Gotu Kola
Scientifi c names: Scientifi c names: Centella asiatica
Other common names: Centella, hydrocotyle, Indian pennywort, Indian water navelwort, talepetrako, teca, water pennywort
Origin: Gotu kola is a creeping plant found in the swamps of Africa, Sri Lanka, and Madagascar.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF GOTU KOLA
Immune Support, Men, Women, Urinary Tract Support
Gotu kola is an herb that is commonly used in Traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. The above-ground parts are used to make medicine.
Gotu kola contains certain chemicals that seem to decrease inflammation and also decrease blood pressure in veins. Gotu kola also seems to increase collagen production, which is important for wound healing.
Uses
Gotu kola is used to treat bacterial, viral, or parastitic infections such as urinary tract infection (UTI), shingles, leprosy, cholera, dysentery, syphilis, the common cold, influenza, H1N1 (swine) flu, elephantiasis, tuberculosis, and schistosomiasis.
Gotu kola is also used for fatigue, anxiety, depression, psychiatric disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, and improving memory and intelligence. Other uses include wound healing, trauma, and circulation problems (venous insufficiency) including varicose veins, and blood clots in the legs.
Some people use gotu kola for sunstroke, tonsillitis, fluid around the lungs (pleurisy), liver disease (hepatitis), jaundice, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), stomach pain, diarrhea, indigestion, stomach ulcers, epilepsy, asthma, “tired blood” (anemia), diabetes, and for helping them live longer.
Gotu kola is sometimes applied to the skin for wound healing and reducing scars, includiung stretch marks caused by pregnancy. [1]
Constituents
Amino acids Alanine and serine (major components), aminobutyrate, aspartate, glutamate, histidine, lysine and threonine.(1)
The root contains greater quantities than the herb.(1)
Flavonoids Quercetin, kaempferol and various glycosides.(2–4)
Terpenoids Triterpenes, asiaticoside, centelloside, madecassoside,
brahmoside and brahminoside (saponin glycosides). Aglycones are referred to as hydrocotylegenin A–E;(5) compounds A–D are reported to be esters of the triterpene alcohol R1- barrigenol.(5, 6) Asiaticentoic acid, centellic acid, centoic acid and madecassic acid.
Volatile oils Various terpenoids including b-caryophyllene, transb- farnesene and germacrene D (sesquiterpenes) as major components, a-pinene and b-pinene. The major terpenoid is stated to be unidentified.
Other constituents Hydrocotylin (an alkaloid), vallerine (a bitter principle), fatty acids (e.g. linoleic acid, linolenic acid, lignocene, oleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid), phytosterols (e.g. campesterol, sitosterol, stigmasterol),(7) resin and tannin
Part(s) Used
Bark
Additional Resources
[1] https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-753/gotu-kola
View Important Precautions
Important Precautions
Not for use during pregnancy or lactation. If you have a medical condition or take pharmaceutical drugs please consult your doctor prior to use.
Disclaimer
This information in our Herbal Reference Guide is intended only as a general reference for further exploration, and is not a replacement for professional health advice. This content does not provide dosage information, format recommendations, toxicity levels, or possible interactions with prescription drugs. Accordingly, this information should be used only under the direct supervision of a qualified health practitioner such as a naturopathic physician.
