Centella asiatica (L.) Urb.
Small creeping herb , shovel shaped leaves , alternately emerging in clusters at the stem nodes , fleshy , orbicular to reniform and denate , leaves with scalloped edges rise above on long reddish petioles . Petiole is long smooth on upper surface hairy below . Stem glabrous , pink striated and rooting at nodes . Runners lie along ground . Flowers insignificant , greenish to pinkish white in dense umbels , seeds pumpk
- Family: Apiaceae
- Habit: Apiaceae
- Habitat: Stream banks and other water sources
- Status : Least concern
Vernacular names
English - Asiatic pennywort
Hindi - Brahma manduki
Malayalam - Kodangal
Tamil -Vallarai
Kannada -Brahmi soppu
Medicinal Uses
* It is used for the treatment of skin related problems and rejuvanating and revitalization of brain and hence it is called as brain tonic (Arora et al. 2002) .
* It is also used for treating diabetes , pregnancy strech marks etc .
* Careful administration of centella is also beneficial in treating skin diseases.
* It is used for curing varicose vein .
* Useful in healing wounds .
