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| Latin Names |
English Names |
Sanskrit Names |
Hindi Names |
Centella asiatica
(Linn.) Urban /
Hydrocotyle asiatica
Linn. (Apiaceae) |
Indian Pennywort,
Centella, Gotu Kola |
Mandukaparni,
Brahmi,
Mandukig,
Divya |
Brahma-manduki,
Khulakhudi, Mandookaparni |
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| History |
 In
Sanskrit texts, this plant was called Brahmi and Mandukaparni. According
to Ainslie the leaves were used for pediatric complaints in bowel
problems, fever and applied externally for blows and bruises in the
Coromandel Coast. In Java, according to Horsfield, they were considered
diuretic and on the Malabar Coast, the plant is one of the remedies
for leprosy. As a remedy in this disease it was first brought prominently
to notice by Boileau, in 1859. Dr. A. Hunter, who tried it in the
Madras Leper Hospital, came to the conclusion that it had no claim
to consideration as a specific in leprosy, but he found it most useful
in ameliorating the symptoms and improving general health. Reports
from Europe in 1885 confirm the use of this plant for syphilitic skin
diseases both internally and externally. Dr. Clement Darnty de Grandpre
in 1888, stated that this plant was so abundant in Mauritius that
it served as forage for cattle, whose milk it improved.
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| Habitat |
Commonly found as
a weed in crop fields and other waste places throughout India up to
an altitude of 600 m.
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| Morphology
Description (Habit) |
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C.asiatica is a prostrate, perennial herb. The stem is glabrous,
pink and striated, rooting at the nodes; the leaves are fleshy,
orbicular-reniform, crenate, base cordate and often lobed and long-petioled;
the flowers are red, pink or white, in fascicled umbels; the fruits
are oblong, dull brown, laterally compressed; the pericarp hard,
thickened, woody and white.
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| Principal
Constituents |
 Samples
of the Indian plants collected from different places showed the presence
of the following glycosides: indocentelloside, brahmoside, brahminoside,
asiaticoside, thankuniside and isothankuniside. The corresponding
triterpene acids obtained on hydrolysis of the glycosides are indocentoic,
brahmic, asiatic, thankunic and isothankunic. These acids, except
the last two, are also present in free form in the plant apart from
isobrahmic and betulic acids. The presence of mesoinositol, a new
oligosaccharide, `centellose', kaempferol, quercetin and stigmasterol,
have also been reported1.
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| Pharmacology |
Different fractions
of the drug `Mandukaparni' have shown barbiturate hypnosis potentiation
effect in growing albino rats. It has also anticonvulsive activity,
besides producing significant alterations in the neurochemistry of
the brain. The extract of the fresh plant significantly inhibits gastric
ulceration induced by cold restraint stress (CRU) in rats. In pharmacological
tests the plant has exhibited sedative, antidepressant activity in
albino rats. The asiaticoside, a glucoside, has given encouraging
results for the treatment of leprosy2.
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| Clinical
Studies |
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Clinical trials have demonstrated that the herbal drug possesses
an Ayurvedic Medhya Rasayana effect (brain invigorating). It was
found that the extract increases the intelligence quotient in mentally
retarded children. In a comparative clinical and instrumental trial
with a placebo, the plant extract was found to improve venous disorders
of the lower limbs3.
A double blind clinical trial conducted on 43 normal adults showed
that the plant increased the mean level of R.B.C., blood sugar,
serum cholesterol, vital capacity and total protein. The drug also
decreased the mean blood urea level and a moderate decrease in the
serum acid phosphate was observed4,5.
A double blind clinical trial, conducted on 30 mentally retarded
children who were free from epilepsy and other neurological conditions,
showed significant improvements in both general ability and behavioral
patterns when the drug was administered for a short period of 12
weeks6.
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| Toxicology |
The drug was found
to be nontoxic up to a dose of 350mg/kg3.
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| Indications |
The plant is valued
in indigenous medicine for treatment of leprosy and skin diseases
and also to improve memory. The plant is used as an antidote to cholera.
A cold poultice of the fresh herb is used as an external application
in rheumatism, elephantiasis and hydrocele. For treating leprosy and
other skin diseases it is given as an ointment or dusting powder.
Internally it has been valued as a tonic and is used in bronchitis,
asthma, gastric catarahh, leucorrhoea, kidney troubles, urethritis
and dropsy. A decoction of very young shoots is given for haemorrhoids.
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| Product
Range |
Abana (HeartCare),
Geriforte (GeriCare / StressCare), Menosan, Mentat (MindCare), Mentat
syrup, Nourishing Skin Cream, Anxocare, Geriforte Aqua, Geriforte Vet.
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| References |
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- Bhattacharyya, J Indian chem Soc., 1956, 33, 893; Rastogi et.
al., J sci. industr. Res.,1960, 19B, 252; Dutta & Basu,
ibid, 1962, 21B, 239; Dutta & Basu, Indian J Chem., 1967,
5, 586; Dutta & Basu, Bull nat. Inst. Sci. India, No. 37,
1968, 178; Singh & Rastogi, Phytochemistry, 1969, 8, 917;
Rao & Seshadri, Curr. Sci., 1969, 38, 77.
- Shukla, Bull Med. Ethno-Bot Res, 1989, 10 (3-4), 119; Bagchi
& Puri, Herba Hung, 1989, 28 (1-2), 127; Sharan & Khare,
Probe, 1991, 31 (1), 12; Kulkarni & Verma, ibid, 1993, 32
(4), 289; Kulkarni & Verma, Indian Drugs, 1993, 30, 97; Chatterjee
et. al., Indian J Exp. Biol., 1992, 30, 889, Sakina &
Dandiya, Fitoterapia, 1990, 61, 291.
- Aithal & Sirsi, Antiseptic, 1961, May, 1.
- Appa Rao et. al., J. Res. Ind. Med., 1967, 2, 79.
- Appa Rao et. al., Nagarjun, 1969, 12, 79.
- Appa Rao et. al., J. Res. Ind. Med., 1973, 8, 9.
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