Pharmacological Effects of Centella asiatica on Skin Diseases: Evidence and Possible Mechanisms
Open accessAbstract
The medicinal herb Centella asiatica (L.) Urban known as gotu kola has been reported to exhibit a wide range of pharmacological activities. In particular, a significant body of scientific research exists on the therapeutic properties of preparations of C. asiatica or its triterpenes in the treatment of skin diseases. The present study is aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the beneficial effects of C. asiatica on skin diseases. Peer-reviewed articles on the potent dermatological effects of C. asiatica were acquired from PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and SciFinder. This review provides an understanding of pharmacological studies which confirm the potent dermatological effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of C. asiatica. This medicinal plant and its triterpenes include asiaticoside, madecassoside, and their aglycones, asiatic acid and madecassic acid. These compounds exert therapeutic effects on dermatological diseases such as acne, burns, atopic dermatitis, and wounds via NF-κB, TGF-β/Smad, MAPK, Wnt/β-catenin, and STAT signaling in in vitro and in vivo studies. However, additional rigorously controlled long-term clinical trials will be necessary to confirm the full potential of C. asiatica as a therapeutic agent.
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Recent experimental studies have demonstrated that asiaticoside and madecassoside can stimulate fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis, contributing to dermal matrix remodeling.
“Recent experimental studies have demonstrated that asiaticoside and madecassoside can stimulate fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis, contributing to dermal matrix remodeling [18,39,40].”
From A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial Assessing the Effects of Oral Centella asiatica Extract on Skin Aging-Related Parameters in Middle-Aged Korean Women. (2026) · cites this paper as [39]
Section 2.2 (Burns) reports that asiaticoside and madecassoside induced collagen synthesis, proliferation, and cell growth in a mouse burn-wound study; it also describes collagen deposition during wound remodeling. Section 3.2 (TGF-β/Smad Signaling) says both compounds enhanced collagen type III synthesis by activating skin fibroblasts. Neither passage specifies that the proliferating cells were fibroblasts, so the fibroblast-proliferation part is not fully supported. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredTriterpenoid constituents have been shown to enhance antioxidant defense systems, mitigate oxidative stress-induced skin damage, modulate inflammatory pathways, and support epidermal barrier integrity.
“In addition, triterpenoid constituents have been shown to enhance antioxidant defense systems and mitigate oxidative stress-induced skin damage, as well as modulate inflammatory pathways and support epidermal barrier integrity [18,39,40].”
From A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial Assessing the Effects of Oral Centella asiatica Extract on Skin Aging-Related Parameters in Middle-Aged Korean Women. (2026) · cites this paper as [39]
Section 2.5 reports that madecassoside attenuated H2O2-induced oxidative damage in human epidermal melanocytes, and section 3.1 reports that it inhibited inflammatory NF-κB signaling. The paper does not establish that triterpenoids enhance antioxidant defense systems or support epidermal barrier integrity; its discussion of barrier dysfunction in section 2.3 describes atopic dermatitis, not an effect of the constituents. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredAsiaticoside is a well-characterized pentacyclic triterpenoid saponin recognized as one of the principal bioactive constituents responsible for the pharmacological actions of C. asiatica, including its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and skin-regenerative properties.
“Asiaticoside is a well-characterized pentacyclic triterpenoid saponin recognized as one of the principal bioactive constituents responsible for the pharmacological actions of C. asiatica, including its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and skin-regenerative properties [25,26].”
From Oral Centella asiatica Extract Attenuates UVB-Induced Skin Photoaging via Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Extracellular Matrix-Preserving Effects in Hairless Mice (2025) · cites this paper as [25]
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Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredPreclinical UVB-exposure models have revealed the potent antioxidant and anti-aging capabilities of C. asiatica.
“Preclinical UVB-exposure models have revealed the potent antioxidant and anti-aging capabilities of C. asiatica.”
From Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. in skin health and cosmeceuticals: mechanisms, clinical evidence, and advanced delivery systems (2025) · cites this paper as Park 2021
Section 2.5 reports that madecassoside, a C. asiatica compound, attenuated hydrogen-peroxide-induced oxidative damage in human melanocytes. That supports an antioxidant effect in a preclinical skin model, but the paper does not report UVB-exposure models or anti-aging effects (searched: UVB, photoaging, anti-aging). (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredTriterpenoids such as asiaticoside and asiatic acid scavenge reactive oxygen species and upregulate endogenous antioxidant enzymes, including SOD and catalase.
“Triterpenoids such as asiaticoside and asiatic acid scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) and upregulate endogenous antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (Park 2021).”
From Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. in skin health and cosmeceuticals: mechanisms, clinical evidence, and advanced delivery systems (2025) · cites this paper as Park 2021
The Introduction (page unavailable) identifies asiaticoside and asiatic acid as triterpenoids, but does not describe their antioxidant mechanisms. Section 2.5 (page unavailable) discusses protection against oxidative stress by a different compound, madecassoside. Searches for ROS scavenging, SOD, and catalase found no passage stating that asiaticoside or asiatic acid has the claimed effects. (LLM, conf=0.73)
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References 70 · Cited by 79
- Authors
- Park, K. S.
- Affiliations
- Cheongju University (KR)
- Corresponding author
- Park, Kyoung Sik
- ORCID
- Park, Kyoung Sik
- Venue
- Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2021-11-20
- Volume
- 2021
- Pages
- 1-8
- ISSN
- 1741-427X (ISSN-L)
- 1741-4288
- PMC
- PMC8627341
- OpenAlex
- W3215002667
- Cited by
- 79
- References
- 70
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 24 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 7
- FWCI
- 2.24
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Locations
- Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Medicinal Plants and Neuroprotection
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Dermatology › Skin Protection and Aging
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Phytochemicals and Medicinal Plants
- Keywords
- Centella asiatica, skin diseases, triterpenoids, asiaticoside, madecassoside, asiatic acid, madecassic acid, acne, burns, atopic dermatitis, wound healing, NF-κB signaling, TGF-β/Smad signaling, MAPK signaling, Wnt/β-catenin signaling, STAT signaling, herbal medicine
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