La Centella in the field of health
Healthcare uses of Centella Asiatica extracts are plethoric and range from quickening cicatrisation to Leprosy easing.
Venous insufficiency and varicose veins
The best-documented use of Centella Asiatica is to treat chronic venous insufficiency, a condition closely related to varicose veins. Under these conditions, blood collects in the legs causing pain, heaviness, swelling, fatigue, and visible and unsightly veins. Preliminary double-blind, placebo-controlled studies indicate that Centella Asiatica extract improves the main symptoms of venous insufficiency, reducing swelling, pain, fatigue, sensation. heaviness and fluid leakage in the veins [1,2,3,4,5,6,7].
Known for its medicinal properties in Ayurvedic medicine
Healing
Varicose veins
Insomnia
Cognitive functions
Healing of wounds and skin lesions
Centella Asiatica extracts have traditionally been used for healing wounds, and research continues to support this claim8. Centella Asiatica contains triterpenoids, mainly Asiaticoside and Madecassoside, which strengthen the skin, increase the blood supply to wounds and stimulate antioxidant activity in the wound. Asiaticoside has also been healing properties by increasing collagen formation and stimulating angiogenesis [9,10], restoring the skin's elasticity and firmness [11,12].
Healing is most prominent with a product in the form of a gel. Indeed, it is supposed to affect keratinization, which promotes the thickening of the skin in areas of infection [13].
Centella Asiatica preparations may also help reduce stretch marks (pregnancy striae) that many women develop during pregnancy. A placebo-controlled study in 100 pregnant women compared the effect of applying a cream containing an extract of Centella Asiatica, vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol), and hydrolysates of collagen and elastin to placebo [14]. Application of the compound cream was associated with fewer women developing stretch marks compared to the placebo group.
The use of preparations based on Centella Asiatica topically may also be beneficial in reducing traces of scarring, which seems to be linked to the stimulation of scar maturation by the production of type I collagen and of which results in terms of decreased inflammatory response and production of myofibroblasts [15].
Insomnia Sedation
Centella Asiatica has traditionally been used as a sedative agent in many oriental cultures, an effect mainly attributed to the constituents brahmoside and brahminoside [16]. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study examined the anxiolytic effect of Centella Asiatica in human subjects [17]. The authors concluded that the anxiolytic effect that Centella Asiatica exerts in humans might be in part due to cholecystokinin receptor binding and cholinergic enhancement.
Memory Cognitive function
Several laboratory studies have shown that Centella Asiatica extracts help reduce cognitive impairment in rats with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and stimulate neuronal dendrites in the hippocampal region [18]. The mechanism of neuroprotection includes enhancement of phosphorylation of the ubiquitous cyclic AMP-binding transcription protein (CREB) and inhibition of the ERK / RSK signalling pathway. A small, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study in healthy volunteers found that Gotu kola extract (Centella Asiatica) can reduce age-related cognitive decline and positively influence mood [19].
Anxiety
Triterpenoids appear to decrease anxiety and increase mental function in mice. A human study showed that people who took Centella Asiatica were less likely to be startled by a sudden noise than those who took a placebo. Since the reaction to "sudden noise" may indicate anxiety, researchers hypothesize that Centella Asiatica may help reduce anxiety symptoms. But the dose used in this study was very high, so it is impossible to say how much Centella Asiatica should be used to treat anxiety.
[1] Cesarone MR, et al. The Microcirculatory Activity of Centella asiatica in Venous Insufficiency. A Double-blind Study. Minerva Cardioangiol. 1994;42(6):299-304.
[2] Allegra C. Comparative Capillaroscopic Study of Certain Bioflavonoids and Total Triterpenic Fractions of Centella asiatica in Venous Insufficiency. Clin Ter. 1981;99:507-13.
[3] Tenni R, et al. Effect of the Triterpenoid Fraction of Centella asiatica on Macromolecules of the Connective Matrix in Human Skin Fibroblast Cultures. Ital J Biochem. 1988;37(2):69-77.
[4] Darnis F, et al. Use of a Titrated Extract of Centella asiatica in Chronic Hepatic Disorders. Sem Hop. 1979;55(37-38):1749-50.
[5] Cesarone MR, Laurora G, De Sanctis MT, et al. Activity of Centella asiatica in Venous Insufficiency. Minerva Cardioangiol. Apr1992;40(4):137-43.
[6] Belcaro GV, Grimaldi R, Guidi G. Improvement of Capillary Permeability in Patients with Venous Hypertension after Treatment with TTFCA. Angiology. Jul1990;41(7):533-40.
[7] De Sanctis MT, Incandela L, Cesarone MR, et al. Acute Effects of TTFCA on Capillary Filtration in Severe Venous Hypertension. Panminerva Med. Jun1994;36(2):87-90.
[8] Brinkhaus B, Lindner M, Schuppan D, et al. Chemical, Pharmacological and Clinical Profile of the East Asian Medical Plant Centella asiatica. Phytomedicine. Oct2000;7(5):427-48.
[9] Rosen H, Blumenthal A, McCallum J. Effect of Asiaticoside on Wound Healing in the Rat. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. May1967;125(1):279-80.
[10] Kimura Y, Sumiyoshi M, Samukawa K, Satake N, Sakanaka M. Facilitating action of asiaticoside at low doses on burn wound repair and its mechanism. Eur J Pharmacol. 28 Apr 2008;584 (2-3):415-423. Epub 21 Feb 2008.
[11] Sunilkumar, Parameshwarajah S, Shivakumar HG. Evaluation of Topical Formulations of Aqueous Extract of Centella asiatica on Open Wounds in Rats. Indian J Exp Biol. Jun1998;36(6):569-72.
[12] Shukla A, Rasik AM, Dhawan BN. Asiaticoside-induced Elevation of Antioxidant Levels in Healing Wounds. Phytother Res. Feb1999;13(1):50-4.
[13] Poizot A, et al. Modification of the Kinetics of Healing after Iterative Exeresis in the Rat. Action of a Triterpenoid and Its Derivatives on the Duration of Healing. C R Acad Sci Hebd Seances Acad Sci D. 1978;286(10):789-92.
[14] Young GL, Jewell D. Creams for Preventing Stretch Marks in Pregnancy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2000;(2):CD000066.
[15] Widgerow AD, Chait LA, Stals R, et al. New Innovations in Scar Management. Aesthetic Plast Surg. May2000;24(3):227-34.
[16] Ramaswamy AS, et al. Pharmacological Studies on Centella asiatica. Linn. J Res Indian Med. 1970;4:160-75.
[17] Bradwejn J, Zhou Y, Koszycki D, 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. Dec2000;20(6):680-4.
[18] Xu Y, Cao Z, Khan I, Luo Y. Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) extract enhances phosphorylation of cyclic AMP response element binding protein in neuroblastoma cells expressing amyloid beta peptide. J Alzheimers Dis. Apr 2008;13(3):341-349.
[19] Wattanathorn J, Mator L, Muchimapura S, et al. Positive modulation of cognition and mood in the healthy elderly volunteer following the administration of Centella asiatica. J Ethnopharmacol. 5 Mar 2008;116(2):3