Mandukaparni
Centella asiatica Linn.
Syn. Hydrocotyle asiatica Linn.
Family: Apiaceae; Umbelliferae
A prostrate, faintly aromatic, stoloniferous
perennial herb, upto 2 m long, commonly
found as a weed in crop fields and other
waste places throughout India up to an
altitude of 600m. Stem glabrous, pink and
striated, rooting at nodes; leaves fleshy,
orbicular-reniform, crenate-dentate, base
cordate and often lobed, long-petioled,
smooth on the upper surface and sparsely
hairy on the lower; flowers red, pink or
white, in fascicled umbels; fruits oblong, dull brown, laterally compressed, pericarp hard and
thickened, woody, white.
The enjoys considerable reputation in the indigenous system of medicine and is frequently
confused for Bacopa monnieri Wettst., which is sold in the market as Brhami. The controversy,
however, has been resolved, and it is concluded that Brhami is B.monnieri and Mandukaparni is
Centella asiatica.
Vernacular Names:
Sanskrit – Mandukaparni, Brahmamanduki, Manduki
Hindi – Brahma-manduki, khulakhudi, mandookaparni
English – Indian penny wort
Kannada – Vandelaga, Brahmisappu
Gujarat – Moti brahmi
Telugu – Saraswataku
Tamil – Vallarai
Malayalam – Kodangal, muyalchevi
Distribution:
It is distributed throughout India, Srilanka, China, Australia, Indonesia and Malaysia. It is useful
cover crop in plantations; its cultivation is also recommended for preventing surface run-off on
slopes.
Threat status: under cultivation
Agro-climatic requirements:
The plant found in abundance on moist, sandy or clayey soils, often in large clumps forming a
dense green carpet. In the availability of abundance water source Centella can be grown in any
type of soil. Soil pH should be in between 6.0-9.0.
Varieties:
Majjaposhak, Kayakirti, Lucknow local
Cultivation:
For propagation seeds and stolon cuttings are used. The land should be given a thorough
preparatory tillage of 4-6 ploughing and brought to fine tilth. The land after being leveled and
pressed with a plank is laid out into small compartments to facilitate irrigation. Seed is sown
broadcast or drilled; Stolon cuttings with minimum of one node are planted horizontally at a
distance of 30 cm × 30 cm. in the month of October. By providing shade to the transplanted area
will increase the yield of active constituents in the plant. First irrigation is given just after
transplantation and subsequent irrigation at an interval of 8-10 days. To begin with weeding is
done at an interval of 15-20 days thereafter, it is done as and when required.
Manure and fertilizer:
Farmyard manure or compost at the rate of 5 tons per hectare is applied. To get good vegetative
growth 100 kg of nitrogen is given in 3 divided doses, 60 kg P2O2 and 60 kg K2O per hectare at
the time of land preparation.
Plant protection:
The crop is not known to be affected by any serious diseases and pests.
Harvesting and yield:
After January leaves are collected at an interval of 15 days. Before the monsoon starts (June)
harvesting should get completed.
After harvesting leaves are dried under shade or leaves are first dried by giving 800 c temperature
for 30 min. then dried under shade.
Yield of centella per hectare is around 54 quintal of fresh leaves (20 quintal of dried leaves) and
with this around 20 kg of asiaticoside can be extracted.
Cost of Cultivation: Approximate cost of cultivation comes around Rs.40,000/- per hectare.
Inputs:
Sl.No Materials Per acre Per hectare
1 Number of plants 44000 112000
2 Farm Yard Manure (t) 2 5
Fertilizer (kg)
3 N 40 100
P2O5 24 60
K2O 24 60
Parts used: Whole plant – leaves, fruit, root, seeds and stem.
Medicinal uses:
The leaves are used as vegetable in Karnataka and Kerala. The plant is valued in indigenous
medicine internally and externally used for the treatment of syphilitic with gummatous
infiltration and skin diseases like eczema, psoriasis, leprosy and malaria, fevers, epilepsy,
insanity and also to improve memory. Two common forms in which drug are used are as
Swarasam (juice) and Ghrutam. In pharmacological and clinical trials it has been found to
improve the power of concentration and general ability and behavior of mentally retarded
children. The plant is used in case of cholera, rheumatism, elephantiasis and hydrocele. For
treating leprosy and other skin diseases it is given as an ointment or dusting powder. Internally it
has been valued as a tonic and is used in bronchitis, asthma, leucorrhoea, kidney troubles,
gastric, urethritis and dropsy. In large doses the plant acts as narcotic, producing cephalgia,
vertigo and sometimes coma. The plant is considered as aphrodisiac and used in venereal
diseases.
