Common Name: Gotu Kola

General Information

Centella asiatica is a low-growing, evergreen perennial plant about 20cm tall. The plant spreads quickly by the roots, producing long stolons up to 250cm in length - these root at the nodes and the plant can soon form large carpets of growth[].
A very important medicinal herb in the Orient, with a history of use going back thousands of years, it is also a relished vegetable and drink in parts od southeast Asia. Gotu kola is also becoming increasingly popular in other areas of the world, especially for its medicinal virtues. The plant is normally gathered from the wild, but is also sometimes cultivated both for its medicinal uses and its edible leaves[, ]. It is often traded, both locally and internationally, and is a major ingredient of many over-the-counter medicinal preparations[].

Known Hazards

There is a warning that the plant can irritate the skin[], though it is also widely used to treat skin complaints[].
The sensitizing capacity of the raw extract and its triterpenic constituents asiaticoside, asiatic acid, madecassoside and madecassic acid has been studied - all were found to be very weak sensitizers; even when applied frequently to damaged skin, the risk of acquiring contact sensitivity is low[].
The plant is toxic in large overdose or as a result of long-term application. It can produce narcotic effects, headache, vertigo, and, occasionally in sensitive individuals, it may even lead to coma[].

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Pantropical.

Habitat

The base of old stone walls and rocky sunny places in lowland hills and especially by the coast in central and southern Japan[]. Shady, damp and wet places such as paddy fields, and in grass thickets[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Perennial
Height	0.20 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Centella asiatica is a plant of moist climates in lowland tropical and subtropical areas. It is not a very cold-hardy plant, but can tolerate short periods where temperatures might fall as low as -5 to -10°c[].
Prefers a moist to wet soil in sun or partial shade[].
The plant can grow and flower all year round in moist climates, though it dies down in the dry season in monsoon climatesl[].
The plant can grow and spread very well outdoors during the summer months in warm temperate areas, and it is very easy to increase by division. It can therefore be grown as a summer crop in these areas with divisions being taken during the growing season and overwintered in a greenhouse in case the outdoor plants are killed by winter cold[].
Two forms of the plant are distinguished in Sri Lanka - a small creeping form and an erect bushy form with large leaves and petioles - it is this latter form that is the most popular and is often cultivated as a vegetable[].
If circumstances are favourable, the first harvest can be obtained 2 - 3 months after planting. Subsequent harvests are possible every 2 months if only leaves are to be harvested. However, creeping types are usually harvested as whole plants. For medicinal use, whole plants are generally harvested at any suitable time of the year[].
The yield of bushy forms may reach 8 tonnes per hectare of fresh leaves for the first harvest, and 14 tonnes for each subsequent harvest. Yields of the creeping types are lower[].
Fresh leaves harvested as a vegetable are tied together in small bundles and need to be marketed quickly, as they wilt rapidly[].

Edible Uses

Leaves - raw or cooked. A slightly bitter flavour, they are used in salads, cooked in curries, soups and stews[, , , ]. Cooked as a vegetable[]. An aromatic flavour, we have found them to be rather overpowering in salads when used in any but small quantities[].

A refreshing summer drink is made by diluting the leaf juice with water and adding sugar[, ].

A tonic tea is made from the leaves[].

Medicinal

Gotu kola is an outstandingly important medicinal herb that is widely used in the Orient[] and is becoming increasingly popular in the West[]. One of its traditional Indian names is 'Brahmi' which means 'bringing knowledge of the Supreme Reality' and it has long been used in India both medicinally and as an aid to meditation[]. It is a very useful tonic and cleansing herb for skin problems and digestive disorders[]. In India it is chiefly valued as a revitalizing herb that strengthens nervous function and memory[].

The whole plant is alterative, antibacterial, antiinflammatory, cardio-depressant, febrifuge hypotensive, weakly sedative and tonic[, ]. It is a rejuvenating diuretic herb that clears toxins, reduces inflammations and fevers, improves healing and immunity, improves the memory and has a balancing effect on the nervous system[, , , ]. It has been suggested that regular use of the herb can rejuvenate the nervous system and it therefore deserves attention as a possible cure for a wide range of nervous disorders including multiple sclerosis[]. Recent research has shown that gotu kola reduces scarring, improves circulatory problems in the lower limbs and speeds the healing process[]. It is used internally in the treatment of wounds, chronic skin conditions (including leprosy), venereal diseases, malaria, varicose veins, ulcers etc. It is particularly valued for its effect upon the nervous system, being used in the treatment of conditions such as epilepsy and a range of nervous disorders including senility[, , ]. Caution should be observed since excess doses cause headaches and transient unconsciousness[].
Externally, the herb is applied to a range of skin conditions as well as wounds, haemorrhoids and rheumatic joints[, ]. The crushed leaves, or extracts of the plant are applied topically in the adjunct treatment of surgical wounds and minor burns[310. The extract is used effectively in the treatment of keloids, leg ulcers, phlebitis, slow-healing wounds, scleroderma, lupus, leprosy, surgical lesions, striae distensae, cellulitis and aphthae. Purified extracts are known to accelerate cicatrizing and skin grafting[].
The plant can be harvested at any time of the year and is used fresh or dried[]. Another report says that the dried herb quickly loses its medicinal properties and so is best used fresh[].

Much research has been carried out into the medicinal virtues of the plant, with very positive results. Several triterpenoid compounds have been isolated, the most important being asiaticoside, madecassoside, asiatic acid and madecassic acid - these are considered the pharmacologically active principles for treating skin conditions. Trials have confirmed their healing for conditions such as burns, wounds, cellulitis, leprotic infections and skin ulcers[].
The compounds brahmoside and brahminoside exhibit antispasmodic, antipyretic, central nervous system-depressant and hypotensive activity[].
The plant has shown promising narcotic analgesic activity mediated through opiodergic receptors[].
The ethanolic extract has shown anti-stress activity comparable to that of diazepam[].
Various trials with patients suffering from venous insufficiency of the lower limbs have shown a significant difference in favour of a titrated extract of the plant for the symptoms of heaviness in the lower limbs and oedema. The venous distensibility was also improved by the extract[].
An aqueous extract of the plant showed activity against the herpes simplex II virus[].
The compound asiaticoside has been shown to promote healing through bacteriostatic activity and stimulation of the reticuloendothelium[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is sometimes grown to provide ground cover[].
The flowers are a good source of pollen for honey bees[].

Other Uses

Extracts of the plant are added to cosmetic masks and creams to increase collagen and firm the skin[].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse[]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer of the following year, after the last expected frosts[].
Division is simple at any time in the growing season, though the spring is probably best[]. We find that it is best to pot up the divisions until they are rooting away well, though in selected mild gardens it should be possible to plant the divisions out directly into their permanent positions[].