The W.H.O. recognizes its brain and nervous system protective powers; Takip
kohol is a memory enhancer for both children and adults. It is effective as an
anti-dementia and anti-Alzeimers; potentially good for Parkinson’s disease and
ALS amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Common
names: halonghalong (C. Bis),Indian Hydrocotyle(Eng.),Panggaga(Bon),Tagadlak(Lv),
Pispising(Bon),Takip suso(Tag),Tapingan daga(Tag), yahong yahongP.B.,S.L,Bis.),
Gotu kola(Chinese). Scientific name: Centella asiatica. Family name: Apiaceae.
Description
of Takip kuhol and its Parts. Takip kuhol is a perennial
herbaceous plant common in moist tropical and subtropical regions of India and
South America. The drug is derived from the aerial parts (leaves, stems,
stolons) that are cut at the time of flowering.
Takip kuhol has been used for centuries as a medicinal herb, as far back
as 3000 years ago in Indian Ayurvedic medicine, 2000 years ago in Chinese
medicine, in the late 1800s in French pharmacopoeia. Contrary to its name, it
contains no cola or caffeine.(2)It has been called “the fountain of life”
because legend has it that an ancient Chinese herbalist lived for more than 200
years as a result of taking gotu kola.
Takip kuhol is a prostrate, creeping sparingly hairy or nearly smooth
herb. The stems rooting at the nodes, the leaves: rounded to reniform, 2 to 5
cm wide, horizontal, more or less cupped, rounded at the tip, and kidney-shaped
or heart-shaped at the base, palmately veined, scalloped margins, the margins,
the rounded lobes often overlapping. Petioles erect, 3 to 20 cm and long.
Flowers: petals
dark-purple,and about 1 long. Peduncles occur in pairs or threes, less than 1
cm long usually bears 3 sessile flowers. Flowering October to May. Fruits:
minute, ovoid, white or green, reticulate, each with 9 subsimilar longitudinal
ridges.5 carpels, cylindric compressed, about 2.5 mm long, white or green,
reticulate. Ovary inferior, Stamens 5, epigynous.
Constituents. An oily
volatile liquid called vellarin (which has a strong smell reminiscent of the
plant, and a bitter, pungent, persistent taste) and tannic acid. Leaves yield
vellarine (1% in dry plant), an oily, non-volatile liquid, responsible for the
odor, and considered to be the chemically active principle of the plant. Analysis
has described vellarine as an inspissated oil of pale yellowish color, with a
bitter, pungent, and persistent taste, with a marked odor of hydrocotyle,
subject to variations of heat, humidity, and atmosphere.
Chemical analysis of the plant shows the presence of vellarine, high
vitamin B content in the leaves and roots, and a miscellany of other
constituents such as carbohydrates, resins, proteins, ash, alkali, alkaline
salts, phosphates, and tannins. Phytochemical studies have shown triterpenoid
glycosides, phytosterols, amino acids, free acids, volatile oils and
flavonoids. Analysis has reported chemical composition as: Resinous and oil
substances, 8.9%; tannic acid and sugar, 24.5%; mucilage and extractive, 11.5%;
pectin and albuminous matter, 12.5%, ash, mostly as alkaline chlorides, 12.0%. Triterpenoid
saponins include asiaticoside, centelloside, madecassoside and asiatic acid.
Traditional
Use. Crushed leaves are commonly consumed by Sri Lanka as salad or hot
beverage. More recently the herb acquired a considerable reputation as an
aphrodisiac, an agent that stimulates sexual vitality. Gotu kola has been
important in the medicinal systems of central Asia for centuries. In Sri Lanka,
it was purported to prolong life, as the leaves are commonly eaten by elephants.
Numerous skin diseases, ranging from poorly healing wounds to leprosy, have
been treated with gotu kola. Gotu kola also has a historical reputation for
boosting mental activity and for helping a variety of illnesses, such as high
blood pressure, rheumatism, fever, and nervous disorders. Some of its common
applications in Ayurvedic medicine include heart disease,water retention,
hoarseness, bronchitis, and coughs in children, and as a poultice for many skin
conditions.
Pharmacological
Activity. Anti-Enteropathogens: Study demonstrated the antimicrobial activity of
Centella asiatica against enterophathogens. Broad spectrum activity of the herb
was observed against a range of enteric pathogens. Against V cholera, Shigella
species and S. aureus, the alcoholic extract was bactericidal within 2 hr.
Antibacterial Agent against three common infectious bacteria, which explains
the efficacy on the plant against infectious diseases which these bacteria
cause: Escherichia coli, a type of bacteria that lives in our intestines. Most
types of E. coli are harmless. However, some types can make us sick and cause
diarrhea. Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterium frequently found in the human
respiratory tract and on the skin. Salmonella enteric. Salmonellosis, is an
infection with bacteria called Salmonella. Most person infected with Salmonell
develop diarrhea, fever, and abnormal cramps.
Wound
Healing. Asiaticoside derived from the plant Centella asiatica is known to
possess good wound healing activity. Enhanced healing activity has been
attributed to increased collagen formation and angiogenesis. Since antioxidants
have been reported to play a significant role in the wound healing process we
studied the effect of asiaticoside on the levels of certain antioxidants in the
wound so as to explore the possible involvement of such a mechanism in the
asiaticoside induced wound healing. Asiaticoside application (0.2%, topical)
twice daily for 7 days to excision-type cutaneous wounds in rats led to
increased enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, namely superoxide dismutase
(35%), catalase (67%), glutathione peroxidase (49%), vitamin E (77%) and
ascorbic acid (36%) in newly formed tissues.
It also resulted in a several fold decrease in lipid peroxide levels
(69%) as measured in terms of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance. However,
continued application for 14 days showed no significant difference in these
antioxidants compared with their values in vehicle treated wound tissue. It
appears from the present study that asiaticosides enhanced induction of
antioxidant levels at an initial stage of healing which may be an important
contributory factor in the healing properties of this substance. Antimicrobial
activity, anticancer activity, neuroprotective acivity, immunomodulatory activity,
anti-inflammatory activity, hepatoprotective activity, insecticidal activity,
and antioxidant activity.
Toxicity.
Alcoholic
extracts have shown no toxicity in rats. Patients have reported GI upsets and
nausea as adverse effects. Rashes have been reported with topical use. Few
cases of liver enzyme elevations resolved on discontinuation of the herb use. Three
case of hepatotoxicity have been reported with patients using C. asiatica for
20 to 60 days.