Centella asiatica (L.)
CLASSIFICATION
| ORDER | : Apiales |
| FAMILY | : Apiaceae |
| GENUS | : Centella L. |
| SPECIES | : asiatica (L.) Urb. |
| BOTANICAL NAME | : Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. |
| SYNONYMS | : Centella erecta (L. f.) Fernald |
| COMMON NAME | : Indian Pennywor, Coinwort. |
| TAMIL NAME | : Kacappi., Vallarai. |
| HINDI NAME | : Ballari. |
PLANT DESCRIPTION
| HABIT : A small creeping herb. |
| STEM : Slender, rooting at nodes, reddish. |
| LEAVES : 1-4 from each node, orbicular-reniform, entire or crenate, base cordate, petioles chanelled, stipules adnate to the petiole, forming a sheathing base. |
| INFLORESCENCE : Umbels |
| FLOWERS : Flowers in fascicled umbels, each umbel with 3-4 flowers, bracts 2 below each umbel.Calyx-teeth 0.Petals 5, imbricate, pink. Stamens 5. |
| Ovary inferior, 2-celled, 1-ovuled, style 2. |
| FRUIT : A cremocarp, ovoid with thickened pericarp. |
| FLOWERING AND FRUITING TIME : May-November. |
MEDICINAL USES
| Compounds in Centella asiatica, including madecassoside, madecassic acid, asiaticoside and asiatic acid, may help wounds heal. |
| Treating psoriasis |
| Treating scleroderma |
| Reducing swelling in keloids and hypertrophic scars |
| Reducing cellulite and photoaging of the skin. |
IMAGES
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