Centella Asiatica Simply Explained

1. What It Is About

Centella asiatica is a plant also known in German as Gotu Kola. Research focuses primarily on its leaves and the extracts derived from them. Extracts are concentrated preparations obtained from plant parts. An analytical study describes the plant as an Ayurvedic herb with potential applications in mental health and cognitive function. Key constituents include asiaticoside and madecassoside, which are triterpenes—a group of plant compounds. Asiatic acid and madecassosic acid are also described. The effect of an extract depends on how it is produced; different extraction methods alter its chemical profile. The form of the extract also matters: there are oral extracts and topical extracts for skin application, which are absorbed and act in different ways. Some studies use laboratory cell cultures, others animal models, and some human participants. Findings from cells or animals do not necessarily translate to human applications. Therefore, the first question to ask about any study is what it examined.

2. What Studies Show

The best-studied area is the skin. In a randomised controlled trial—meaning participants were randomly assigned to groups—112 women received either a Centella asiatica extract or a placebo for 12 weeks. A placebo is an inactive substance. A three-dimensional skin imaging system measured wrinkle depth. In the extract group, several wrinkle measures improved: average wrinkle depth, the deepest point of the largest wrinkle, total wrinkle volume, and skin surface roughness 4. There is also a controlled study on wound healing. Sixty volunteers with fresh, superficial wounds were divided into two groups. One group received a spray film containing a leaf extract of Centella asiatica, while the other did not. Healing was assessed using a wound healing scale that includes wound fluid. In the spray film group, both values decreased markedly, indicating improved healing 2. After carpal tunnel release surgery, a study of 280 patients found that one group applied a Centella asiatica extract cream for six months after suture removal, while the other received no treatment. After six months, hand function and satisfaction were better in the cream group 8. In another controlled study, 80 men and women aged 45 to 65 received either a standardised Centella asiatica extract or a placebo for six months. The density of protective pigments in the retina was measured. The extract group showed a greater increase in this value, and more participants responded positively 6. Two studies, each involving 60 healthy adults over 56 days, tested an essence applied to the scalp containing Centella asiatica constituents along with growth factors. Hair loss and hair growth improved. Since multiple substances were tested together, the contribution of the plant alone cannot be isolated 5 7.

3. What Remains Unclear

In a study of radiation-induced skin inflammation, Centella asiatica showed no preventive effect in a controlled trial of 153 breast cancer patients 1. Nearly all controlled human studies test mixtures containing multiple ingredients. Some tested products included additional plant parts or care substances, making it impossible to determine how much Centella asiatica contributed to the results. Studies examining the plant alone are still lacking. In a small pilot study of 23 adults with jaw joint pain, pain intensity decreased after one week in one of the extract groups, but also in the placebo group. After 14 days, the groups no longer differed 3. No available studies have examined how Centella asiatica affects the gut or gut microbiota. Such research is still pending. Long-term data on tolerability with extended use are also lacking.

4. What This Means in Practice

The findings apply only to specific preparations: a particular extract with a defined profile, form, and dosage. Different extracts, concentrations, or bases may yield different results. The studies report findings inconsistently. Notably, the most frequently cited work is a review article—a summary of existing literature—not a new human study. The frequency of citations does not indicate the robustness of the evidence. For context: the strongest human evidence relates to skin and wound healing. The next step would be a study testing Centella asiatica alone against a placebo, using a clearly described preparation and sufficient participants.

All details with study numbers and sources: detailed page on Centella asiatica (Gotu Kola). For children: Centella asiatica (Gotu Kola) for children.