RESEARCH MONOGRAPH · KDC-MN-173

Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica)

May 9, 2026 Kodiac biolabs Research Revised May 30, 2026 2 min read

Our opinion on this compound

68/100

Decent wound-healing botanical, real but modest cognitive signal, and the marker compounds matter

Centella asiatica is one of those traditional medicine botanicals where the dermatologic story is much better-evidenced than the cognitive story, but both have some real signal. The active fraction is the triterpenoid saponins, mostly asiaticoside, madecassoside, asiatic acid, madecassic acid, sometimes called the centellosides collectively.

The wound-healing pharmacology is genuinely real. Multiple clinical trials and decades of dermatology practice support topical and oral Centella preparations for scar improvement, hypertrophic scar prevention, post-surgical healing, and chronic venous insufficiency. The mechanism involves TGF-beta modulation, fibroblast proliferation, collagen organization (specifically favoring type I over III in mature scars), and microcirculatory effects. This is the strongest evidence base under any traditional botanical wound-healing claim that we know of.

The cognitive story is messier. There's preclinical work suggesting BDNF upregulation, axonal regeneration in cell culture, and acetylcholinesterase inhibition. A handful of small human trials in healthy elderly and in mild cognitive impairment show modest cognitive improvements with various extracts, but effect sizes are small and the trials are not always well-controlled. So we'd call it a real but modest signal, and not in the same league as the dermatologic evidence.

Sourcing matters a lot. Standardized extracts (often labeled as TECA, titrated extract of Centella asiatica, or by specific triterpenoid content) are what most of the clinical literature actually used. Bulk dried herb or non-standardized extracts can have asiaticoside content varying by an order of magnitude. The thing to look for is whether the extract specifies percentage triterpenoids and how that compares to the reference studies.

Safety profile is clean at supplemental doses. There are some isolated case reports of hepatotoxicity at very high or chronic doses, which is worth noting but is not a major safety signal in the literature.

What we like: the dermatologic and microcirculatory evidence is real and the mechanism is reasonably well-mapped at the triterpenoid level. What we dont like: the way it's marketed as a cognitive nootropic when the cognitive data is honestly the weakest part of its profile, and the variability between commercial extracts is enormous.

For research use, specify titrated extract and triterpenoid content.

Evidence: 65
Mechanism: 70
Reliability: 65
Safety: 82
Sourcing: 60
Value: 70
Signal: 65
Staying power: 70

Plain-language summary Intrigue 50 / 100

Gotu kola (Centella asiatica) is an Asian umbelliferous herb traditionally used for skin healing, cognitive function, and longevity. Triterpenoids drive the activity. Not stocked by Kodiac. This monograph is provided for research and educational reference.

Intrigue 0–100 blends mechanism novelty, evidence strength, and translational potential. Kodiac editorial, not peer-reviewed.

Asian umbelliferous botanical

A creeping perennial used in Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine for cognitive function and skin healing, characterized by triterpene saponins.

Abstract

Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) is a creeping perennial herb used in Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine for cognitive function, anxiety, and wound healing. Active constituents are triterpene saponins (asiaticoside, madecassoside, asiatic acid, madecassic acid). The compound has been studied for cognitive enhancement, anxiety, venous insufficiency, and wound healing. Mechanism includes BDNF upregulation, antioxidant activity, and modulation of GABAergic neurotransmission. Reported research dose ranges in the literature are described in the source publications.

Mechanism of action

Triterpene saponins (asiaticosides, madecassosides). BDNF upregulation, GABA modulation.

Reported research dose ranges

Reported research dose ranges in the literature.

References

Gohil KJ, et al. Pharmacological review on Centella asiatica. Indian J Pharm Sci 2010.

Read the full monograph

Available as a research-use-only PDF download. Note: PDFs for newly added compounds may take a few hours to propagate after this article was published.

KDC-MN-173

The full reference document is provided strictly for research use only. It reports research dose ranges from the published literature, not instructions for use in humans or animals.

Download PDF →

FOR RESEARCH USE ONLY. Not for medical, diagnostic, or therapeutic purposes. Not for human consumption. All information is provided for research and educational purposes only.

Kodiac sells research compounds for investigative use only.

Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica)

Abstract

Mechanism of action

Reported research dose ranges

References

Read the full monograph

Quick actions

Categories

Help and policies

Abstract

Mechanism of action

Reported research dose ranges

References

Read the full monograph

Adjacent monographs