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Centella asiatica
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| CHEMICAL
COMPOSITION |
Plant
contains two saponins - brahmoside and brahminoside, three triterpene acids - brahmic
acid, iso-brahmic acid and betulic acid1, mesoinositol -
centelloside, Asiatic acid, asiaticoside2 and centellic acid3. |
| PHARMACOLOGY |
Alcoholic
extract prolonged the hypnotic effect of Sodium phenobarbitone in mice and rats4.
The centella glycosides when injected into anaesthetised rats significantly lowered the
blood pressure5. It was observed that alcoholic extract
decreased the acetylcholine and histamine content of the whole brain homogenate of albino
rats. Inhibition of the increase in acetylcholine in the brain in stressed rats was
observed6. |
| THERAPEUTIC
USES |
Used in
various mental disorders. It is regarded as one of the best psychotropic drugs. Six week
treatment in patients of anxiety neurosis reduced anxiety levels and showed improvement in
the mental fatigue rate and immediate memory span7. Significant
improvement in both general ability and behavioral pattern was obtained in 30 mentally
retarded children within 12 weeks8. Significant improvement was
observed in the intelligence quotient in children treated with a dose of 0.5g / day of the
powder for one year9. In mentally retarded children, a
significant increase in the general mental ability, over all general adjustment and mental
concentration at the end of 6 months was observed10. |
| REFERENCES |
- Basu, N and R.P. Rastogi,
Phytochemistry 6:1249, 1967.
- Boitean P et al, Nature
(London) 163, 258, 1949.
- Battacharya S.C., Ind. J.
Chem.Soc. 33, 893, 1956.
- Agarwal, S.S. : J.Res. Ayur.
Siddha, 11:11 (1981).
- Ramaswamy, A.S. et al. :
J.Res. Ind. Med., 4:2 (1970).
- Singh RH et al., J. Res.
Ind. Med. Homeo, 14:3 (1979)
- Singh, R.H et al.: J.Res.
Ayur , Siddha, 1:1 (1980).
- Papa Rao, N.V.R. et al:
J.Res. Ind. Med. Yoga Home., 13:1 (1978)
- Kuppuarajan, K. et al:
J.Res. Indi. Med. Yoga Homeo, 13:1 (1978).
- Appa Rao, M.V.R. et al:
Indian J. Rsychiat, 19:4 (1977)
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| SPECIFICATIONS: CENTELLA
ASIATICA EXTRACT
General
Information:
| Type of extract |
: |
Dry powder |
| Plant parts used |
: |
Whole plant |
| Source |
: |
Wild crafted |
| Shelf life |
: |
24 months unopened |
| Storage |
: |
Keep in a cool, dry
place protected from moisture and heat |
| Active ingredient |
: |
asiatic acid |
| Method of analysis |
: |
HPTLC |
Analytical
Specifications :
| Description |
: |
Yellowish brown powder |
| Organoleptic characters |
: |
Bitter in taste with characteristic odour |
| Loss on drying |
: |
Not more than 5% W/W |
| Lead |
: |
Not more than 10 PPM |
| Arsenic |
: |
Not more than 2 PPM |
| Heavy metals |
: |
Not more than 20 PPM |
| Assay |
|
|
| Asiatic acid content on dry basis by HPTLC |
: |
Not less than 1.5% W/W |
| Microbiological profile |
: |
|
| Total bacterial count |
: |
Not more than 10000 CFU/gm |
| Yeast and moulds |
: |
Not more than 100 CFU/gm |
| E.coli |
: |
Absent |
| S.aureus |
: |
Absent |
| Salmonella typhi |
: |
Absent |
| Pseudomonas aeruginose |
: |
Absent |
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