Phytonutrient Rich Medicinal Plant ?Centella Asiatica? As Brain Enhancing Potential-A Reviews

Anjusana Khundrakpam, Dr. PL Sridevi Sivakami

Abstract: Centella asiatica (L. ) Urban, previously named as Hydrocotyle asiatica L. is a valuable medicinal herbaceous aromatic creeper belonging to Apiaceae family which has been valued for centuries in ayurvedic medicine. Vernacular names of this plant is Thankuni (Bengali), Mandookaparni (Hindi), Pegaga (Malay), Kodagam (Malayalam), Gotukola (Sinhalese), Vallarai (Tamil) and Bekaparanamu (Telugu). Centella asiatica is a psychoactive phyonutrient rich medicinal plant which contain highly variable triterpenoid, glucoside, phenolic compounds, alkaloids, saponins, including asiaticoside, oxyasiaticoside, centelloside and related sapogenins have remarkable pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, wound healing, neuroprotective, immune modulatory, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective which stimulates mental functions like memory power concentration and general ability and hence it is primarily known as a Brain food in India. This brain boosting herb is known for its effect on both mental and physical vitality. The present review is an up-to-date and comprehensive literature of health importance of phytonutrients and brain enhancing potential of the Centella plant. Centella asiatica, Medicinal plants, Phytonutrients, Antioxidant, Neuroproctective, Hepatoprotective.

Keywords: Centella asiatica, Medicinal plants, Phytonutrients, Antioxidant, Neuroproctective, Hepatoprotective