Centella asiatica accelerates nerve regeneration upon oral administration and contains multiple active fractions increasing neurite elongation in-vitro
Abstract
Axonal regeneration is important for functional recovery following nerve damage. Centella asiatica Urban herb, also known as Hydrocotyle asiatica L., has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries as a nerve tonic. Here, we show that Centella asiatica ethanolic extract (100 microg mL-1) elicits a marked increase in neurite outgrowth in human SH-SY5Y cells in the presence of nerve growth factor (NGF). However, a water extract of Centella was ineffective at 100 microg mL-1. Sub-fractions of Centella ethanolic extract, obtained through silica-gel chromatography, were tested (100 microg mL-1) for neurite elongation in the presence of NGF. Greatest activity was found with a non-polar fraction (GKF4). Relatively polar fractions (GKF10 to GKF13) also showed activity, albeit less than GKF4. Thus, Centella contains more than one active component. Asiatic acid (AA), a triterpenoid compound found in Centella ethanolic extract and GKF4, showed marked activity at 1 microM (microg mL-1). AA was not present in GKF10 to GKF13, further indicating that other active components must be present. Neurite elongation by AA was completely blocked by the extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway inhibitor PD 098059 (10 microM). Male Sprague-Dawley rats given Centella ethanolic extract in their drinking water (300-330 mg kg-1 daily) demonstrated more rapid functional recovery and increased axonal regeneration (larger calibre axons and greater numbers of myelinated axons) compared with controls, indicating that the axons grew at a faster rate. Taken together, our findings indicate that components in Centella ethanolic extract may be useful for accelerating repair of damaged neurons.
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CA extracts have positive effects on neurite elongation, neurodegeneration, antioxidant activity, and mitochondrial dysfunction.
“CA extracts have demonstrated positive effects on neurite elongation [6], neurodegeneration [29], antioxidant activity [30], and mitochondrial dysfunction [31].”
From Centella Asiatica Improves Memory and Promotes Antioxidative Signaling in 5XFAD Mice (2019) · cites this paper as [6]
In vitro studies show CAW whole extract and isolated compounds facilitate neurite outgrowth and elicit neuroprotection.
“Previously, in vitro studies have shown that both CAW whole extract and isolated compounds (detailed in a review [32]) facilitate neurite outgrowth [6,28,106], and elicit neuroprotection [107,108,109,110,111].”
From Centella Asiatica Improves Memory and Promotes Antioxidative Signaling in 5XFAD Mice (2019) · cites this paper as [6]
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- Authors
- Soumyanath, A., Zhong, Y.-P., Yu, X., Bourdette, D., Koop, D. R., Gold, S. A., & Gold, B. G.
- Affiliations
- Oregon Health & Science University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Gold, Sandra A
- Gold, Bruce G
- Venue
- Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2005-09-01
- Volume
- 57
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 1221-1229
- ISSN
- 0022-3573 (ISSN-L)
- 2042-7158
- OpenAlex
- W1999539774
- Cited by
- 150
- References
- 47
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 10
- FWCI
- 11.24
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- academic.oup.com/journals/pages/open_access/funder_policies/chorus/standard_publication_model (vor)
- Locations
- Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Oregon Health and Science University (P50 AT00066)
- National Institutes of Health
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (P50AT000066)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Medicinal Plants and Neuroprotection
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Nerve injury and regeneration
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Phytochemicals and Medicinal Plants
- Keywords
- Centella asiatica, nerve regeneration, neurite outgrowth, asiatic acid, triterpenoids, nerve growth factor, ERK signaling, SH-SY5Y cells, ethanol extract, plant fractions, myelinated axons, oral administration
- MeSH terms
- Administration, Oral, Ethanol, Animals, Disease Models, Animal, Flavonoids, Humans, Male, Medicine, Ayurvedic, Nerve Crush, Nerve Regeneration, Plant Extracts, Sciatic Nerve, Triterpenes, Neurites, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Centella, Cell Line, Tumor, Rats, Pentacyclic Triterpenes
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