Medicinal Plant Centella asiatica (Mandukaparni): From Farm to Pharma

Centella asiatica (L.) Urban Apiaceae (Mandukaparni or Brahmi or Gotu kola) is a medicinally
important, creeping, perennial plant. This species is widely distributed throughout temperate regions,
but is occasionally also found under high rainfall tracts of subtropical India. Recently, it is considered
under threatened species as mentioned by IUCN. In this investigation, we have carried out a critical
evaluation to assess the phytochemicals, proximate analysis, antioxidant properties, antimicrobial
activities and pharmacological importance of elite commercial accession of C. asiatica. A superior line
(ZFB 4) was selected and designated as cv. Zandu Brahmi and used for agronomical field studies.
This line showed improved growth and yield with 1.351% total triterpenoid content. Leaves
accumulate triterpenoids progressively, reaching maximum values in about 90 days and thus
facilitating 3 or more coppicing of leaf crops in a year. Cultivation practices were developed through
several years of experimentation as under-crop in mango orchards and were found profitable. The
crop grown under shade of themango orchard produced a dry yield of 5.52 metric tonnes/ha from 6
coppicings per hectare in 2 years. Under artificial shade net (75%, Black) condition, 100:50:0 kg
NPK/ha was found optimum, recording a maximum dry weight yield of 2.16 metric tonnes ha-1 year.
The crop cultivated in the open field conditions witnessed lowerdry yield (3.28 MT/ 6 coppicings/2
years) shoot biomass yield when compared to mango shade conditions. Interestingly, open field
grown crop produced higher triterpenoid content (1.13-2.47%) when compared to mango shade
grown plants(1.06-1.71%) under three seasons (Kharif, Rabi and Summer) studied. Further studies
will be helpful to discover more bioactive compounds for various pharmaceutical uses beyond its
traditional medicinal use.