Gotu Kola

    Researchedby:
    Kamal Patel
    Last Updated: September 28, 2022

    Centella asiatica (Gotu Kola) is a traditional medicine mainly renowned for its cognitive enhancing properties (usually alongside bacopa monnieri) and its ability to regenerate wound healing. It appears effective on both parameters in preclinical evidence, and may also be anti-rheumatic.

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    Gotu Kola is most often used for .

    997 participants in 16 trials

    Summary

    Centella asiatica (Gotu Kola) is a traditional medicine that is mostly used and renowned in Ayurveda but has some usage in Traditional chinese usage as well. It is most commonly known as a cognitive enhancing supplement that is somewhat 'interchangeable' with Bacopa monnieri (insofar that the two share many of the same names) but has additional benefits for cardiovascular health (in particular, chronic venous insufficiency), skin regeneration rates and wound healing, and possible benefits to anxiety and rheumatism.

    In regards to its cognitive enhancing properties, it requires a few weeks to work and seems to cause an increase in neuronal growth (not how many neurons there are, but how far their dendrites branch out). This is due to activating a class of proteins known as MAPKs, which causes a release in a growth factor for neurons called Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF). This is a mechanism somewhat similar to Bacopa monnieri and the time-delay in improving cognition is also similar; however, currently there are no studies assessing whether they can be used alongside each other or which one is more potent.

    It has another independent mechanism where it augments the release of an anti-inflammatory signalling molecule from immune cells, in particular it enhances the secretion of the molecule known as IL-1β from the immune cells known as macrophages; it does this at a remarkably low concentration (in the picomolar range) and is likely relevant to oral supplementation, and if so this could partly explain benefits to chronic venous insuffiency (which are quite proven with human evidence) and its anti-rheumatic benefits (not as proven).

    Finally, this plant may inhibit a group of enzymes that break down collagen while simultanously increasing the rate that collagen is synthesized; this is thought to underlie the increase in wound healing rate (which is proven in animal research with preliminary human research) and is thought to be the reason why centella asiatica is used as a skin tightening agent as any increase in collagen synthesis (like with creatine) should cause a firmness of the skin.

    What are other names for Gotu Kola

    Note that Gotu Kola is also known as:
    • Gotu Kola
    • Indian Pennywort
    • Jal Brahmi And Mandookaparni
    • Brahmi
    • Tsubokusa
    • Centella Asiatica
    Gotu Kola should not be confused with:

    Dosage information

    Most of the human studies (on Chronic Venous Insufficiency) on this herb have used a centella asiatica supplement two to three times a day, and at each dose the total saponin dose (asiatic acid, madecassic acid, asiaticoside, and madecassoside) has totalled 30-60 mg given a total daily range of 60-180 mg total saponins.

    While there are currently no human studies on cognitive enhancement, rat studies have noted success with 200-300 mg per kilogram of the overall plant extract (since the saponins may not be the only active ingredient for cognition); this suggests a human dose of 32-48 mg/kg and thus:

    • 2,100-3,300 mg for a 150lb person
    • 2,900-4,400 mg for a 200lb person
    • 3,600-5,500 mg for a 250lb person

    The above dosages ranges are but estimates for cognitive enhancement. Currently, 500mg of centella asiatica twice daily has shown anxiety reducing effects in humans and 750mg of a 5% asiaticoside extract has enhanced mood state; while these doses are active on the cognition, it is not yet demonstrated if they are the dose needed to boost learning.

    Examine Database: Gotu Kola

    Examine Database References

    1. Leg Edema - Pointel JP, Boccalon H, Cloarec M, Ledevehat C, Joubert MTitrated extract of Centella asiatica (TECA) in the treatment of venous insufficiency of the lower limbsAngiology.(1987 Jan)
    2. Leg Edema - M R Cesarone, L Incandela, M T De Sanctis, G Belcaro, G Geroulakos, M Griffin, A Lennox, A D Di Renzo, M Cacchio, M BucciFlight microangiopathy in medium- to long-distance flights: prevention of edema and microcirculation alterations with total triterpenic fraction of Centella asiaticaAngiology.(2001 Oct)
    3. Leg Edema - Cesarone MR, Belcaro G, Rulo A, Griffin M, Ricci A, Ippolito E, De Sanctis MT, Incandela L, Bavera P, Cacchio M, Bucci MMicrocirculatory effects of total triterpenic fraction of Centella asiatica in chronic venous hypertension: measurement by laser Doppler, TcPO2-CO2, and leg volumetryAngiology.(2001 Oct)
    4. Leg Edema - Allegra C, Pollari G, Criscuolo A, Bonifacio M, Tabassi DCentella asiatica extract in venous disorders of the lower limbs. Comparative clinico-instrumental studies with a placeboClin Ter.(1981 Dec 15)
    5. Chronic Venous Insufficiency Signs - Marastoni F, Baldo A, Redaelli G, Ghiringhelli LCentella asiatica extract in venous pathology of the lower limbs and its evaluation as compared with tribenosideMinerva Cardioangiol.(1982 Apr)
    6. Chronic Venous Insufficiency Signs - Cesarone MR, Laurora G, De Sanctis MT, Incandela L, Grimaldi R, Marelli C, Belcaro GThe microcirculatory activity of Centella asiatica in venous insufficiency. A double-blind studyMinerva Cardioangiol.(1994 Jun)
    7. Chronic Venous Insufficiency Signs - Belcaro GV, Grimaldi R, Guidi GImprovement of capillary permeability in patients with venous hypertension after treatment with TTFCAAngiology.(1990 Jul)
    8. Processing Accuracy - Wattanathorn J, Mator L, Muchimapura S, Tongun T, Pasuriwong O, Piyawatkul N, Yimtae K, Sripanidkulchai B, Singkhoraard JPositive modulation of cognition and mood in the healthy elderly volunteer following the administration of Centella asiaticaJ Ethnopharmacol.(2008 Mar 5)
    9. Anxiety Symptoms - Jana U, Sur TK, Maity LN, Debnath PK, Bhattacharyya DA clinical study on the management of generalized anxiety disorder with Centella asiaticaNepal Med Coll J.(2010 Mar)
    10. Blood Pressure - Bradwejn J, Zhou Y, Koszycki D, Shlik JA double-blind, placebo-controlled study on the effects of Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) on acoustic startle response in healthy subjectsJ Clin Psychopharmacol.(2000 Dec)
    11. Chronic Venous Insufficiency Signs - Incandela L, Belcaro G, De Sanctis MT, Cesarone MR, Griffin M, Ippolito E, Bucci M, Cacchio MTotal triterpenic fraction of Centella asiatica in the treatment of venous hypertension: a clinical, prospective, randomized trial using a combined microcirculatory modelAngiology.(2001 Oct)
    12. Chronic Venous Insufficiency Signs - 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 MEffects of the total triterpenic fraction of Centella asiatica in venous hypertensive microangiopathy: a prospective, placebo-controlled, randomized trialAngiology.(2001 Oct)
    13. Microcirculation - De Sanctis MT, Belcaro G, Incandela L, Cesarone MR, Griffin M, Ippolito E, Cacchio MTreatment of edema and increased capillary filtration in venous hypertension with total triterpenic fraction of Centella asiatica: a clinical, prospective, placebo-controlled, randomized, dose-ranging trialAngiology.(2001 Oct)
    14. Microcirculation - Incandela L, Belcaro G, Cesarone MR, De Sanctis MT, Nargi E, Patricelli P, Bucci MTreatment of diabetic microangiopathy and edema with total triterpenic fraction of Centella asiatica: a prospective, placebo-controlled randomized studyAngiology.(2001 Oct)
    15. Microcirculation - Cesarone MR, Incandela L, De Sanctis MT, Belcaro G, Bavera P, Bucci M, Ippolito EEvaluation of treatment of diabetic microangiopathy with total triterpenic fraction of Centella asiatica: a clinical prospective randomized trial with a microcirculatory modelAngiology.(2001 Oct)
    16. Wound Healing - Paocharoen VThe efficacy and side effects of oral Centella asiatica extract for wound healing promotion in diabetic wound patientsJ Med Assoc Thai.(2010 Dec)