Brahmi, Gotu Kola, Centella asiatica – Plant

It is also known as the Asiatic pennywort or Indian pennywort in English, among various other names in other languages.It has long-stalked, green, rounded apices which have smooth texture with palmately netted veins. The leaves are borne on pericladial petioles, around 2 cm. The rootstock consists of rhizomes, growing vertically down. They are creamish in color and covered with root hairs.

Brahmi Special Feature

Each flower bears five stamens and two styles. The fruit are densely reticulate, distinguishing it from species of Hydrocotyle which have smooth, ribbed or warty fruit. The crop matures in three months, and the whole plant, including the roots, is harvested manually.

Ornamental Use:

• The plant is used for ornamental purpose

Medicinal Use:

• According to the American Cancer Society, although centella is promoted for its health benefits, “available scientific evidence does not support claims of its effectiveness for treating cancer or any other disease in humans”
• However some research has shown a possible health benefit in the form of reduction of the progression of subclinical arterial lesions in low-risk asymptomatic subjects

Culinary Use:

• Centella is used as a leafy green in Sri Lankan cuisine, being the most predominant of all locally available leafy greens, where it is called gotu kola
• It is one of the constituents of the Indian summer drink thandaayyee