Gotu Kola
Gotu kola is Centella asiatica, a leafy plant used as food and in traditional medicine. Its constituents include triterpenoids such as asiaticoside and madecassoside.
Also listed as Indian Pennywort, Jal Brahmi, Mandookaparni, Brahmi
What it is studied for
The strongest rated effects first. Bars show the size of the effect, the letter grades the evidence, and each rating lists the studies behind it.
What is gotu kola?
Gotu kola is Centella asiatica, a leafy plant used as food and in traditional medicine. Its constituents include triterpenoids such as asiaticoside and madecassoside, compounds investigated for antioxidant and wound-healing activity in experimental models. 1
Why people take it
SuppCo community snapshot, 2026-09-28. Reasons for use are not evidence that it works.
Questions people ask
Does a laboratory antioxidant effect prove brain protection?
No. The 2026 review found mostly preclinical research; human findings were limited and inconsistent. 2
Can I use a skin-study result to choose a capsule?
EMA’s monograph addresses application to skin, not oral capsules. The routes differ. 3
Is gotu kola known to improve every aspect of cognition?
No. The pooled review found no significant cognitive-domain benefit, despite some positive mood-related findings. 4
Sources
- Centella asiatica LiverTox, NIDDK, 2024