©Thomas Brendler
Centella asiatica (L.) Urban, Hydrocotylaceae
Synonyms: Centella coriacea Nannfd., Hydrocotyle asiatica L., Hydrocotyle lunata Lam. and Trisanthus cochinchinensis Lour.
Description: A slender, prostrate, perennial herb, the stems creeping, rooting at the nodes. Leaves alternate, simple, rounded and palmately veined, entire to repand-dentate; petiole 2- 15 cm long, thin. Inflorescence as pseudo- capitules, 2-4 small flowers borne on short peduncles. Fruit orbicular to ellipsoid, with rounded mericarp on the upper part.
Distribution: The plant is indigenous to the warmer regions of both hemispheres, including Africa, Australia, Cambodia, Central America, China, Indonesia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Madagascar, the Pacific Islands, South America, Thailand, southern United States of America, and Vietnam.
Chemistry: The whole plant contains alkaloids, tannins, coumarins, triterpenes and traces of saponins.
Pharmacology: The plant acts anti-inflammatory. The saponins exhibit profound sedative properties.
Uses: Applications include a variety of skin diseases, dyspeptic complaints, worms, fevers, insomnia, wound healing etc. In small doses Centella asiatica acts as a stimulant, but in large doses it is used as a narcotic.