• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
• /
• v.10 no.5
• /
• pp.375-378
• /
• 2002

The seasonal variation of two triterpene glycosides, madecassoside and asisaticoside, in the aerial parts of Centella asiatica from May through October was investigated. In leaves, the highest level of triterpene glycosides content was about 108.1 mg/g in September. In petiols, the content was as low as 19.02 mg/g. According to the experimental results obtained, we found that Centella asiatica leaf can accumulate the triterpene glycosides and September is the optimal season for the collection.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.551-554
• /
• 2008

An improved HPLC method for the separation of madecassoside isomers (madecassoside and asiaticoside-B) has been developed. The isomers can be separated with high resolution from extracts of Centella asiatica by HPLC using $\beta$-cyclodextrin as a mobile phase added on a $C_{18}$ column. The result shows that the isomers can be separated with a mobile phase consisting of methanol:water (50:50, v/v) with 4 mmol/L $\beta$-CD. To elucidate the mechanism of the separation of madecassoside and asiaticoside-B, this paper studied the separation of their aglycon parts (madecassic acid and terminolic acid), another pair of isomers. The isomers can also be separated with high resolution with a mobile phase consisting of methanol:water (65:35, v/v) with 4 mmol/L $\beta$-CD and the pH of the mobile phase was adjusted to 4. The paper also studied the separation of the two isomers by HPLC using $\alpha$-CD and Glucosyl-$\beta$-CD as a mobile phase additive in order to elucidate the mechanism of the separation process.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.281-285
• /
• 2002

Whole plant cultures of Centella asiatica (L.) Urban in vitro were established and the effects of basal media, some macro elements and sucrose concentration on productivity of triterpene glycosides (madecassoside and asiaticoside: M$\varepsilon$A) were investigated. Among the media (MS, B5, RCM) tested, MS and 0.5 RCM medium were the best for plant growth and M$\varepsilon$A production, respectively. However, taking into account the M$\varepsilon$A productivity, B5 medium was superior (M$\varepsilon$A: 14.28 mg/g dry wt.). Major macronutrients of B5 medium adjusted with the concentration of 25 mM KNO$_3$,1 mM NaH$_2$PO$_4$, 1 mM CaCl$_2$ and 1~10 mM MgSO$_4$, caused elevated or optimized levels of M$\varepsilon$A. On sucrose concentration, the highest yields of M$\varepsilon$A were obtained from 6% sucrose.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.211-219
• /
• 2000

The therapeutic effect of AS2-006A, a derivative of asiaticoside, has been studied and is being developed as a new wound-healing agent. In the present study, the general pharmacological effects on 1) central nervous system, 2) autonomic nervous system, 3) respiratory system, 4) gastrointestinal system. 5) cardiovascular system. and 6) urinary system were assessed in experimental animals and in in vitro models. 1. In vivo animal study: External applications of the 1 % gel ointment of AS2-006A to rats at the doses of 200. 600 or 2000 mg/kg body weight showed no observable pharmacological effects. The effects on the central nervous system were assessed by observation of behavior, hexobarbital-induced sleeping time, pentetrazole-induced convulsion assay, body temperature measurements, and observations on spontaneous activity and catalepsy. The gel ointment exhibited no effects on the cardiovascular system (i.e. blood pressure and heart rate), renal physiology (i.e. urine volume and electrolytes excretion) and gas-trointestinal physiology (i.e. intestinal charcoal propulsion and gastric mucosal irritation). 2. In vitro experiments: The effects of AS2-006A on the physiology of smooth and cardiac muscles were assessed. Muscle contractions were isotonically and isometrically measured in organ chambers using a physiograph. Cumulative additions of AS2-006A (10$^{-9}$ -10$^{-5}$ M) induced no changes in the tension of isolated guinea pig ileum and tracheal muscles. AS2-006A only slightly increased contractility of rat atrial and papillary muscles at 10$^{-2}$ M, which was not statistically different from control. These data showed that the gel ointment of AS2-006A could be externally applied as a wound-healing agent with no potential side effects.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
• /
• v.5 no.3
• /
• pp.283-287
• /
• 2011

In order to produce centellosides from whole plant cultures of Centella asiatica (L.) Urban, we evaluated the synergistic effects of thidiazuron (TDZ) and methyl jasmonate (MJ) on whole plant growth and centelloside production. After 4 weeks of treatment with 0.025 mg/L of TDZ coupled with 0.1 mM MJ, the production of made-cassoside and asiaticoside from whole plant cultures was estimated to be 2.40- and 2.44-fold, respectively, above that of MJ elicitation alone. When whole plants were treated with a growth regulator and an elicitor, the growth of whole plants, as compared to the controls, did not differ. Additionally, total phytosyterol content in the leaves of whole plants co-treated with MJ and TDZ was 1.08-fold greater than those of MJ alone. These results demonstrate that combined treatments not only stimulate the accumulation of centellosides in the leaves but also inhibit the reduction of phytosterol levels caused by MJ elicitation.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.512-517
• /
• 2004

The structural relationship of 16 asiatic acid (AA) derivatives, including AA and asiaticoside (AS) to cytotoxicity and anti-hepatofibrotic activity in HSC-T6 cells, were investigated. Cytotoxicities of AA derivatives varied from 5.5 $\mu$M to over 2000 $\mu$M of $IC_{50}$/ depending on AA functional group modifications. Substituting the hydroxyl group at the C(2) to N≡C and substituting bulky groups for dihydroxyl groups at (3), (23) of the A-ring increased the cytotoxicity, but keto group at C(11) and benzoyl ester at C(2) were greatly reduced it. Modification of the carboxylic acid group at C28 also reduced the cytotoxicity. The collagen synthesis determined by hydroxyproline content in the cells was inhibited from a maximum of 48% (Zlx-i-85 and 87) to 15% (AS) by AA derivatives. The anti-hepatofibrotic effect of these compounds might be due to the reduced expression of prolyl 4-hydroxylase $\alpha$ and $\beta$ subunits and TIMP2. However, the inhibition of collagen by asiaticoside derivatives did not show any structural-activity relationship.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.502-508
• /
• 2005

Titrated extract of Centella asiatica (TECA) contains three principal ingredients, asiaticoside (AS), asiatic acid (AA), and madecassic acid (MA). These components are known to be clinically effective on systemic scleroderma, abnormal scar formation, and keloids. However, one problem associated with administration of TECA is its low solubility in aqueous as well as oil medium. In this study, various nonionic surfactants and bile salts as anionic surfactant were tested and screened for solubilizing TECA with a view to developing topical hydrogel type of ointment which is stable physicochemically, and has better pharmacological effects. When TECA was incorporated into various nonionic surfactant systems, labrasol had the most potent capacity for solubilizing TECA. In cases of bile salt systems, Na-deoxycholate (Na-DOC) had foremost solubilizing capacity, even more than labrasol. In differential scanning calorimetric study, the peaks of AA, MA, AS and Na-DOC disappeared at the coprecipitate of $1\%$ TECA and $1\%$ Na-DOC, suggesting the optimum condition of Na-DOC for solubilizing TECA. When the physicochemical stability of hydrogel containing this mixture was assessed, it was stable at room temperature for at least one month. Pharmacologically it significantly decreased the size of wound area at the $9^{th}$ day when applied to the wound area of rat dorsal skin. Taken together, solubility of TECA was dramatically improved by using non ionic and anionic surfactant systems, and Na-DOC was found to be the most effective solubilizer of TECA in formulating a TECA-containing hydrogel typed ointment. Moreover this gel was considered to be applicable to clinical use for wound healing effect.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.21 no.6
• /
• pp.793-795
• /
• 1998

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 2002.10a
• /
• pp.340.1-340.1
• /
• 2002

Centella asiatica is an herbal plant used on different continents by diverse ancient cultures and tribal groups. Historically. the extract has been used as a wound healing agent, The extract has three different triterpenoid ingredients: asiaticoside. asiatic acid, and madecassic acid. It has been reported that its wound healing activity is associated with the modulation of collagen synthesis in the skin dermis. The wound healing property of the extract has led to its commercial introduction under the trade name, Madecrlssol. As part of our program toward the development of new wound healing agents. structere activity relationship (SAR) studies have been performed by modifying asiatic acid. In this communication. the SAR study of esiatic acid for the development of an efficient woind healing agent is reported.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.351-358
• /
• 2021

The study was investigated to compare growth characteristics, the antioxidant activity, and the triterpenoid content of two Centella asiatica cultivars ('Giant Tiger Care' and 'Good Tiger Care'). At 41 days after transplanting, lengths of leaf and petiole were significantly longer in 'Good Tiger Care' than in 'Giant Tiger Care'. However, the growth characteristics (leaf area, petiole thickness, petiole length, and weight) were greater in 'Giant Tiger Care' than in 'Good Tiger Care' at 104 days after transplanting (harvest time). Antioxidant activity and total phenol content in four extracts (WE, water extract; HWE, hot water extract; 50E, 50% EtOH extract; 70E, 70% EtOH extract) of the two cultivars were high in 70E of 'Giant Tiger Care'. As a result of the triterpenoids analysis, the major triterpenoids of the two cultivars were identified as madecassoside and asiaticoside. The total triterpenoid content was high in 50E and 70E of 'Giant Tiger Care' and 'Good Tiger Care', respectively but the total triterpenoid content was highest in Good Tiger Care'. However, at the 104 days after planting, the yield of 'Giant Tiger Care' was three times higher than that of 'Good Tiger Care'. In addition, the total triterpenoid content that can be produced in the same cultivation area (3.3m²) was 2.459mg in 50E of 'Giant Tiger Care', which was ~2.2times higher than that of 70E of 'Good Tiger Care' (1.103 mg). Thus, it is considered economical to cultivate 'Giant Tiger Care' which has the highest antioxidant activity and high total triterpenoid production per cultivation area.