Common Name Standardized: gotu kola Other: Asiatic pennywort, Indian pennywort, ji xue cao (Chinese), hierba de clavo, sombrerito (Spanish)1 mandukaparni Botanical Name Centella asiatica (L.) Urb.1 Plant Family: Apiaceae Synonyms Hydrocotyle asiatica L.1 Overview Gotu kola is known throughout the Asian world as a potent medicinal herb and a tasty food. It has been utilized for thousands of years in both traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda for its wound healing properties and for its positive effect on memory and focus. Just recently its value has been recognized in the U.S. as an herb that supports cognition and vascular health. Botany Centella asiatica is a low growing creeping perennial herb that likes hot, moist climates in the South and Southeast Asian tropics. It is native to India, Japan, China, Indonesia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and the South Pacific. Centella loves to grow near slowly moving water (one of its common names in Ayurveda is mandukaparni which means frog-leafed as this plant grows in swampy areas). It has small round bright green leaves with white, light purple or pink flowers, and produces an oval shaped fruit. As a member of the carrot or Apiaceace family, it is related to many other popular foods and medicinal spices such as parsley (Petroselinum crispum), cumin (Cuminum cyminum), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), angelica (Angelica archangelica), and cilantro (Coriandrum sativum). In Spanish is it referred to as sombrerito which means little hat and alludes to the shape of the leaf. In the Sri Lankan Singhalese language, gotu kola means cup-shaped leaf. In Sri Lanka it is common knowledge that elephants, who have a reputation of a long life and a great memory, eat the plant. The locals follow their example, eating a few leaves a day. For educational purposes only This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.