Centella asiatica: A plant with multifarious activities

摘要

The chemical substances present in the medicinal plants are believed to be an important source with therapeutic effects. For many centuries, several health disorders have been treated by using plant extracts from medicinal plants. In the last decade, the study of plant extract has attracted attention in curing various challenging diseases. Many plants are of folklore origin and are traditionally used in the Indian system of medicine. One such herb known for many centuries in Ayurveda is Centella asiatica, commonly known as Indian Pennywort. The plant is well known for improving memory and intellectual ability. The herb as a whole is used to improve memory, intelligence, as a nerve tonic, tranquiliser, to treat anaemia, asthma, blood disorders, diuretic, wound healing, epilepsy, abdominal disorders, bronchitis, fever, urinary discharge and splenomegaly. Various extracts from this herb have known to possess pharmacological properties. In the traditional system of medicine, Ayurveda, Centella asiatica is used for neuropharmacological activities, anti ulcer, cardiovascular, antinociceptive and anti inflammatory, wound healing, immunomodulatory, anti cancer, anti microbial and antioxidant activity. A wide variety of chemical compounds including alkaloids, flavonoids, sterols, triterpenoids have been found in this plant. The major phytoconstituents of the herb is saponins chiefly asiatic acid, asiaticoside, madecassoside, madecassic acid and flavonoids. This contribution provides a comprehensive review of ethnomedical uses, chemical constitutents and pharmacological uses as a medicinal plant.