSterolsNo data

Carbohydrate1 compoundno data

CarbohydratePolysaccharidesNo data

Lipid1 compoundno data

LipidPolyacetylenesNo data

Clinical Applications

The major clinical applications of gotu kola surround its ability to interact with, and protect specific neurological processes in the brain. These include acetylcholine, tyrosinase, amyloid-beta, and GABA.

Cautions & Safety

Caution advised if used in combination with diabetes due to the chance of increasing blood glucose levels.

Contact dermatitis is rare but has been reported in some individuals

Avoid use if pregnant or trying to fall pregnant.

Toxicity

Contact dermatitis and other skin irritations have been reported though are rare, infertility in mice has also been reported in earlier studies, and may induce spontaneous abortion after chronic use, therefore should not be taken during pregnancy or while attempting to become pregnant, may increase blood sugar levels, so care is advised with diabetic patients ^{2Reference 2Ilkay Erdogan Orhan · 2012Centella asiatica (L.) Urban: From Traditional Medicine to Modern Medicine with Neuroprotective PotentialView study →}.

This herb is generally regarded as safe and can be used long term. The above cautions are extremely rare, and little other evidence has been found for the negative effects of gotu kola aside from some mild gastrointestinal discomfort or dermatitis. In fact, it is commonly a food herb in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and South Africa, with no reported negative side effects ^{4Reference 4Bone K · 2013Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy}.

References

Faridah Hussin, Sima Ataollahi Eshkoor, Asmah Rahmat, Fauziah Othman and Abdah Akim. (2014). The centella asiatica juice effects on DNA damage, apoptosis and gene expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 14:32.
Ilkay Erdogan Orhan (2012). Centella asiatica (L.) Urban: From Traditional Medicine to Modern Medicine with Neuroprotective Potential. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. doi:10.1155/2012/946259
Nelli Giribabu, Nelli Srinivasarao, Somesula Swapna Rekha, Sekaran Muniandy, and Naguib Salleh.(2014). Centella asiatica Attenuates Diabetes Induced Hippocampal Changes in Experimental Diabetic Rats. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Bone K, Mills S. (2013). Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy. Elsevier health. China. (Pg. 657-670).