Gotu kola (Centella asiatica) is a creeping marsh plant from Asia, whose leaves and herb are used. It's characterized by its triterpenes asiaticoside and madecassoside. Used for centuries in Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine, it's known today mainly as a “cica” ingredient in skincare. No approved EU health claims currently exist for it.
It grows along roadsides in Sri Lanka, is considered one of the most revered herbs in all of Ayurveda, and if you browse the shelves of Korean skincare today, you'll find it under the abbreviation "Cica" on every other cream: Gotu Kola, botanically Centella asiatica. If you want to know what this unassuming marsh plant actually is and why it carries so many names and uses, you're in the right place.
In short: Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) is a creeping marsh plant from Asia, whose leaves and aerial parts are used. It's characterized by its triterpenes – asiaticoside and madecassoside. It has been used in Ayurveda and TCM for centuries and is known today mainly as the "Cica" ingredient in skincare. No health claims are currently approved in the EU for Gotu Kola, so we describe the plant factually and neutrally.
The Essentials at a Glance
- What: the creeping marsh plant Centella asiatica; the leaves and aerial parts are used.
- Names: Gotu Kola, Centella, Cica, Brahmi, mandukaparni, "tiger grass."
- Compounds: triterpenes (asiaticoside, madecassoside, asiatic and madecassic acid), flavonoids.
- Forms: powder, extract capsules, tincture; used topically in creams and serums.
- Caution: check with a doctor beforehand if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, have a liver condition, or take medication.
What Is Gotu Kola – and Where Does It Come From?
Centella asiatica is a small, creeping plant with fan-shaped leaves that thrives in damp locations: rice paddies, marsh edges, and streambanks across India, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, and parts of Africa. Botanically, it belongs to the carrot family – related, in other words, to parsley and fennel. The aerial parts, leaves, and stems are used.
The plant's popular name "tiger grass" comes, according to legend, from the observation of injured tigers supposedly rolling around in it. One name to watch out for: in Ayurveda, "Brahmi" is used both for Centella asiatica and for the actually different plant Bacopa monnieri. So never rely on the common name – rely on the Latin name Centella asiatica on the label. That's the only way to know for certain which plant is actually in the product.
The Compounds: Triterpenes as Marker Substances
What characterizes Gotu Kola are its triterpenes – a group of secondary plant compounds that also receive a great deal of attention in cosmetics research:
| Compound Group | Examples | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Triterpene saponins | Asiaticoside, madecassoside | characteristic marker compounds |
| Triterpene acids | Asiatic acid, madecassic acid | often referred to collectively as "TECA" |
| Flavonoids | Quercetin, kaempferol | antioxidant plant compounds |
The alphabet soup on cosmetic labels – TECA, TTFCA, "Centella extract," "Cica" – essentially all mean the same thing: an extract calibrated to the four characteristic triterpenes. The higher and more clearly defined the triterpene content, the better a product can be classified and compared. With cheap, unstandardized raw powders, by contrast, the content varies considerably, since it depends on location, harvest time, and drying.
Why Many People Use Gotu Kola
Gotu Kola has one of the richest histories of use of any herb. In Ayurveda, it's classed among the "Rasayana" plants, traditionally associated with mental clarity and rejuvenation. In TCM and in Southeast Asian folk medicine, it has long been in use – as a leafy vegetable, in salads, as a tea. In Sri Lanka, the Gotu Kola salad "gotukola sambol" is an everyday dish.
In the West, most people today first encounter the plant in skincare. The boom of "Cica" products from Korean K-beauty has made Centella known to a wide audience – and many only discover afterward that behind it lies a thousands-of-years-old herb that's also used internally. Similar to hyaluronic acid or collagen, then, there's a topical world of use and an internal one that touch on the same themes but are researched to different degrees. If you're interested in the skin and connective-tissue context, you'll find matching guides such as Nutrients for connective tissue and Nutrients for the skin.
What Research Is Looking Into
Research interest in Gotu Kola focuses heavily on the triterpenes and splits into two main strands. The first concerns skin and connective tissue: researchers look at how asiaticoside and madecassoside interact with collagen and skin cells – which is why Centella is a recurring topic in dermatological research. The second strand concerns the nervous system and cognitive research, where the traditional Rasayana use is examined scientifically.
A clean distinction between topical and internal use is essential here: most of the research that gets attention relates to topical application, i.e., applied to the skin. These findings can't simply be transferred to taking it as a capsule, because what works through the skin behaves quite differently in the digestive tract.
Honestly assessed: some of this research comes from laboratory and animal studies or from topical application. Robust, large human studies on internal intake for specific goals are limited. The research directions are interesting – but no health promise can be derived from them.
Approved Claims: The Honest Status
No health claims are currently approved for Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) in the EU under the Health Claims Regulation. We therefore describe the plant factually and neutrally – its origin, compounds, traditional and current use, and the state of research, without any promise of effect. This transparency is deliberate: it's the opposite of overblown marketing.
Forms, Quality, and Use
For internal use, Gotu Kola comes as powder, extract capsules, and tincture; for topical use, in creams and serums. For internal use, you should pay attention to the following points:
- Check the botanical name: Centella asiatica – don't confuse it with Bacopa monnieri.
- Standardization: a defined triterpene content for consistent quality.
- Origin & lab testing: lab-tested explained – especially important for marsh plants (heavy metals).
- Organic quality: Organic in supplements explains why that makes sense.
A word on origin: Gotu Kola grows in damp locations, often near rice paddies and bodies of water. Such soils can accumulate heavy metals like lead and cadmium, which is why lab testing is especially important here. Capsule, tablet, powder, or drops helps clarify whether capsules or powder suit you better. And if you're wondering whether a time-limited course or ongoing intake makes more sense, Short course or ongoing intake can help – traditional herbs in particular are often thought of in terms of courses.
Internal or Topical? Two Different Worlds of Use
Because Gotu Kola appears both in creams and in capsules, many people mix up the two worlds. With topical use, a Centella extract (often "Cica") is applied to the skin – the context here is cosmetics and skincare. With internal use, you take the plant as a capsule, powder, or tincture; here, the traditionally rich use of the herb takes center stage. Both approaches have their place, but they need to be considered separately: findings from one world don't simply transfer to the other. Anyone starting with internal use often thinks in terms of courses when it comes to traditional herbs – Short course or ongoing intake offers guidance on this, and Single ingredient or complex formula covers the underlying question of single compound versus complex formula.
Who Should Be Cautious?
With Gotu Kola, the rule is: check with a doctor beforehand if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, have a liver condition, or take medication. Because sensitivity reactions have been reported in isolated cases, a conversation with your doctor is advisable if you have an existing condition, before adding the herb to your routine. For persistent symptoms, please see a doctor. More on the interplay with medications in Supplements and medications.
Honestly Assessed
What's certain: Gotu Kola is one of the most traditionally rich herbs from Ayurveda and TCM, with a well-characterized triterpene profile and broad use – both internal and topical. What's open: robust evidence of effects in humans for specific internal goals is limited, and most of the research that gets attention relates to the skin, not the capsule. Anyone who uses Gotu Kola does so within the framework of a long tradition – without a health promise.
Matching Products from Scheunengut
You'll find Gotu Kola at Scheunengut in our Longevity and Beauty – Skin, Hair & Nails categories. If traditionally rich herbs for the nervous system interest you, it's also worth a look at Brain & Nerves. You can dig deeper with Nutrients for hair, Nutrients for cognitive performance, and the related herb Bacopa monnieri.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is Gotu Kola the same as Brahmi?
Not necessarily. In Ayurveda, the name "Brahmi" is used ambiguously – sometimes for Centella asiatica (Gotu Kola), sometimes for the different plant Bacopa monnieri. That's why you should always check the Latin name when buying: if it says Centella asiatica, you're looking at Gotu Kola.
What does "Cica" mean in skincare?
"Cica" is an abbreviation derived from Centella asiatica, and in Korean K-beauty it refers to products containing Centella extract. So it's the same plant as Gotu Kola – just for topical, on-the-skin application rather than for oral intake.
Can findings from skin creams be applied to capsules?
No, they shouldn't be. Most of the Centella research that gets attention relates to topical application on the skin. What works through the skin behaves completely differently in the digestive tract. Internal and topical use need to be considered separately.
What should I look for in the quality of Gotu Kola?
Look for the Latin name Centella asiatica, a standardized triterpene content, and – since the plant grows in damp, sometimes contaminated soils – lab testing for heavy metals like lead and cadmium. Organic quality and transparent sourcing are additional plus points.
Health notice: This guide is for general information purposes only and does not replace individual medical or pharmaceutical advice. Food supplements are not a substitute for a balanced, varied diet and a healthy lifestyle. If you have health concerns, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are taking medication, please consult a doctor or pharmacist. How our guides are created →
Sources
- Food Supplements – Yes or No? — Verbraucherzentrale
- Health assessment of food supplements — German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR)
- Colorful Pills for a Clear Conscience – What Do Food Supplements Actually Do? — German Nutrition Society (DGE)
- Food supplements — European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
