Gotu kola Benefits

How were Gotu kola health benefits found?

Recently, Gotu kola or Centella asiatica is geting major attention from the Western countries due to much scientific evidence which proven the multiple health benefits of this herb. However, long before, historic ‘Sushruta Samhita’, an ancient Indian medical text had mentioned the medicinal properties of Gotu kola. Almost 2000 years back, Chinese medicine represented Gotu kola as “miracle elixirs of life”. People belong to Java and other Indonesian islands also had used Gotu kola to treat several medicines. [1]

In traditional Indian medicine, Gotu kola was used to treat different skin diseases, such as eczema, leprosy, lupus, psoriasis, varicose ulcers. This herb was also used in the treatment of fever, diarrhea, amenorrhea, and female genitourinary tract diseases. In the nineteenth century, Indian pharmacopeia incorporated Gotu kola for wound healing purpose. Versatile therapeutic potentials of this herb have tested through different diseases. [1]

This plant grows in tropical and subtropical regions like India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, South Africa, Eastern Europe, Madagascar, and South pacific countries in wet muddy lands.

In folk medicine, Gotu kola is widely used as 

• a blood purifier
• anti-hypertensive
• memory booster
• promotes longevity

In Ayurveda, Gotu kola is used for nerve and brain tissue revitalizing agent. Eastern countries used this herb for treating emotional disorders like depression which could generate mainly due to physical disorder. During the middle of the twentieth century, Western medicinal practice Gotu kola showed positive results against leprosy.  [1]

What are the Phytochemicals present in Gotu Kola?

Saponins also are known as triterpenoids are the primary bioactive phytochemicals of Gotu kola. Flavonoids, sterols, tannins, essential acid, phytosterols, mucilages, resins, free amino acids alkaloid like hydrochotine, vallerine (a bitter component), fatty acids (linoleic acids, linolnelic, oleic, palmitic and stearic acids) are different types of phytochemicals also present in Gotu kola. Following are some phytochemicals and their medicinal properties of Gotu kola.

• Different types of triterpenoids like asiaticosides, and other bioactive moieties, such as asiatic acid, madecassoside, and madasiatic acid are some of the primary compositions of Gotu kola mainly responsible for wound healing property.
• Brahmoside and brahminoside are two other phytochemicals of Gotu kola may act as central nervous system relaxing effect and also provide utero-relaxant action.
• Centelloside and its derivatives present in Gotu kola are effective to treat hypertension.
• Glycosides, such as isothankuniside and thankuniside present in Gotu kola have anti-fertility action. [1]

What is the Mode of action of Gotu Kola health benefits?

Each of the medicinal property of Gotu kola effective to prevent and treat diseases has followed a specific mechanism of action. These are as follows:

Wound healing

Gotu kola allows faster epithelialization on the wound by enhancing keratinization, which helps to thicken the skin tissue on the wound affected area. Asiaticoside, a phytochemical present in Gotu kola increases collagen formation and provides tensile strength to the newly formed skin. An animal trial reported that different formulation of Gotu kola topically applied on the open wound thrice daily for 24 days treatment period showed increase skin tissue growth with collagen synthesis at the site of the wound with increase tensile strength. [1]

Act on blood vessels

Gotu kola strengthens the vein and maintains the connective tissue functioning by stimulating the formation of chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronidase. [1]

Neurological benefit

Gotu kola has followed multiple mechanisms of actions on brain and neurological tissues to provide different therapeutic benefits.

Cholecystokinin (CCKB) receptors bind with the peptide hormones cholecystokinin (CCK) or gastrin and regulate brain and GI tract functioning. Researchers had anticipated that Gotu kola can bind with cholecystokinin receptors (CCKB) and play a potential role in anxiety modulation, anti-nociceptive action, regulates memory and hunger in animals and humans.

Total triterpenes present in Gotu kola improves the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and increase the amount of monoamine neurotransmitters contents, which elevate mood. An animal research study also reported that treating animals with Gotu kola can reduce corticosterone level and enhances 5-hydroxytryptamine, Norepinephrine, Dopamine, and their metabolites level. Gotu kola increases the GABA level in cerebral tissues. [1]

Antioxidant property

Gotu kola enhances antioxidant enzyme like glutathione level and also improve catalase levels. Along with this, a significant reduction of malondialdehyde has also found. It also showed that Gotu kola reduces lipid peroxidation with spontaneous motor activity. [1]

Gastric health

Gotu kola acts as a GABAa antagonist and inhibits the central cholinergic action. Gotu kola also strengthening of the mucosal defensive factors. [1]

Anti-inflammatory properties

Gotu kola inhibits nitric oxide (NO) synthesis to reduce inflammation. Madecassoside, an active phytochemical present in Gotu kola and effective to suppress action type II collagen-induced arthritis to reduce pain and inflammation associated with arthritis.

Radioprotection

Gotu kola significantly reduces radiation-induced behavioral changes. [1]

What are the different forms of Gotu Kola?

The research review result recommended the daily dose of Gotu kola leaf preparation is 600 mg. It is different Gotu kola formulations are available in the market. For example, Gotu kola capsule, dried Gotu kola leaf tea, Gotu kola extracts, etc. Not only whole Gotu kola, but an active constituent of Gotu kola-like Madecassol tablet also available in the market.  [1] Some of the herbal manufacturing companies like The Himalaya Drug Company, India, SD Biotechnologies co., Ltd. Korea, Pairs of Horses Biotechnology Co., Ltd. China also prepared different Gotu kola formulations, such as:

• Mandukaparni: Improve blood circulation
• Mentat: Nerve tonic for cognitive functioning
• Gertiforte: Immunity booster
• Abana: Cholesterol-lowering agent
• Menosan: alleviate menopausal syndrome symptoms
• Nourishing Skin Cream: Moisturizer
• SNP Control Cream: Anti-aging skin regimen
• Weight Loss Tea: Sliming supplement [2]

Gotu Kola uses

Gotu kola benefits for skin and wound treatment

Gotu kola is used to treat skin infection and other wounds due to its healing property. [1]

Scleroderma treatment

Gotu kola improves microcirculatory parameters and effective to control venous insufficiency, hypertensive microangiopathy and diminishing rate of capillary filtration. All these pharmacological activities correct the venous insufficiency condition and treat scleroderma. [1]

Anxiolytic 

Anxiety and insomnia have some physiological connection. The sedative property of Gotu kola helps to ease the anxiety level. [1]

Antidepressant

The phytochemicals like imipramine and triterpenes present in Gotu kola improve amino acid levels and significant reduction of the corticosterone level act as an anti-depressant. [1]

Gotu Kola use in epilepsy

Gotu kola ameliorates seizure attack due to its anti-epileptic action. It calms down the central nervous system and controls convulsion. [1]

Gotu Kola benefits memory

Gotu kola regulates neurotransmitter and controls central nervous system functioning, thus it boosts memory and improves cognitive functioning.

Researchers also expect Gotu kola has Alzheimer’s disease protective effect. Beta-amyloid neurotoxicity induces Alzheimer’s disease. Gotu kola and its phytochemicals like asiatic acid have potent antioxidant property, which inhibits beta-amyloid and also provide protection from free radical-induced neurological cell death. [1]

Gotu Kola benefits gastric ulcer

The anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting nitric oxide facilitates gastric ulcers. Gotu kola significantly increases gastric juice mucin secretion and increases the mucosal cell glycoproteins signifying an increase in cellular mucus level. Thus it protects against gastric ulcer formation. [1]

Rheumatic arthritis

Gotu kola regulates the abnormal humoral and immune functioning and also gives protection from joint damage. Research study has proven the anti-rheumatoid arthritis activity of Gotu kola. [1]

Gotu Kola benefits weight loss

Gotu kola increases nonesterified fatty acids content in adipose tissue and acts as a slimming agent. [2]

Gotu Kola Side effects

In therapeutic dose recommended by experts for Gotu kola does not cause any toxic effect. But sometimes hypersensitive patients complaint that topical application of Gotu Kola causes skin allergy, contact dermatitis, and burning sensation. Ingestion of high dose of Gotu Kola leads to extreme drowsiness, dizziness, headache, unconsciousness (occurs with extremely overdose)  stomach upset, and nausea. Allergic reactions and pain and discoloration at the injection site are common findings of Gotu Kola. The use of Gotu Kola is not recommended for more than six months periods. It is always better to keep 2 months gap between each 6 months therapy. [1]

When should I avoid Gotu Kola?

Gotu kola has a sedative effect. Therefore, it should not be taken with sedative or anxiolytic drugs. The lipid and blood glucose level lowering effects of Gotu kola may interfere with conventional hypoglycemic medications.

REFERENCES

1. KASHMIRA J. GOHIL et al. PHARMACOLOGICAL REVIEW ON CENTELLA ASIATICA: A POTENTIAL HERBAL CURE-ALL. INDIAN J PHARM SCI. 2010 SEP-OCT; 72(5): 546–556. 

2. Sakshi Singh, Asmita Gautam, Abhimanyu Sharma and Amla Batra. CENTELLA ASIATICA (L.): A PLANT WITH IMMENSE MEDICINAL POTENTIAL BUT THREATENED. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research. Volume 4, Issue 2, September – October 2010; Article 003.