- Centella asiatica
Taxobox
name = "Centella asiatica"
image_width = 240px
regnum =Plant ae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo =Apiales
familia =Mackinlayaceae
genus = "Centella "
species = "C. asiatica"
binomial = "Centella asiatica"
binomial_authority = (L.) Urban"Centella asiatica" is a small
herbaceous annual plant of the familyMackinlayaceae or subfamily Mackinlayoideae of family Apiaceae, and is native to Sri Lanka, northern Australia,Indonesia ,Iran [ [http://www.safetymessage.com/magtoc.asp?mgID=2139&Number=29 magiran.com: فصلنامه پزشكي باروري و ناباروري، شماره 29 ] ] ,Malaysia ,Melanesia ,New Guinea , and other parts ofAsia . Common names include Gotu Kola, Asiatic Pennywort, Luei Gong Gen, Takip-kohol, Antanan, Pegagan, Pegaga, vallaarai (வல்லாரை), Kula kud, Bai Bua Bok (ใบบัวบก), and Brahmi (although this last name is shared with "Bacopa monnieri " and other herbs). It is used as amedicinal herb inAyurvedic medicine andtraditional Chinese medicine .Botanical synonym s include "Hydrocotyle asiatica" L. and "Trisanthus cochinchinensis" (Lour.) In sinhalese (Sri Lanka) Gotu = conical shape and Kola= leafDescription
The stems are slender, creeping
stolon s, green to reddish green in color, interconnecting one plant to another. It has long-stalked, green, reniform 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 ofrhizome s, growing vertically down. They are creamish in color and covered with root hairs.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 aquatic, it is especially sensitive to pollutants in the water, which easily are incorporated into the plant. [ [http://www.unb.br/fs/far/tox/publicacoes/fct2004.pdf doi:10.1016/j.fct.2003.11.004 ] ] [ [http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/alt_formats/hpfb-dgpsa/pdf/pubs/bq-qhm_doc-02-02_e.pdf Microsoft Word - ~9446209.DOC ] ]
Culinary use
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 finely chopped green chillies, chille powder (1/4 teaspoon), tumeric powder (1/8 teaspoon) and lime (or lemon) juice.
A variation of the extremely nutritious porridge known as Kola Kenda is also made with Gotukola by the Sinhalese people of Sri Lanka. Gotukola Kenda is made with very well boiled redrice (with extra liquid), cococnut milk and Gotukola which is liquidised. The porridge is accompanied with Jaggery for sweetness. Centella leaves are also used in the sweet "pennywort drink."
Medicinal effects
Gotu kola is a mild
adaptogen , is mildlyantibacterial ,anti-viral ,anti-inflammatory , anti-ulcerogenic,anxiolytic , acerebral tonic , a circulatory stimulant, adiuretic , nervine and vulnerary. [Winston, D., Maimes, S., Adaptogens: Herbs For Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief, 2007, pp. 226-7] [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]When eaten raw as a
salad leaf , pegaga is thought to help maintain youthfulness. In Thailand cups with gotu kola leaves are used as an afternoon pick me up. [http://www.herbaled.org/media/sp2v3(a).mov Herbal Ed Smith] 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 inducesentheogen ic meditation, similar to the effects ofsalvia divinorum , although this practice is widely considered dangerous, as it can causetemporomandibular joint pains.Fact|date=May 2008Richard 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. [Natures Medicine by Richard Lucas et al. Prentice Hall, 1979] However according to master herbalist Michael Moore, it appears that there is no such subspecies and no Vitamin X is known to exist. [http://www.henriettesherbal.com/archives/best/1994/fo-ti.html Michael Moore "Fo ti"] 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 [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 | doi = 10.1007/s002660010038] .The isolated steroids from the plant have been used to treat
leprosy . [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] [ [http://centella-asiatica.101herbs.com/ Centella asiatica Herbal Extracts, Centella asiatica Natural Herbal Extracts Co2 Herb Extract ] ] In addition, preliminary evidence suggests that it may havenootropic effects. [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] Centella asiatica is used to re-vitalize the brain and nervous system, increase attention span and concentration [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] , and combat aging. [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] Centella asiatica also has anti-oxidant properties. [Winston, D., Maimes, S., Adaptogens: Herbs For Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief, 2007, pp. 226-7] It works for venous insufficiency. [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] It is used in Thailand for opium detoxification.It is one of the constituent of Indian summer drink "thandaayyee"
Ayurvedic View
In India it is popularly known by a variety of names: Bemgsag, Brahma manduki, Brahmanduki, Brahmi (North India, West India), Gotu kola, Khulakhudi, Mandukparni, Mandookaparni, Mandukaparni (South India), or Thankuni depending on region. It is often confused with Bacopa monnieri which is the more famous "Brahmi", both have some common therapeutic properties in Vedic texts and both are used for improving memory. However, current researchFact|date=July 2008 has clearly established the difference in pharmacological activities of these two herbs.
Gotu Kola acts as a powerful "brain food", and is known for its ability to enhance mental ability. It supports and improves comprehension , memory and recollection . It coordinates these three aspects of mind power to develop a more effective level of performance. It has a "Vayasthapana effect", meaning that it helps retard the aging process. It is excellent for both internal and topical application. Gotu Kola nourishes the mind-body connection and enhances the psychoneuro immune (PNI) response. It supports the formation of quality blood , as well as the bone marrow and nerves . Fact|date=July 2008
Folklore
Gotu Kola is a minor feature in the longevity myth of the
Tai Chi Chuan masterLi Ching-Yun . He purportedly lived to be 256, due in part to his usage of traditionalChinese 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.
References
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