What is Gotu Kola Centella Asiatica used for?

Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) (Centella asiatica) carries an editorial Grade B rating, but the studies recorded on this profile do not demonstrate that grade. Recorded activity centres on oxidative stress modulation, neurotransmitter modulation and vascular function support, which describes mechanism rather than demonstrated benefit. Noted cautions include sedatives.

What is the dose of Gotu Kola Centella Asiatica?

300 600 mg/day standardized extract; traditional dried herb often 2 4 g/day

Herb Profile

Gotu Kola Centella Asiatica

Centella asiatica

Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) (Centella asiatica) carries an editorial Grade B rating, but the studies recorded on this profile do not demonstrate that grade.

Last reviewed: June 6, 2026•3 sources citedReport a correctionProfile-wide ·Unassigned

Use extra caution — Generally well tolerated; mild GI upset or drowsiness possible; rare photosensitivity; avoid in pregnancy/breastfeeding; caution with sedatives and liver conditions at high doses. Details

Evidence: Editorial Grade Not Demonstrated By Recorded Studies
No human outcome study is recorded on this profile yet.
Typical onset: Varies by prep
Safety rating: High caution
Best for: Microcirculation, Collagen Pathways, Vascular Function, Cognitive Support
Avoid / review if: Sedatives

The Hippie Scientist

At a glance

From this profile's structured data

Evidence: Editorial grade not demonstrated by recorded studies
Safety: Generally well tolerated; mild GI upset or drowsiness possible; rare photosensitivity; avoid in pregnancy/breastfeeding; caution with sedatives and liver conditions at high doses.
Profile context: microcirculation, collagen pathways, vascular function

Next stepsWhere to go next — guides & comparisons

If you want help sleeping → Sleep guides
If you want help with anxiety or stress → Anxiety & stress guides
If you want to browse more herbs → All herbs

Safety

Safety & Cautions

Generally well tolerated; mild GI upset or drowsiness possible; rare photosensitivity; avoid in pregnancy/breastfeeding; caution with sedatives and liver conditions at high doses.

High caution

Caution level: High. Multiple caution categories apply, or the record uses avoid/contraindication language.

Liver-SensitiveLiver-related caution language appears in the profile.
Pregnancy/Breastfeeding CautionPregnancy or breastfeeding caution language is present.

Detailed safety fields

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and contraindications

Sedatives

Safety classifications

Liver-Sensitive: Liver-related caution language appears in the profile.
Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Caution: Pregnancy or breastfeeding caution language is present.

Full safety note

Generally well tolerated; mild GI upset or drowsiness possible; rare photosensitivity; avoid in pregnancy/breastfeeding; caution with sedatives and liver conditions at high doses.

Safety labels

Liver-Sensitive
Pregnancy/Breastfeeding Caution

Evidence-based safety

Caution when combined

Severity and certainty are shown separately. A high-priority caution can still be theoretical: these pairings are screened from shared contraindication mechanisms and are not automatically documented clinical interactions. Provenance identifies the source fields that produced each flag; it does not upgrade the certainty of the pairwise claim.

Moderate Caution

68 flagged pairings

Sedation / CNS depression

Representative pairings are shown below. Large mechanism groups are intentionally summarized to keep profiles focused and crawl-efficient.

Sedation / CNS depressionCertainty: Theoretical

Data provenance recorded for 68 of 68 pairings in this mechanism group.

+56 more pairings share this mechanism. Use the Safety Checker to review a specific combination.

Evidence

Evidence Summary

Evidence lens

Treat this profile as unresolved until source review is complete.

Needs reviewEditorial Grade Not Demonstrated By Recorded Studies

Human clinical evidence: Not the primary signal

Mechanistic / preclinical: Mechanism mapped — Oxidative Stress Modulation · Neurotransmitter Modulation · Vascular Function Support

Research maturity: Theoretical / mechanistic research — Mechanistic or unresolved evidence is kept separate from established human outcomes.

Safety boundary: Safety note available — Generally well tolerated; mild GI upset or drowsiness possible; rare photosensitivity; avoid in pregnancy/breastfeeding; caution with sedatives and liver conditions at high doses.

This profile cites 3 human studies.

How evidence grades work

Each grade reflects the strength and consistency of published human evidence — not marketing claims. Grades are based on study count, design quality, effect size, consistency, and recency.

Strong: Multiple RCTs, consistent direction, adequate effect size
Moderate: Some RCTs or consistent observational data in humans
Preliminary / Mixed: Animal or in-vitro only, or conflicting human data
Traditional / Theoretical: Traditional use only; no controlled human trials

Clinical Study Summaries (1)0 human evidence sources · 0 human trials · Participant totals not consistently reported · Consistency not yet classifiable

What the evidence actually shows

This table contains 1 structured source, including 0 human evidence sources; 0 are human trials. A reliable participant total cannot be calculated because sample size is not consistently structured in the cited sources. Source-to-conclusion relationships are not classified in this structured set, so consistency is not yet classifiable.

Profile-wide evidence grade: see the profile grade above · Confidence: not separately assigned

What would change our conclusion?

Larger, well-controlled human trials using comparable populations, doses, preparations, and clinically meaningful outcomes could materially strengthen or weaken this conclusion. Replication in a different population or a high-quality synthesis resolving current disagreement could also materially change confidence.

Study	Design	N	Dose	Duration	Population	Outcome	Result & magnitude	Source
Requires manual source normalization to PMID, DOI, PMC, or authoritative URL. Background	Other / unclear The study design is not yet classified clearly enough to infer its place in the evidence hierarchy.	—	—	—	—	—	—	Source →

Dosing & Timing

Dose guidance: 300 600 mg/day standardized extract; traditional dried herb often 2 4 g/day

How Gotu Kola Centella Asiatica works

Simplified mechanism pathway based on preclinical and pharmacological evidence. Does not confirm clinical efficacy.

Mechanism Pathway — How Gotu Kola Centella Asiatica Works

CompoundTarget / ReceptorMechanismEffect / Outcome

Mechanisms & biological pathways

Preclinical pathways. Proposed mechanisms from in vitro and animal research; these do not confirm clinical outcomes in humans.

Oxidative Stress Modulation
Neurotransmitter Modulation
Vascular Function Support
Stress Response Modulation
Neuroprotective Activity

Active Compounds

Key constituents studied in Gotu Kola Centella Asiatica, with full pharmacology and safety profiles.

Compare related active botanicals

Explore botanicals with similar chemistry, effects, or safety considerations in the Botanical Activity Atlas.

Guides that use Gotu Kola Centella Asiatica

Condition guides

Compare & Sourcing

Compare side-by-side tradeoffs or verify active marker guidelines.

Sourcing options

Gotu Kola product picks

Recommendation status

Product recommendations are not shown for this profile because the current site safety and monetization policy does not permit them.

Product form & quality guidelines

When sourcing Gotu Kola Centella Asiatica, verify the label for:

Standardized extract: Confirm active content percentages on the supplement facts panel (e.g. standardized to specific marker compounds) rather than simple raw herb weights.
Third-party testing: Look for independent purity labels (USP, NSF, ConsumerLab, or Eurofins) to ensure the product is free from heavy metals, solvents, and contaminants.
Form bioavailability: Ensure the form matches evidence-supported configurations (e.g. standardized active extracts like bacosides, withanolides, or curcuminoids) for optimal onset and digestion tolerance.

Continue comparing

Safety first · Harm reduction

This information is educational and not medical advice. Start low, avoid risky combinations, and consult a licensed clinician before making health decisions—especially if you use medications, have diagnosed conditions, or are pregnant/breastfeeding.

Learn how we evaluate confidence, safety, and intensity on the methodology page.

Editorial Review

Checked against primary sources, cited evidence, and contraindication language before publication. Evidence claims, safety language, and affiliate modules are reviewed independently. Not personal medical advice.

Editorial Standards →

Help improve this profile

Was this useful for your research?

These controls record only the page and the structured choice you make when analytics consent is enabled. Please don’t include personal medical information in research requests.

Was this evidence summary clear?

Did you find what you were researching?

Suggest an ingredient, comparison, or study →

Free safety checklist

Get the Gotu Kola Centella Asiatica research notes

Evidence summaries, dosing context, and safety updates for this herb — straight to your inbox.

We use your email to send the checklist and occasional evidence-first supplement updates. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy.

← Back to herbs library Safety checker →

Botanical profile context

How to interpret Gotu Kola Centella Asiatica

Gotu Kola herb profile with evidence context, key research topics, source notes, safety context, and references presented in an evidence-first format. Use this herb profile as a starting point for evidence review, not as a recommendation to start a new supplement. Botanical products can vary by plant part, extract ratio, standardization, dose, and contaminant testing, so two labels with the same common name may not behave the same way.

When reviewing Gotu Kola Centella Asiatica, compare the traditional-use context against the human evidence, mechanism notes, and safety cautions. Pay special attention to pregnancy, breastfeeding, liver or kidney disease, blood-pressure effects, sedation, stimulation, anticoagulant use, antidepressants, and any prescription medication overlap.

For product decisions, prefer transparent labels, named extracts, clear serving sizes, and third-party quality testing. Avoid treating a long list of possible mechanisms as proof that an herb will solve a specific condition.