A brief summary on the herb Gotu Kola centers on the fact that the herb was originally called Brahmi or Mandukaparni. The herb has been used for thousands of years for a host of different ailments, all of which cover the whole body. Gotu Kola utilizes and enforces the chemical activity of Saponins. As a result medical benefits of the herb are obtained through the chemical activity of the Saponins.
The leaves have been used topically for everything from Fever, bruising, and bowel problems when applied topically. Apart from wound healing and topical usage, the herb is recommended for the treatment of various skin conditions such as leprosy, lupus, varicose ulcers, eczema, psoriasis, diarrhoea, fever, amenorrhea, diseases of the female genitourinary tract and also for relieving anxiety and improving cognition when used internally.
This particular Ayurvedic herb has been used for thousands of years and has been considered “one of the elixir’s of life” known over 2000 years ago. Its latin name is known as Centella asiatica. Not to be confused with its kola nut which has stimulant properties and caffeine, the leaves have a different chemical makeup. The primary active constituents of CA are saponins (also called triterpenoids), which include asiaticosides, in which a trisaccharide moiety is linked to the aglycone asiatic acid, madecassoside and madasiatic acid[13]. These triterpene saponins and their sapogenins are mainly responsible for the wound healing and vascular effects by inhibiting the production of collagen at the wound site. The chemical constituency of saponins is generally centered around the soap-like substance and how it forms with cholesterol and protects cells against cytotoxic therapy.
It is widely used as a blood purifier as well as for treating high blood pressure, for memory enhancement and promoting longevity. In Ayurveda, Gotu Kola is one of the main herbs for revitalizing the nerves and brain cells. Eastern healers relied on Gotu Kola to treat emotional disorders, such as depression, that were thought to be rooted in physical problems.
The most promising information has been in the clinical studies that have been done with the herb. Clinical trials have demonstrated that the herbal drug possesses an Ayurvedic “Medhya Rasayana” effect or (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 observed.
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 weeks.
The present review is indicative of multiple useful clinical effects of Centella asiatica especially in the age-related cognitive decline. Further long-term studies will help determine the exact mechanism by which CA influences age-related changes in mood and cognitive function. Also the purported anxiolytic activity of CA is intriguing in view of the proposed involvement of cholecystokinin (CCK) in the pathophysiology of fear and anxiety. However, the mechanism of action and possible toxicity needs to be further investigated in a large sample which may bring to the light, the precise mechanisms for ameliorating many other CNS related conditions like depression and sleep disorders apart from anxiety. Moreover, more double blind randomized clinical trials are needed for investigating its sedative, analgesic, antidepressive, antiviral and immunomodulatory effects that have been demonstrated experimentally in animals.
Currently, a pilot study is going on by National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) in Oregon U.S.A, to investigate the safety, tolerability and effectiveness of Centella asiatica selected triterpenes (CAST)[82]. In this Phase II randomized, double blind study CA is being evaluated as a treatment for diabetic neuropathy using primary outcome measure as total neuropathic symptom score and secondary outcomes as neurological disability score, nerve conduction measurements and quantitative sensory testing. One recent study described protective effect of CA extracts against colchicine induced cognitive impairment and associated oxidative damage in rats[83]. In the study, chronic treatment with CA extracts (150 and 300 mg/kg, p.o.) for a period of 25 days, beginning 4 days prior to colchicine administration, significantly attenuated colchicine-induced memory impairment and oxidative damage, besides, significantly reversing the colchicines administered increase in acetylcholinesterase activity[83]. Another current study assessed the antioxidant property in elderly subjects and confirmed the beneficial effects of CAE (at doses of 500 and 750 mg per day) in elderly patients for 90 days, where, the CAE improved the strength especially in the lower extremities of the elderly[84]. The study also proved the role of CAE as a natural resource for vigor and strength increase, in healthy elderly persons.
Overall, the use of Gotu Kola appears to show a lot of promise for overall cerebral circulation and improvement of cognition in individuals of all age ranges.
References:
- 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.
- Gohil, Kashmira J., Jagruti A. Patel, and Anuradha K. Gajjar. “Pharmacological Review on Centella Asiatica: A Potential Herbal Cure-all.” Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Medknow Publications, Sept.-Oct. 2010. Web. 18 May 2016.
- “Herbal Monograph – Indian Pennywort, Centella, Gotu Kola.” Herbal Monograph – Indian Pennywort, Centella, Gotu Kola. The Himalaya Drug Company, 1989. Web. 18 May 2016.
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