Centella asiatica · Centella asiatica (Gotu Kola)
A traditional Ayurvedic herb studied for mood, alertness, and cognitive support, with a meta-analysis finding modest but not statistically robust evidence for cognitive benefits.
Short answer
A meta-analysis of 11 RCTs found the evidence for clear cognitive benefit isn't strong, though there is more consistent support for improved mood and alertness. A comparative post-stroke trial found it performed comparably to folic acid for vascular cognitive impairment — a modest but real signal.
Product and dose overview
Centella asiatica (Centella asiatica (Gotu Kola)) is a cognitive longevity / adaptogen with evidence grade C, meaning it is backed by mixed or small human trials. We track 0 products containing Centella asiatica. The top-ranked product scores 0 out of 10 on our composite scale (dose, evidence, price, testing, transparency). Prices range up to $0.00 per month.
What it is
Gotu Kola is a small, ground-creeping plant used in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine, distinct from kola nut, valued as a "brain tonic" and for wound healing.
Why people take it
Cognitive resilience in aging is a key longevity-adjacent outcome, and Centella has a reasonably long track record of human trials, including in stroke recovery and elderly cognition contexts, making it one of the better-studied cognitive-aging botanicals.
Our verdict
A meta-analysis of 11 RCTs found the evidence for clear cognitive benefit isn't strong, though there is more consistent support for improved mood and alertness. A comparative post-stroke trial found it performed comparably to folic acid for vascular cognitive impairment — a modest but real signal.
Structure & class
Centella asiatica extracts are typically standardized for triterpenoid content (asiaticoside, madecassoside, asiatic acid, madecassic acid).
Mechanism & clinical data
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 RCTs (Puttarak et al. 2017) concluded there is not strong evidence for cognitive function improvement specifically, but the herb does appear to improve mood and alertness. A dose-ranging study testing 250/500/750 mg daily doses found 750 mg produced the greatest effect on mood/cognition in elderly subjects (n=28, 2 months). A comparative post-stroke trial (n=48) using 750 mg or 1000 mg/day over 6 weeks found effects on vascular cognitive impairment comparable to folic acid. An anxiolytic study found a single 12 g dose reduced acoustic startle response in 40 subjects.
Pharmacokinetics
Limited human pharmacokinetic data; asiaticoside and related triterpenoids have variable oral bioavailability depending on extract preparation.
Dose & forms
What to watch out for
May cause mild GI upset or headache in some users; the EU classified high-purity Gotu Kola extracts as an unauthorized Novel Food as of the January 2026 review, alongside cycloastragenol.
Where this dose comes from
The trial dose above is our editorial pick from the published human trials for this ingredient. We choose the dose that the best-available studies used on the endpoint most relevant to longevity. The range shows the lowest and highest doses tested in published trials. The landmark studies below are the papers we read to set it. You can click through and check our work.
When new trials publish, our automated sweeps flag them. If a new study materially changes the dose, we update it through editorial review and record the old dose, new dose, and the triggering study in every affected product's recommendation history. The dose is never changed automatically.
Regulatory status
Timeline
Regulatory events, evidence grade changes, and key research milestones for Centella asiatica, most recent first. Studies link to the paper; regulatory entries name and link the responsible authority.
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EU Court sharpens the bar for botanical health claimsA Court of Justice of the European Union ruling in April 2025 further tightened the requirements for how botanical ingredients (herbs, plant extracts) can be marketed with health claims in the EU, effectively removing much of the flexibility of the on-hold list.
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EU report identifies 117 supplement substances as potential health risksThe HoA Working Group on Food Supplements (26 European countries) published its first report evaluating 117 substances used in food supplements. Of these, 65 were assessed as likely novel foods, 6 were already regulated, 34 had insufficient data, and 12 were prioritized for Article 8 restriction under Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006. The 12 priority substances include ashwagandha, curcumin, melatonin, piperine, St. John's wort, coumarin, p-synephrine, maca, holy basil, Melaleuca, black cohosh, and L-tryptophan. The report drew on 1,500 RASFF alerts reviewed between 2017 and mid-2022.
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Puttarak P, et al. (2017). Effects of Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. on cognitive function and mood related outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Sci Rep / PMID 28878245.Puttarak P, et al. (2017). Effects of Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. on cognitive function and mood related outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Sci Rep / PMID 28878245.
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EU Health Claims Regulation adoptedRegulation (EC) No 1924/2006 laid down harmonised rules for nutrition and health claims made on foods, including supplements. Only claims listed in the EU Register of authorised claims can be used. Rejected botanical claims are held in a separate on-hold list.
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EU introduces the Novel Food RegulationRegulation (EC) No 258/97 required any food or food ingredient without a history of consumption in the EU before 15 May 1997 to be authorised before being placed on the market. This is the framework that captures NMN, spermidine as a supplement ingredient, urolithin A, and many other longevity actives.
Landmark studies
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Puttarak P, et al. (2017). Effects of Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. on cognitive function and mood related outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Sci Rep / PMID 28878245.
Puttarak P, et al. (2017). Effects of Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. on cognitive function and mood related outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Sci Rep / PMID 28878245.
Read study →
Found in these products
All products in our catalog that contain Centella asiatica, ranked by our overall score. Ranking is editorial, never paid.
No products in our catalog contain this yet.
Buying guides and comparisons
Related ingredients
See all in Cognitive longevity / Adaptogen →Molecules in the same class, plus the actives most often formulated alongside Centella asiatica in our catalogue.
Nothing else in the database sits close enough to this molecule to list.
See Centella asiatica in context: the mechanism it acts through, the biomarker it moves, the products that dose it, and the trials that tested it.
View Centella asiatica on the Longevity Map →Frequently asked questions
What is Centella asiatica?
Gotu Kola is a small, ground-creeping plant used in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine, distinct from kola nut, valued as a "brain tonic" and for wound healing.
What dose of Centella asiatica should I take?
The trial dose in published human studies is 750 mg per day, with a range of 250 to 1000 mg per day. Always consult a qualified clinician before starting any supplement.
Is Centella asiatica safe?
May cause mild GI upset or headache in some users; the EU classified high-purity Gotu Kola extracts as an unauthorized Novel Food as of the January 2026 review, alongside cycloastragenol.
What is the best Centella asiatica supplement?
We track 0 products containing Centella asiatica. The top-ranked product scores 0 out of 10 on our composite scale, which evaluates dose, evidence, price, third-party testing, and transparency. See the comparison table above. Scores are editorial judgments, not a scientific standard.
What is the evidence grade for Centella asiatica?
Centella asiatica has evidence grade C, meaning it is backed by mixed or small human trials. Grade A means replicated human RCTs with hard endpoints. Grade B means human RCTs with biomarker outcomes. Grade C means mixed or small human trials. See our evidence grading methodology.
Data verification
Evidence grades are reviewed when new human RCTs are published. Product counts update automatically as new products are added. Dose ranges reflect published trial data, not brand recommendations. Read how we verify.