Brahmi is the fresh or dried herb of Centella asiatica (L.) (syn. Hydrocotyl asiatica Linn.), belonging to family Umbelliferae.
BRAHMI
Synonyms
Indian Pennywort, Mangosteen.
Biological Source
Brahmi is the fresh or dried herb of Centella asiatica (L.) (syn.
Hydrocotyl asiatica Linn.), belonging to family
Umbelliferae.
Geographical Source
The plant is found in swampy areas of India, commonly found
as a weed in crop fields and other waste places throughout India up to an
altitude of 600 m and also in Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Madagascar.
Characteristics
It is a slender, herbaceous creeper. Stems are long,
prostate, filiform, often reddish and with long internodes, rooting at nodes.
Leaves are long-petioled, 1.3–6.3 cm in diameter, several from rootstock and
1–3 cm from each node of stem. They are orbicular, reniform, rather broader
than long, glabrous on both sides and with numerous slender nerves from a deeply
cordate base. Fruit 8 mm long, ovoid, hard with a thick pericarp.
Microscopy
Root: Outer cork consisting of three to
five-layered, exfoliated rectangular cells, followed by cortex region consisting
three or four layers of parenchyma cells containing oval to round, simple,
starch grains and micro-sphenoidal crystals of calcium oxalate; secondary
cortex composed of thin walled, oval to polygonal parenchymatous cells.
Secretory cells are also present.
Stem: Single layered epidermis composed of
round to cubical cells covered by
striated cuticle. Two or three layers of collenchymatous cells are found below
the epidermis, collenchymatous cells are followed by six to eight layers of
thin walled, isodiametric, parenchymatous cells with intercellular space
present; vascular bundles collateral, open, arranged in a ring, capped, by
patches of sclerenchyma and traversed by wide medullary rays. Resin ducts are
also present in parenchymatous cells of cortex; pith consists of isodiametric
parenchyma cells with intercellular spaces.
Leaf: Single layered epidermis covered by
a thick cuticle, two- or
three-layered collenchyma in the midrib region on both surfaces, central zone
occupied by vascular bundles, mesophyll consists of two or three layers of
palisade cells, five to seven layers of loosely arranged, more or less
isodiametric spongy parenchyma cells. Rosette type crystals of calcium oxalate
and anisocytic stomata are also present. Few anomocytic stomata are also seen.
Chemical Constituents
The drug contains triterpenoid saponin glycosides,
indocen-telloside, brahmoside, brahminoside, asiaticosides, thankuni-side and
isothankuniside. The corresponding trirerpene acids obtained on hydrolysis of
the glycosides are indocentoic, brahmic, asiatic, thankunic and isothankunic
acids. These acids, except the last two, are also present in free form in the
plant from isobrahmic and betulic acids. The presence of mesoinositol, a new
oligosaccharide, centellose, kaempferol, quercetin and stigmasterol, have also
been reported.
Uses
The plant is used as tonic, in diseases of skin, nerves,
blood and also to improve memory. It also strengthens our immune system.
Asiaticosides stimulate the reticu-loendothelial system where new blood cells
are formed and old ones destroyed, fatty materials are stored, iron is
metabolized, and immune responses and inflammation occur or begin. The primary
mode of action of centella appears to be on the various phases of connective
tissue development, which are part of the healing process. Centella also
increases keratinization, the process of building more skin in areas of
infection such as sores and ulcers. Asiaticosides also stimulate the synthesis
of lipids and proteins necessary for healthy skin. Finally centella strengthens
veins by repairing the connective tissues surrounding veins and decreasing
capillary fragility.
Marketed Products
It is one of the ingredients of the preparations known as
Iqmen (Lupin Herbal Lab.) and Abana, Geriforte, Menosan and Mentat (Himalaya
Drug Company).
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