Centellae asiaticae herba

Centellae asiatica herbae is the officinal preparation (Ph.Eur.8) of the Asiatic pennywort, which consists of the crushed and dried aerial parts of the plant.

HMPC: no monograph. Reason: no phytotherapeutics from pennywort, but preparations of asiaticoside and asiatic and madescassic acid.

ESCOP monograph: chronic venous insufficiency, varicose veins, for wound healing.

Commission E: no monograph.

Empirical medicine: Internal: age-related complaints, skin diseases, mild depression, irritable stomach, irritable bowel syndrome.

External: wound healing, psoriasis, senile itching, connective tissue weakness, cellulite.

Cosmetics industry: Centella asiatica extract (INCI)

Essential oils, flavonols, triterpene saponins, free triterpene acids (asiatic acid, madacic acid).

Antimicrobial, antiphlogistic, promotes wound healing; possibly inhibits excessive collagen proliferation (e.g. in scar keloids).

External: ointments and tinctures for wound and scar treatment;
Internal: tinctures as vein remedies

Approved preparations are not available in Germany. Available abroad as Madecasol® ointment and cream (1% active ingredient).

Contained in the combination preparation Kelofibrase Sandoz female lotion.

1. Leng DD et al. (2013) In vivo disposition and metabolism of madecassoside, a major bioactive constituent in Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. J Ethnopharmacol 150:601-608.
2. Lu GX et al. (2014) Madecassoside ameliorates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice by downregulating collagen deposition. Phytother Res 28:1224-1231.
3. Song J et al. (2012) Madecassoside suppresses migration of fibroblasts from keloids: involvement of p38 kinase and PI3K signaling pathways. Burns 38:677-684.
4. Wu F et al. (2012) Identification of Major Active Ingredients Responsible for Burn Wound Healing of Centella asiatica Herbs. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2012:848093.
5. https://heilkraeuter.de/lexikon/gotu-kola.htm
6. Blaschek W (2015) Wichtl tea drugs and phytopharmaceuticals. A handbook for practice. Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft Munich. S 164-165