Age Ayurveda Nighantu

Mandukparni

Centella asiatica

Mandukparni (Centella asiatica) is a plant used in Ayurveda. Madecassoside shows similar absorption profile. Triterpene glycosides are hydrolyzed to aglycones (asiatic acid, madecassic acid) which are better absorbed. Lipid-based formulations (Ghrita, phospholipid complexes) increase bioavailability 2-3 fold.

Key facts
Botanical nameCentella asiatica
FamilyApiaceae · other entries in this family
OrderApiales
Taxon identifiersGBIF 3034128 · Wikidata Q324714 · NCBI Taxonomy 48106

Names and identification

LanguageName
EnglishMandukparni

Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)

PropertyValueDescription
Rasa (Taste)TiktaPrimary taste
Guna (Quality)LaghuPhysical quality
Virya (Potency)SheetaHeating/Cooling effect
Vipaka (Post-digestive)MadhuraPost-digestive effect

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Svarasa (fresh juice), Churna (powder), Capsules, Tablets, Syrup, Ghrita (medicated ghee - Brahmi Ghrita), Medhya Rasayana formulations, Topical cream

Standard Dosage: 10-20 mL fresh juice daily; 3-6 g powder per day; 500-1000 mg standardized extract daily; 5-10 g Ghrita preparation daily

Bioavailability: Asiaticoside has moderate oral bioavailability (~30-40%). Madecassoside shows similar absorption profile. Triterpene glycosides are hydrolyzed to aglycones (asiatic acid, madecassic acid) which are better absorbed. Lipid-based formulations (Ghrita, phospholipid complexes) increase bioavailability 2-3 fold. Phytosome technology with phosphatidylcholine (TECA-Phytosome) achieves 3-5x enhanced absorption.

Optimal Timing: Morning on empty stomach for cognitive enhancement (Medhya effect); Ghrita preparation with warm milk at bedtime; topical application twice daily for wound healing

Standardized Extract: TECA-equivalent standardized extract: 40% asiaticoside, 29-30% madecassoside, 29-30% asiatic acid + madecassic acid. Phytosome complex with phosphatidylcholine for enhanced oral bioavailability. Fresh juice freeze-dried to preserve Medhya properties. Brahmi Ghrita prepared per AFI protocol.

Shelf Life: Fresh juice: 2-4 hours (must be consumed immediately per classical texts). Dried powder: 18 months. Standardized extract capsules: 24-30 months. Ghrita: 24 months. Topical cream: 18 months.

Storage: Fresh plant refrigerated, process within 4 hours of harvest. Dried herb/extract below 25 deg C in airtight containers. Phytosome preparations in moisture-proof, nitrogen-flushed packaging. Ghrita in clean glass containers at room temperature. Protect all forms from light.

Marker Compounds: Asiaticoside, Madecassoside, Asiatic acid, Madecassic acid, Brahmoside, Brahminoside, Centellose, Isothankuniside

Extraction Methods

  • Fresh juice extraction (classical Medhya preparation)
  • Hydroalcoholic extraction (70% ethanol)
  • Standardized aqueous extraction
  • Supercritical CO2 extraction for terpenoid enrichment
  • Ghrita Paka (ghee extraction) for classical Brahmi Ghrita
  • Phytosome complexation with phosphatidylcholine

Synergistic Combinations

Published research

Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses2

  1. Chan LKW, Lee KWA, Lee CH and others. 2024. Cosmeceuticals in photoaging: A reviewSkin research and technology : official journal of International Society for Bioengineering and the Skin (ISBS) [and] International Society for Digital Imaging of Skin (ISDIS) [and] International Society for Skin Imaging (ISSI). PMID 39233460 · doi:10.1111/srt.13730
  2. Martinez-Zapata MJ, Vernooij RW, Simancas-Racines D and others. 2020. Phlebotonics for venous insufficiencyThe Cochrane database of systematic reviews. PMID 33141449 · doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003229.pub4

Randomised controlled trials1

  1. Cesarone MR, Belcaro G, Rulo A and others. 2001. Microcirculatory effects of total triterpenic fraction of Centella asiatica in chronic venous hypertension: measurement by laser Doppler, TcPO2-CO2, and leg volumetryAngiology. PMID 11666123

Other clinical studies and reviews9

  1. Pavlov S, Prajapati SK, Yadav D and others. 2025. Advances in Bioactive Compounds from Plants and Their Applications in Alzheimer's DiseaseBiomolecules. PMID 41594549 · doi:10.3390/biom16010007
  2. Pattanaik SK, Anil PM, Jena S and others. 2025. Interlinking diabetes and Alzheimer's disease: A pathway through medicinal plant-based treatmentsJournal of ethnopharmacology. PMID 40484255 · doi:10.1016/j.jep.2025.120092
  3. Liang C, Ma Y, Ding M and others. 2025. Asiatic acid and its derivatives: Pharmacological insights and applicationsEuropean journal of medicinal chemistry. PMID 40015163 · doi:10.1016/j.ejmech.2025.117429
  4. Taleb MH. 2023. Phenytoin's Pharmacological Interactions with Medicinal Herbs: A ReviewDie Pharmazie. PMID 37537774 · doi:10.1691/ph.2023.3546
  5. Kitchens BP, Snyder RJ, Cuffy CA. 2020. A Literature Review of Pharmacological Agents to Improve Venous Leg Ulcer HealingWounds : a compendium of clinical research and practice. PMID 33166265
  6. Lv J, Sharma A, Zhang T and others. 2018. Pharmacological Review on Asiatic Acid and Its Derivatives: A Potential CompoundSLAS technology. PMID 29361877 · doi:10.1177/2472630317751840
  7. Chandrika UG, Prasad Kumarab PA. 2015. Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica): Nutritional Properties and Plausible Health BenefitsAdvances in food and nutrition research. PMID 26602573 · doi:10.1016/bs.afnr.2015.08.001
  8. Haslan H, Suhaimi FH, Das S. 2015. Herbal Supplements and Hepatotoxicity: A Short ReviewNatural product communications. PMID 26669124
  9. Bylka W, Znajdek-Awiżeń P, Studzińska-Sroka E and others. 2014. Centella asiatica in dermatology: an overviewPhytotherapy research : PTR. PMID 24399761 · doi:10.1002/ptr.5110

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