Common Names: Marsh Penny, Thick-leaved Pennywort, Indian Pennywort, White Rot, Hydrocotyle, Indian Hydrocotyle
Habitat/Range: Native to southeast Asia, China, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Madagascar, South Africa, Mexico, Venezuela, Columbia, Australia and Iran.
Description: Gotu kola is an aquatic plant that spreads on creeping reddish-green stems. The leaves are serrated and heart-shaped and the small flowers, which are arranged in umbels, may be coral, pink, purple or red. The entire plant, including the rootstock, is harvested by hand. The whole plant is also essentially lacking in any detectable fragrance or flavor, even though it is a botanical cousin to parsley.
Parts Used: Fresh or dried leaves and stems.
Traditional Uses: Gotu kola is treated as a vegetable in Asian cuisine. The herb is called “the fountain of life” in China because it was consumed daily by Li Ching-Yuen, an herbalist and Tai Chi Chuan master who reputedly lived more than 200 years.
Chemical Composition: Gotu kola contains triterpene acids, including asiatic acid, terminolic acid and madecassic acid. The herb also contains triterpene saponins, such as asiaticoside, asiaticoside A and B, madecassoside and brahminoside (1, 2)
Pharmacological Actions: According to the “Physicians’ Desk Reference for Herbal Medicines,” gotu kola is anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial and has demonstrated antidepressant and anti-anxiety effects in clinical studies (1). The University of Maryland Medical Center says studies have shown that the herb improves symptoms of venous insufficiency, including varicose veins. The wound healing effects of gotu kola are attributed to the triterpenoid compounds and topical preparations made from the plant are used to treat burns, to counter eczema and psoriasis and to prevent stretch marks and post-operative scarring. (3) The authors of a review published in the “Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences” in 2010 report that asiaticoside increases protein and collagen production and cross-linking of collagen in connective tissue, while brahminoside compounds appear to interact with cholecystokinin receptors, which play a role in memory recall and the perception of anxiety and hunger. (2)
Side Effects/Drug Interactions: Gotu kola should be taken on an alternating schedule with a two-week “off” period, and for no longer than six months total. This herb may affect how the liver metabolizes medications or increase the effects of certain medicines. Check with your doctor before using gotu kola if you take diuretics, antidepressants, diabetes medications or drugs to lower cholesterol. This herb should not be used during pregnancy or lactation or given to children. Also, because asiaticoside has been associated with stimulating cell growth in skin tumors in animal studies, you should not take gotu kola if you have a history of skin cancer. (3)
For educational purposes only This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This Gotu Kola information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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