Gotu Kola

At a glance

Origin / distribution: China, Turkey, Fiji, Samoa, Mauritius, Tonga, Malaya, India

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Alexiteric, Alterative, Anodyne, Aphrodisiac

Science studied: ALPHA-ALANINE, ASCORBIC-ACID, ASH, BICYCLOELEMENE

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Apiaceae

Scientific name: Centella asiatica

Common names: Gotu Kola, Pennywort, Antanan, Asian Pennywort, Asian pennywort, Asiatic pennywort, Asiya sentellası, Bua bok, Bubbles, Cochléaria, Cocaria, Cochléaria du pays, Cochléria, Coclaria, Cocléria, Conclellia, Coq claria, Coq l'aria, Coq lariat, Coquel'aria, Coquelariat, Violette marron, Elisichur, Gotu Cola, Herbe boileau, Hkwa-rwak-ping, Ibdiab Pennywort, Indian pennywort, Indischer Wassernabel, Isixhubho samazinyo, Kiola tuti

POWO: 1197718-2 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in China, Turkey, Elsewhere, Fiji, Samoa, Mauritius, Tonga, Malaya and 5 additional places.

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Alexiteric
• Alterative
• Anodyne
• Aphrodisiac
• Boil
• Cancer
• Circulation
• Convulsion

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• China
• Turkey
• Elsewhere
• Fiji
• Samoa
• Mauritius
• Tonga
• Malaya
• India
• Philippines
• Malagasy
• New Zealand(Niue)

Documented cultural uses

• Alexiteric
• Alterative
• Anodyne
• Aphrodisiac
• Boil
• Cancer
• Circulation
• Convulsion
• Dermatosis
• Diuretic
• Dysentery
• Eye

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Alexiteric · China · "
• Alterative · Turkey · "
• Alterative · Elsewhere · "
• Anodyne · Fiji · "
• Aphrodisiac · Elsewhere · "
• Boil · Samoa · "
• Cancer · Mauritius · "
• Circulation · Elsewhere · "
• Convulsion · Tonga · "
• Dermatosis · Malaya · "
• Diuretic · India · "
• Dysentery · Philippines · "
• Eye · India · "
• Eye · Samoa · "
• Fever · India · "
• Fever · Philippines · "
• Hypertension · Elsewhere · "
• Infection · China · "
• Insanity · India · "
• Insecticide · India · "
• Lactogogue(Veterinary) · India · "
• Leprosy · India · "
• Leprosy · Malagasy · "
• Leprosy · Samoa · "

34 additional documented entries remain in the source record.

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• Development and Characterization of Antioxidant Edible Film Packaging Enhanced with Centella Asiatica · 2026 source ↗
• Efficacy and safety of Centella asiatica in wound healing: A systematic review and meta-analysis. · 2026 source ↗
• Geroprotective Potential of <i>Centella asiatica</i>: Modulation of Cellular Aging. · 2026 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• ALPHA-ALANINE
• ASCORBIC-ACID
• ASH
• BICYCLOELEMENE
• BRAHMIC-ACID
• CALCIUM
• CARBOHYDRATES
• BETA-CAROTENE
• CENTELLINIC-ACID
• CENTOIC-ACID
• CINEOLE
• EO
• BETA-FARNESENE
• FIBER
• GERMACRENE
• 3-GLUCOSYLKAEMPFEROL

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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