Centella asiatica (L.) Urb.

Abstract

WATERLIT Abstract: Angiospermae Dicotyledonae Apiaceae (Umbelliferae): cosmopolitan plants which are aromatic and often poisonous due mainly to polyacetylenes with a 17-carbon skeleton. The poisonous principle in Conium is an alkaloid. Triterpenoid saponins and various coumarins are often found and sesquiterpenoid lactones sometimes occur. The plants are seldom cyanogenic or tanniferous and lack proanthocyanins, gallic acid and ellagic acid. Carbohydrate is commonly stored as the trisaccharide umbelliferose and schizogenous secretory canals contain ethereal monoterpenoids. Sesquiterpenoids and phenyl-propanoid compounds are found. Some members contain furocoumarins which can cause hypersensitivity to sunlight while falcarindiol isolated from some species has antifungal properties. Centella L.: perennial, often prostrate, herbs which root at the nodes. Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. Common names: Afrikaans: varkoortjies, waternavel; English: Indian pennywort, marsh pennywort, pennywort; Zulu: icukudwane Zulu medicinal usage: used topically for skin complaints Other medicinal usage: used in the Cape for leprosy and various skin conditions; used in East Africa for fevers and bowel complaints; used in Asia as a diuretic and purgative; used in India for leprosy and syphilis; used experimentally for tuberculosis Physiological effects and toxicity: large doses of infusions are reported to have narcotic effects Chemical constituents: compounds found include asiaticoside, the glycoside of a genin composed of a pentacyclic tritepenic acid, free asiatic, brahamic, centellic, isobrahamic, madecassic and betulic acids, terpenoids, various saponins, volatile oil and a hydrocotyline alkaloid Biological properties: therapeutic activity has been reported for ulcers, wounds, keloid and hypertrophic scars, burns, post-operative scarring and venous disorders of the lower limbs; inhibition of human fibroplast growth is indicated; extracts stimulate phagocytosis in mice; alcoholic extracts are sedative and show no antileptazol or antistrychnine effects