Recent studies demonstrated that Gotu kola destroyed cultured tumor cells in the laboratory setting (in vitro), promoted wound healing and more. This article summarize a few possible gotu kola benefits.
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Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) is a slender, creeping plant that grows mainly in
swampy areas of India, Sri Lanka, Madagascara and South Africa. Because gotu
kola's leaves are about the size of an old British penny, people also called it
Indian pennywort, marsh penny or water pennywort.
Gotu Kola was considered as a spiritual herb in Ayurveda and it was used to
improve meditation and to revitalize the nerves and brain cells. Some people
believe that it can help develop the crown charka, the energy center at the top of
the head. In modern herbal medication, Gotu Kola is always associated with
brain elevation.
EARLY STUDIES As early as in 1950s, Ratsimamanga AR et al and Antonelli
NS et al found tgotu kola might have benefits on refractory wounds, such as
leprosy, lupus and ulcers.[1-5]. While, other scientists studied the composition
of gotu kola and they found that gotu kola's key ingredient is asiatic acid, which
is a pentacyclic triterpene. [6-9]
GOTU KOLA BENEFITS, RESEARCH FINDS
Is gotu itself an anti-oxidant? If not, how can it protects us from free radicals?
What are its health benefits? Any evidence?
GOTU KOLA INCREASES THE ANTIOXIDANT ENZYMES
Oral treatment with crude methanol extract of gotu kola for 14 days significantly
increased the anti-oxidant enzymes, like superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase
and glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx), and anti-oxidants like glutathione (GSH)
and ascorbic acid decreased in lymphoma-bearing mice. [Jayashree G et
alFitoterapia. 2003 Jul;74(5):431-4].
VENOUS INSUFFICIENCY, HYPERTENSION
Pointel JP recruited 94 patients suffering from venous insufficiency of the lower
limbs participated in a multicenter, double-blind versus placebo study. They
found improvements in symptoms of heaviness in the lower limbs and edema in
the group treated with titrated extract of gotu kola [Angiology. 1987 Jan;38(1 Pt 1):46-50].
Total triterpenic fraction of gotu kola may have benefits in improving venous wall
alterations in chronic venous hypertension and in protecting the venous
endothelium. The total triterpenic fraction of gotu kola is active on connective
tissue modulation, improves the synthesis of collagen and other tissue proteins
by modulating the action of fibroblasts in the vein wall, and stimulates collagen
remodeling in and around the venous wall. Consequently, this fraction may have
significant benefits in venous hypertension and edema or protection against the
deterioration of microcirculation (due to diabetic microangiopathy). [Incandela L et al
Angiology. 2001 Oct;52 Suppl 2:S9-13, Angiology. 2001 Oct;52 Suppl 2:S61-7, Angiology. 2001 Oct;52
Suppl 2:S55-9, Angiology. 2001 Oct;52 Suppl 2:S49-54]
WOUND HEALING
Probably most of us know that gotu kola benefits wound healing. But, how?
Gotu kola may promoting wound healing and this action may be related to
collagen and fibronectin. This argument is based on human skin fibroblast
culture studies. [Tenni R et al Ital J Biochem. 1988 Mar-Apr;37(2):69-77].
In 1999, a study showed that topical Asiaticoside application twice daily for 7
days to excision-type cutaneous wounds in rats led to increased enzymatic and
non-enzymatic antioxidants, namely superoxide dismutase (35%), catalase
(67%), glutathione peroxidase (49%), vitamin E (77%) and ascorbic acid (36%)
in newly formed tissues. Tjis. the enhanced induction of antioxidant levels at an
initial stage of healing which may have benefits on the healing properties of this
substance. [Shukla et al Phytother Res. 1999 Feb;13(1):50-4]
Asiaticoside was found to induce cell-cycle progression, proliferation and
collagen synthesis in human dermal fibroblasts. Scientists thought, this
extracellular matrix sysnthesis might be related to certain gene expression. [Lu L et
alInt J Dermatol. 2004 Nov;43(11):801-7].
ANTI-HSV-II
Aqueous extract of gotu kola was found to be high effective on inhibition of
HSV-II. [J Tradit Chin Med. 1989 Jun;9(2):113-6]
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECT AND GASTRIC ULCER
Guo JS et al, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, investigated the effects
of gotu kola water extract (CE) and its active constituent, asiaticoside (AC), on
the expression and activity of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) during
gastric ulcer healing in rats. They found that the reduction of the ulcer size was
dose-dependent manner with a concomitant attenuation of iNOS activity and
protein expression at the ulcer tissues. Consequently, they suggested that gotu
kola water extract and gotu kola have anti-inflammatory property via inhibition of
NO synthesis and thus guto kola may have benefits on ulcer healing. [Guo JS et
al,Planta Med. 2004 Dec;70(12):1150-4].
CANCER
Gotu Kola is believed to have many benefits on patients suffered from cancers.
Here are some studies showing how gotu may benefit cancer patients:
Gotu kola (asiaticoside) was found to be able to induce apoptosis of tumor cells
and enchance the anti-tumor activities of vincristine. The cancer cells studied
were KB, KBv200, MCF-7, and MCF-7/ADM. [Huang YH et al Ai Zheng. 2004
Dec;23(12):1599-604]
SKIN CANCER
A study demonstrated that asiatic acid (gotu kola) could induce apoptosis of
SK-MEL-2 human melanoma cells via generation of ROS, alteration of Bax/Bcl-2
ratio and activation of caspase-3, but p53-independent. Consequently, asiatic
acid (gotu kola) may have potential health benefits on human skin cancer. [Park
BC et alCancer Lett. 2005 Jan 31;218(1):81-90].
GASTRIC ADENOCARCINOMA
A Japanese scientist prepared methanol extract from the aerial parts of gotu
kola. This extract contained ursolic acid lactone, ursolic acid, pomolic acid,
2alpha,3alpha-dihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid, 3-epimaslinic acid, asiatic acid,
corosolic acid, and rosmarinic acid. They found that all these compounds from
gotu kola had antiproliferative activities against human gastric adenocarcinoma
(MK-1), human uterine carcinoma (HeLa), and murine melanoma (B16F10) cells
was estimated. [Yoshida M et al Biol Pharm Bull. 2005 Jan;28(1):173-5]
UTERINE CARCINOMA
Yoshida M et al, Fukuoka University, Japan prepared methanol extract from the
aerial parts of gotu kola. This gotu kola extract contained ursolic acid lactone,
ursolic acid, pomolic acid, 2alpha,3alpha-dihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid,
3-epimaslinic acid, asiatic acid, corosolic acid, and rosmarinic acid. They found
that all these compounds had antiproliferative activities against human gastric
adenocarcinoma (MK-1), human uterine carcinoma (HeLa), and murine
melanoma (B16F10) cells was estimated. [Biol Pharm Bull. 2005 Jan;28(1):173-5]
HEART / LiVER PROTECTION
Gnanapragasam A et al, University of Madras, India, found that pre-co-treatment
with gotu kola (200 mg/kg of body wt/oral) extract significantly prevented the
alterations of the levels of serum makers LDH, CPK, GOT and GPT for
myocardial damage as well as several important antioxidant enzymes such as
SOD, CAT, GPx, GST during the treatment of adriamycin. [Life Sci. 2004 Dec
17;76(5):585-97]
Ming ZJ et al, Suzhou University, Jiangsu, found that total glucosides of gotu kola
could improve the liver functions (in terms of serum ALT, AST, HA) as well as
liver fibrosis during the treatment with dimethylnitrosamine in animal studies.
[Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2004 Aug;24(8):731-4].
STOMACH (ULCER) PROTECTION
Gotu has been known to benefit stomach for a long time. Here are some proofs
of its benefit claims:
Sairam K et al, Banaras Hindu University, India, demonstrated the protection of
gotu kola juice against the ethanol-, aspirin-, cold-restraint stress- and pyloric
ligation induced gastric ulcers in rats. Simultaneously, they also found increased
mucin secretion. Thus, they believed that the ulcer protective effect of gotu kola
juice was related to the strengthening of the mucosal defensive factors. [Indian J
Exp Biol. 2001 Feb;39(2):137-42].
Cheng CL et al, The University of Hong Kong,, Hong Kong, induced gastric
ulcers (kissing ulcers) in rats with acetic acid (gotu kola). And, they found that
gotu kola water extract and Asiaticoside upregulated the expression of basic
fibroblast growth factor in the ulcer tissues. Consequently, they suggested to
use gotu kola and gotu kola's active ingredient as anti-gastric ulcers drugs. [Life
Sci. 2004 Mar 19;74(18):2237-49]
NEURON PROTECTION
How does guto benefit conditions like Alzheimer's Disease? Here are
some answers:
Lee MK et al, Seoul National University, Korea, modified the chemical structure
of asiatic acid (from gotu kola) and obtained 36 derivatives and they found three
derivatives significantly mitigated the neurotoxicity induced by glutamate in their
screening system. The neuroprotective activities of these 3 derivatives appeared
to be more powerful than that of asiatic acid itself. These 3 derivatives
significantly attenuated decreases in the levels of glutathione, glutathione
peroxidase and other enzymes, which participate in the cellular defense
mechanisms blunting oxidative stress. Furthermore, they also significantly
reduced the overproduction of NO induced by glutamate. [Res Commun Mol Pathol
Pharmacol. 2000 Jul-Aug;108(1-2):75-86]
Considering, oxidative stress or an impaired endogenous anti-oxidant
mechanism is an important factor for Alzheimer's disease and
Intracerebroventricular streptozotocin (IS) in rats has been likened to sporadic
AD in humans, Veerendra Kumar MH et al, All India Institute of Medical Sciences,
India, studied the effect of an aqueous extract of gotu kola on IS- rats. They
found that rats treated with gotu kola showed a dose-dependent increase in
cognitive behaviour. They concluded that aqueous extract of C. asiatica is
effective in preventing the cognitive deficits, as well as the oxidative stress,
caused by Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) streptozotocin in rats. [Clin Exp Pharmacol
Physiol. 2003 May-Jun;30(5-6):336-42]
RADIATION
Sharma et al, University of Rajasthan, India, found gotu kola dose increased the
survival time of the mice significantly, when the mice were irradiated with Co 60
gamma radiation externally. [Phytother Res. 2002 Dec;16(8):785-6]
THIS ARTICLE IS FOR YOUR REFERENCE ONLY. IT CAN NOT BE USED TO SUBSTITUBE ANY MEDICAL ADVISE.
DISCCUSS WITH YOUR DOCTOR FOR ANY QUESTION. GUTO CAN NOT BE USED AS MEDICINE. ALL RIGHTS
RESERVED @ 2008 ZHION. DO NOT COPY THIS ARTICLE TO OTHER WEBSITE(S) NOR BLOG(S).
REFERENCES USED IN THE STUDIES IN THE EARLY STAGE
1. RATSIMAMANGA AR et al., Therapie. 1956;11(1):125-49. 2. RATSIMAMANGA AR et al., Lyon Med. 1957 Apr 28;89(17):389-95. 3.
RATSIMAMANGA AR et al., Presse Med. 1958 Dec 6;66(86):1933 passim. 4. Fubcato M., Minerva Chir. 1960 Nov 30;15:1235-8. 5. Antonellic NS,
Prensa Med Argent. 1961 Nov 24;48:3154-6. 6. RAHANDRAHA T et al, Ann Pharm Fr. 1963 Apr;21:313-20. 7. RAHANDRAHA T et al, Ann Pharm Fr.
1963 Jul-Aug;21:561-7. 8. Boiteau P et al, C R Acad Sci Hebd Seances Acad Sci D. 1967 Jan 9;264(2):407-10. 9. Park BC et al, Cancer Lett. 2005 Jan
31;218(1):81-90
Gotu Kola Benfits and Side Effects Centella asiatica
last updated February 19 2008
News
Chinese scientists found a
new triterpene in Centella
asiatica. But, this chemical
does not show any activities
against Hela and A549 cell
lines at concentrations of 10
and 30 microg/mL.
Reference Yu QL et al, A novel
triterpene from Centella asiatica,
Molecules 2006 Sep 4;11(9):66-5