R.B.Gupta

Centellaasiatica of the family Umbelliferae is commonly found in the parts of India, Asia and Middle East & commonly known as Mandookaparni. It is a perennial, herbaceous creeper growing upto 30 cm in height with fan-shaped leaves. It contains glycosides, alkaloids and triterpine acids. Toxicological study of asiaticoside showed that subcutaneous injection of asiaticoside in doses of 0.04 to 0.05 gm / kg in rat and rabbit was found toxic. The oral dose of 1 gm / kg was well tolerated. The plant is bitter, acrid, sweet, cooling, soporific, cardiotonic, nervine tonic, stomachic, carminative, antileprotic, diuretic and febrifuge. It is used as a brain tonic for promoting brain growth and improving memory. Ayurvedic medicines has effectively used it in the treatment of inflammation, anemia, asthma, blood disorders, bronchitis, fever, urinary discharge and splenomegaly. Reported activity of Centellaasiatica are cardiovascular acivity, antioxidant activity, antimicrobial activity, antifilarial activity, anxiolytic activity,antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic activity, radioprotective activity, antiprolifirative activity, anticonvulsant activity, memory enhancement activity, antinociceptive activity, anti-inflammatory activity, antiulcer activity, antifertility activity, antitumor activity, wound healing activity and anti-immune activity.