Centella asiatica

Centella asiatica, also called “Gotu kola”, belongs to the Apiaceae botanical family.

This small herb (0.2m) is native to Eastern Asia and grows in shady, wet, grassy places and river margins.

It is widely used in the Orient as an outstanding medicinal herb.

In the Indian Ayurvedic medicine, it is used for the management of central nervous system (epilepsy, schizophrenia and cognitive dysfunction), skin and gastrointestinal diseases. It also finds use in renal stones, leprosy and skin diseases, anorexia and asthma.

In other traditional systems, Centella asiatica is used for many other health issues.

It is used in pharmaceuticals to improve wound healing.

Among its main constituents are the bioactive terpene acids: asiatic acid, madecassic acid and their respective glycosides, asiaticoside and madecassoside.

• English name Centella
• French name Hydrocotyle