• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.387-393
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• 2014

We propose Cryptonemia asiatica sp. nov. from Korea and Japan. We used molecular analyses of plastid-encoded rbcL and morphological observations to resolve the taxonomic identities of C. lactuca from Korea, C. luxurians from Japan, and C. seminervis from Spain. Specimens of C. lactuca and C. luxurians fell within the same molecular phylogenetic clade (with 100% bootstrap support) and were clearly separated from specimens of C. luxurians collected from the type locality in Brazil. Our analyses demonstrated identical molecular sequences between C. seminervis specimens from Spain and C. lomation specimens from France. Morphological characteristics of the new species, C. asiatica include prominent midribs through the mid thallus, a cortex 4-6 cells thick, and a blade with undulate margins. Molecular evidence indicates that specimens from Korea and Japan previously assigned to C. lactuca and C. luxurians, respectively, should be reassigned to Cryptonemia asiatica. Binomial C. luxurians from Brazil should be resurrected as the independent species of Cryptonemia.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.389-399
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• 2021

This study determined the effects of Centella asiatica leaf on H₂O₂ induced cell cycle arrest, mitochondrial activity, and proinflammatory cytokine production in human dermal fibroblast (HDF) cells. We used an 80% methanol extract of C. asiatica, its ethyl acetate fraction, and asiaticoside, the major constituent of C. asiatica. The C. asiatica extract, its ethyl acetate fraction, and asiaticoside attenuated G1 cell cycle-arrest and the apoptotic effect caused by H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress. The cells treated with C. asiatica extract, its ethyl acetate fraction, and asiaticoside secreted lower levels of TNF-α and IL-6. The antioxidant effect of asiaticoside was higher than that of C. asiatica extract and its ethyl acetate fraction. Treatment with C. asiatica extract, its ethyl acetate fraction, and asiaticoside also increased the mitochondrial membrane potential and restored normal mitochondrial morphology. Following H₂O₂ stress induction, cells treated with C. asiatica extract, its ethyl acetate fraction, and asiaticoside showed increased mitochondrial oxygen consumption rates and decreases in the TLR4-MyD88-TRAF6-p65 pathway activity. These findings suggest that C. asiatica extract, its ethyl acetate fraction, and asiaticoside have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as the ability to control the mitochondrial activities of HDF cells.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.483-491
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• 2023

This study aimed to compare the bioactive compounds in Centella asiatica (C. asiatica) cultivated in a smart farm and a field and their effects on human keratinocyte cells. C. asiatica was collected in Jeju-do, Korea, and cultured in a smart farm and a field. The main bioactive compounds in the two differentially cultured C. asiatica were identified, and their activation in keratinocytes were assessed. Amplification and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) DNA in the nucleus and psbA-H DNA in the chloroplast were performed for species analysis. A comparison of DNA of plants reported in the NCBI GenBank was performed. The ITS DNA and psbA-H DNA sequences of C. asiatica cultivated in a smart farm and a field were consistent with No. MH768338.1 and No. JQ425422.1, respectively. Analysis of the triterpenes was performed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and as a result, C. asiatica cultured in a smart farm had more triterpenes than those cultured in a field. The effects of C. asiatica grown in a smart farm on cell proliferation and scratch recovery in HaCaT cells were greater than those grown in a field. These results suggest that C. asiatica cultivated in a smart farm can be effectively utilized as a health functional food.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.92-102
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• 2019

Centella asiatica (Linn.) Urban (Umbelliferae) which is also known as 'pegaga' is highly consumed and eaten raw as 'ulam' in Malaysia. C. asiatica is used in traditional medicines to treat various health conditions such as rheumatism, inflammation, syphilis, skin diseases and diarrhoea. Various reports exhibited that the crude extracts and isolated bioactive compounds of C. asiatica possessed a broad range of pharmacological activities such as anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-tumor, wound healing, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective and memory enhancing properties. The pharmacological validation on anti-microbial and immunomodulatory of C. asiatica is very limited and several existence review papers related for this plant had not been focused for both activities. This review therefore attempts to combine the existing literature to offer immense scope for researchers engaged in validation of the traditional claims and bioactivities of this plant related with anti-microbial and immunomodulatory potential.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.380-385
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• 2008

Ethanolic extracts of T. cordifolia and C. asiatica were evaluated for immunostimulatory effect in mice against sheep RBCs as antigen by three models viz. delayed type hypersensitivity reaction, ercent change in neutrophil count and haemagglutination titre. Immunostimulatory effect in the presence of immunosuppressant agent, cyclophosphamide (100 mg/kg, i.p.) was also investigated. T. cordifolia and C. asiatica significantly (p < 0.001, p < 0.05 respectively) enhanced foot pad thickness when measured after 24 hours of sheep RBC antigen challenge. Both the plant materials increased foot pad thickness even after being subjected to immunosuppressant exposure. T. cordifolia revealed enhanced neutrophil counts, while C. asiatica had no significant effect on neutrophil counts. T. cordifolia exhibited significantly (P < 0.01) elevated neutrophil levels even in the presence of cyclophosphamide administration. Both the plants exhibited humoral antibody response, as haemagglutination titre values were significantly high as compared to control. T. cordifolia and C. asiatica could combat immunosuppressant effect of cyclophosphamide (P < 0.01). This suggests that T. cordifolia and C. asiatica can be regarded as biological response modifiers and can be utilized for the development of immunostimulating agent among plant sources.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.16-22
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• 2005

cDNA for oxidosqualene cyclase was cloned by a homology-based PCR method and sequenced from Centella asiatica. In a sequences analysis, the putative polypeptide of C. asiatica cycloartenol synthase (CaCYS) deduced from the 2,274 bp nucleotide sequence, consisted of 758 amino acids and had a molecular mass of 86.3 kD. The predicted amino acid sequence exhibited high homology to that of PNX (cycloartenol synthase) from Panax ginseng ($89\%$). Southern blot analysis suggests that CaCYS may be present in one copy of the C. asiatica genome. If methyl jasmonate (MJ) is applied exogenously to plants, not only triterpene saponins are accumulated in tissues, but also it produces effects such as growth inhibition and the promotion of ethylene production. In order to investigate the effect of MJ and thidiazuron (TDZ), a cytokinin that plays a role as an antisenescence agent in several plants, on the level of CaCYS mRNA, we performed northern blot analysis. When MJ is alone treated by adding to culture medium, CaCYS transcripts were inhibited. However, sustained levels of the expression of CaCYS, by adding TDZ to the medium despite MJ treatments, were demonstrated in C. asiatica leaves.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.294-299
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• 2005

A cDNA encoding farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPS; EC2.5.1.1/EC2.5.1.10) was isolated from Centella asiacita (L.) Urban, using degenerate primers based on two highly conserved domains. A full-length cDNA clone was subsequently isolated by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) PCR. The sequence of the CaFPS (C. asiatica farnesyl diphosphate synthase) cDNA contains an open reading frame of 1029 nucleotides encoding 343 amino acids with a molecular mass of 39.6 kDa. The deduced CaFPS amino acid sequence exhibits 84, 79, and 72%, identity to the FPSs of Artemisia annua, Arabidopsis thaliana, and Oryza sativa, respectively. Southern blot analysis suggested that the C. asiatica genome contains only one FPS gene. An artificially expressed soluble form of the CaFPS was identified by SDS-PAGE. It had high specific activity and produced farnesyl diphosphate as the major isoprenoid.

• Mycobiology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.185-189
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• 2000

The antifungal activity of methanolic extracts of Centella asiatica and Andrographis paniculata leaves was observed against fourteen fungi, viz., Alternaria alternata, A. brassicae, A. brassicicola, A. solani, A. tenuissima, Cercospora blumae, Curvularia lunata, C. penniseti, and Drechslera monoceras, D. oryzae, D. turitica, Fusarium albizziae and F. udum. Different concentrations of the methanolic extract (1000, 2000, 3000, 5000, 7000, 10000ppm) were used. The effect of mixed leaf extract (1500 ppm of C. asiatica + 1500 ppm of A. paniculata) and its 1:2 ad 1:4 dilutions were also studied. The individual extracts of both the plants showed significant inhibitory effect on spore germination of all the fungi tested. F. udum, F. albizzae, D. oryzae, D. turtica, and D. monoceras were particularly sensitive to these extracts. In general, the extract of C. asiatica showed a higher inhibitory effect in all concentrations against all the fungi as compared to A. paniculata, except for A. brassicae A. solani, D. oryzae, D. penniseti and Curvularia sp. The inhibitory effect of extracts increased when they were used in combination with or without dilutions against A. brassicicola, A. solani A. brassicae, A. alternata, A. tenussima, C. blumae, C. lunata, C. penniseti and Curvularia species. Higher efficacy of active ingredient of these extracts under field condition is envisaged against plant pathogens.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.59 no.2
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• pp.179-182
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• 2021

Human infection with Taenia asiatica or a hybrid between Taenia saginata and T. asiatica has not been reported in Cambodia. We detected for the first time a hybrid form between T. saginata and T. asiatica in Preah Vihear Province, Cambodia. An adult tapeworm specimen, i.e., 75 cm long strobila without scolex, was expelled from a 27-year-old man after praziquantel medication and purging. It was morphologically indistinguishable between T. saginata and T. asiatica. Several proglottids were molecularly analyzed to confirm the tapeworm species. The mitochondrial gene encoding cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) and nuclear genes encoding elongation factor-1α (ef1) and ezrin-radixin-moesin (ERM)-like protein (elp) were sequenced, and a single-allele analysis was performed to confirm the haploid genotype. The results revealed that our sample showed a discrepancy between the mitochondrial and 2 nuclear genes. It possessed homozygous sequences typical of T. saginata at cox1 and ef1 loci. However, it was heterozygous at the elp locus, with 1 allele in T. asiatica (elpA) and 1 in T. saginata (elpC), which indicates that it is a hybrid between T. saginata and T. asiatica. The present results confirmed the presence of a hybrid between T. saginata and T. asiatica in Cambodia and strongly suggest the existence of also 'pure' T. asiatica in Cambodia.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.128-134
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• 2023

Centella asiatica (C. asiatica) extracts, including asiaticoside and madecassoside, are used in ointments to treat the wound and atopic dermatitis due to their antibacterial and skin-regenerating effects in Asia. Therefore, research on the cultivation and extraction efficiency of C. asiatica is being actively conducted to increase commercialization efficiency. In this study, various deep eutectic solvents (DESs) were prepared and used as the extraction solvents according to the mole ratio between the hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) and hydrogen bond donor (HBD). And then, the extraction yields in distilled water (DW) and methanol (MeOH), commonly used extraction solvents for C. asiatica, were compared and analyzed by HPLC in the optimized operating condition. As a result, a mixture of DW and DES at a ratio of 3:7 showed about 1.4 times higher extraction efficiency than MeOH only. Conversely, the extraction efficiency in a mixture of MeOH and DES at a ratio of 3:7 was about 6 % lower than that in MeOH only.