Gotu Kola for brain health

[pdpatient]

I found an interesting article about this little known herb (at least I wasn't aware) that appears to help with memory. Maybe some of you have already tried it. If so, please share your experience.

wellandgood.com/gotu-kola-b...

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Centella asiatica (L.) Urban: From Traditional Medicine to Modern Medicine with Neuroprotective Potential 2012 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Abstract: This paper covers the studies relevant to neuroprotective activity of Centella asiatica (L.) Urban, also known as “Gotu Kola.” The plant is native to the Southeast Asia and has been used traditionally as brain tonic in ayurvedic medicine. The neuroprotective effect of C. asiatica has been searched using the key words “Centella, Centella asiatica, gotu kola, Asiatic pennywort, neuroprotection, and memory” through the electronic databases including Sciencedirect, Web of Science, Scopus, Pubmed, and Google Scholar. According to the literature survey, C. asiatica (gotu kola) has been reported to have a comprehensive neuroprotection by different modes of action such as enzyme inhibition, prevention of amyloid plaque formation in Alzheimer's disease, dopamine neurotoxicity in Parkinson's disease, and decreasing oxidative stress. Therefore, C. asiatica could be suggested to be a desired phytopharmaceutical with neuroprotective effect emerged from traditional medicine.

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Therapeutic properties and pharmacological activities of asiaticoside and madecassoside: A review 2023 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

☐ Centella asiatica has been used in Ayurvedic medicine in India for almost 2000 years with significant use of its neuropharmacological properties. 6 In Ayurveda, it has been recognized as one of the main herbs for revitalizing the nerves and brain cells and has been administered extensively in treating disorders like depression.

☐ A study by Hanapi, Nur Aziah et al. investigated the extent of BBB permeation by C. asiatica compounds using primary porcine brain endothelial cells (PBECs) as a model. The experiment demonstrated the remarkably high capability of the tested phytocompounds in crossing the BBB, with asiaticoside showing the highest permeability, followed by madecassoside. Notably, the compounds also showed higher permeability coefficient values than donepezil, a drug commonly used for AD.

☐ An experiment checking for their activity against Parkinson's used rodent models treated with MPTP (a neurotoxin that destroys dopaminergic neurons and induces ROS formation) to demonstrate the action of C. asiatica extracts in enhancing brain antioxidants, decreasing lipid peroxidation and providing neuroprotection against MPTP toxicity.

☐ Chronic neuroinflammation is another distinct biomarker observed at the early stages of neurodegenerative disease. Increasing concentrations of pro‐inflammatory cytokines aggravate both AD and PD pathogenesis by stimulating neurotoxic plaque formation and Aβ depositions in AD patients, as well as causing neurodegenerative lesions in PD. These conditions lead to synaptic dysfunction and gradual neuronal death. 8 Hafiz et al. have characterized the therapeutic potential of raw extract of C. asiatica (RECA) by simultaneously demonstrating the anti‐inflammatory as well as the antioxidant activities of RECA in LPS‐stimulated microglial cells.

☐ A majority of the medicinal activity of asiaticoside and madecassoside can be attributed to their regulation of inflammatory immune responses. As mentioned previously, C. asiatica shows significant immunosuppressive action in the context of atopic dermatitis, where it suppresses the infiltration of immune cells and controls inflammation.

☐ Centella asiatica extracts can be considered a favourable option for natural anti‐virulence drugs that can target the virulence of pathogens while maintaining their cell viability, which can help prevent the development of pathogenic resistance to antibiotics. The Centella triterpenoids can be considered as phytoanticipins against a wide range of bacterial, fungal and parasitic agents due to their antimicrobial activities, selective cytotoxicity and protective function against pathogenic infections.

☐ A variety of C. asiatica extracts have been extensively used in traditional medicine due to the wide spectrum of pharmacological activities associated with these secondary metabolites. This review highlights the activities of asiaticoside and madecassoside, the major saponin constituents of C. asiatica extracts, and provides a comprehensive view of their range of properties that can be harnessed for improving human health. Due to the lack of any reported adverse effects of C. asiatica in any clinical studies so far, the plant is categorized as a Class 1 herb (one that can safely be consumed when used appropriately) in the Botanical Safety Handbook. As illustrated in this review, research from the past two decades indicates a significant potential role for asiaticoside and madecassoside to be incorporated into modern treatment strategies, specifically targeting neurological and dermatological diseases, as well as offer potent benefits to a host of other medicinal and cosmetic requirements.

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Wide variety of Gotu Kola and can be cheap at Swanson: swansonvitamins.com/q?kw=go...

[gomelgo]

Will you be getting some? I have ashwaganda here and have not been using it. But I have heard of Gotu Cola and would love to try it. This is the kind of thing pharmaceutical companies would probably rail against.