Centella asiatica (Mandukparni)
Centella asiatica (Mandukparni) Centella asiatica is a tropical wetland plant that grows in Australia, Asia, Africa and southern parts of North America. It has been used to treat varicose veins and is shown to help wound healing through collagen synthesis, nerve regeneration after damage, production of nerve cell signaling chemicals called neurotransmitters and may even be useful for anxiety. Major Chemical Constituents: Triterpene acids, volatile and fatty oil, alkoloids, glycosides (asicaticoside, madecassoside, centelloside), and flavonoids are the major chemical constituents of Centella asiatica. Pharmacological Actions: Wound Healing: 1, 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 The extract increased cellular proliferation and collagen synthesis at the wound site, as evidenced by increase in DNA, protein and collagen content of granulation tissues. Quicker and better maturation and cross linking of collagen was observed in the extract-treated rats, as indicated by the high stability of acid-soluble collagen. Madecassic acid, Asiatic acid and asiaticosides not only increase in collagen synthesis but it also increases peptedic hydroxyproline content, tensile strength, angiogenesis, and epitheliazation in various animal models which contributes its would healing action. It also accelerates cicatrisation and grafting of wounds. With the treatment of Centella asiatica, elevated basal levels of uronic acids and lysosomal enzymes, indicating an increased mucopolysaccharide turnover in varicose vein patients. These results confirm the regulatory properties of the extract on the metabolism in the connective tissue of the vascular wall. Memory Enhancer and Neuroprotective: 10,11,12 Centella asiatica showed significant improvement in learning and memory and also decreased norepinephrine, and dopamine and 5-HT and their metabolites in the brain. It also accelerates nerve regeneration as well as repair damaged neurons in in-vitro model. Centella asiatica, in mentally retarded children, 12-week treatment showed very significant increase in their general abilities and behavior pattern. Cardio-Protective: 13,14,15,16 Centella asiatica showed cardioprotective effect in adriamycin induced cardiac damaged in rats. It also limiting eschemia-reperfusion induced myocardial infraction in rats. The number of human clinical trials showed significantly improvement in venous hypertension by improving capillary filtration rate and ankle edema in a dose dependent manner. Anti-oxidant: 17 Centella asiatica showed potent antioxidant activity in arsenic induced oxidative stress and also exerts neuro-protective action. Immunomodulator: 18 Centella asiatica significalty increase white blood cell, born marrow, cellularity, natural killer cells and antibody dependent cellular activity in mice exposed to gamma radiation. Venotonic activity: 13 Centella asiatica significantly improves venous wall alteration in chronic venous hypertension and also protects venous endothelium. It improves collagen synthesis and other tissue protein by modulating the action of fibroblast in the vessel’s wall. It also stimulates collagen remodeling in and around vessel wall. Anti-depressant and tranquilizing effect: 14,15 Centella asiatica significantly reduced the serum corticosterone level and increase the monoamine neurotransmitter in rat brain. Herb Drug interactions: There are no known Herbal-drug interactions. Safety: No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction with the proper administration of designated therapeutic dosages. References: • Indian J Exp Biol., 34(12): 1208-11, 1996. • Tenni R, Zanaboni G, De Agostini MP, Rossi A, Bendotti C, Cetta G. 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. • Bonte F, Dumas M, Chaudagne C, Meybeck A. Influence of asiatic acid, madecassic acid, and asiaticoside on human collagen I synthesis. Planta Med. 1994; 60(2): 133-5. • Maquart FX, Bellon G, Gillery P, Wegrowski Y, Borel JP. Stimulation of collagen synthesis in fibroblast cultures by a triterpene extracted from Centella asiatica. Connect Tissue Res. 1990; 24(2): 107-20. • Shukla A, Rasik AM, Jain GK, Shankar R, Kulshrestha DK, Dhawan BN. In vitro and in vivo wound healing activity of asiaticoside isolated from Centella asiatica. J Ethnopharmacol. 1999; 65(1): 1-11. • Maquart FX, Chastang F, Simeon A, Birembaut P, Gillery P, Wegrowski Y. Triterpenes from Centella asiatica stimulate extracellular matrix accumulation in rat experimental wounds. Eur J Dermatol. 1999; 9(4): 289-96. • Shukla A, Rasik AM, Dhawan BN. Asiaticoside-induced elevation of antioxidant levels in healing wounds. Phytother Res. 1999; 13(1): 50-4. • Lu L, Ying K, Wei S, Fang Y, Liu Y, Lin H, Ma L, Mao Y. Asiaticoside induction for cell-cycle progression, proliferation and collagen synthesis in human dermal fibroblasts. Int J Dermatol. 2004; 43(11): 801-7. • Int J Clin Pharmacol Res. 1990; 10(4): 229-33. • Nalini K, Aroor AR, Karanth KS. Effect of Centella asiatica fresh leaf aqueous extract on Learning and memory and biogenic amine turnover in albino rats. Fitoterapia. 1992; 63(3): 232-237. • Soumyanath A, Zhong YP, Gold SA, Yu X, Koop DR, Bourdette D, Gold BG. Centella asiatica accelerates nerve regeneration upon oral administration and contains multiple active fractions increasing neurite elongation in-vitro. J Pharm Pharmacol. 2005; 57(9): 1221-9. • Appa Rao MVR, Srinivasan K, Koteswara Rao T. The effect of Centella asiatica on the general mental ability of mentally retarded children. Indian J. Psychiat. 1977; 19(4): 54 -59. • Gnanapragasam A, Ebenezar KK, Sathish V, Govindaraju P, Devaki T. Protective effect of Centella asiatica on antioxidant tissue defense system against adriamycin induced cardiomyopathy in rats. Life Sci. 2004; 76(5): 585-97. • Cesarone MR, Belcaro G, Rulo A, Griffin M, Ricci A, Ippolito E, De Sanctis MT, Incandela L, Bavera P, Cacchio M, Bucci M. Microcirculatory effects of total triterpenic fraction of Centella asiatica in chronic venous hypertension: measurement by laser Doppler, TcPO2-CO2, and leg volumetry. Angiology. 2001; 52(2): S45-8. • Cesarone MR, Belcaro G, De Sanctis MT, Incandela L, Cacchio M, Bavera P, Ippolito E, Bucci M, Griffin M, Geroulakos G, Dugall M, Buccella S, Kleyweght S, Cacchio M. Effects of the total triterpenic fraction of Centella asiatica in venous hypertensive microangiopathy: a prospective, placebo-controlled, randomized trial. Angiology. 2001; 52(2): S15-18. • Cesarone MR, Laurora G, De Sanctis MT, Incandela L, Grimaldi R, Marelli C, Belcaro G. The microcirculatory activity of Centella asiatica in venous insufficiency. A double-blind study. Minerva Cardioangiol. 1994; 42(6): 299-304. • Gupta R, Flora SJ. Effect of Centella asiatica on arsenic induced oxidative stress and metal distribution in rats. J Appl Toxicol. 2006; 26(3): 213-22. • Plohmann B, Bader G, Hiller K, Franz G. Immunomodulatory and antitumoral effects of triterpenoid saponins. Pharmazie. 1997; 52(12): 953-7. • Incandela L, Cesarone MR, Cacchio M, De Sanctis MT, Santavenere C, D'Auro MG, Bucci M, Belcaro G. Total triterpenic fraction of Centella asiatica in chronic venous insufficiency and in high-perfusion microangiopathy. Angiology. 2001; 52(2): S9-13. • Chen Y, Han T, Rui Y, Yin M, Qin L, Zheng H. Effects of total triterpenes of Centella asiatica on the corticosterone levels in serum and contents of monoamine in depression rat brain. Zhong Yao Cai. 2005; 28(6): 492-6. • Aithal H.N; Sissi M. Preliminary pharmacological studies on Centella asiatica Linn. (N.C Umbelliferae) Antiseptic. 1961; 16.