CHEMICAL COMPOSITION Plant contains two saponins - brahmoside and brahminoside, three triterpene acids - brahmic acid, iso-brahmic acid and betulic acid1, mesoinositol - centelloside, Asiatic acid, asiaticoside2 and centellic acid3. .

PHARMACOLOGY Alcoholic extract prolonged the hypnotic effect of Sodium phenobarbitone in mice and rats4. The centella glycosides when injected into anaesthetised rats significantly lowered the blood pressure5. It was observed that alcoholic extract decreased the acetylcholine and histamine content of the whole brain homogenate of albino rats. Inhibition of the increase in acetylcholine in the brain in stressed rats was observed6.

THERAPEUTIC USESUsed in various mental disorders. It is regarded as one of the best psychotropic drugs. Six week treatment in patients of anxiety neurosis reduced anxiety levels and showed improvement in the mental fatigue rate and immediate memory span7. Significant improvement in both general ability and behavioral pattern was obtained in 30 mentally retarded children within 12 weeks8. Significant improvement was observed in the intelligence quotient in children treated with a dose of 0.5g / day of the powder for one year9. In mentally retarded children, a significant increase in the general mental ability, over all general adjustment and mental concentration at the end of 6 months was observed10