Standardisation and Quality Evaluation of Centella asiatica Linn

Area of Science:

• Pharmacognosy
• Ethnobotany
• Quality Control

Background:

• Centella asiatica Linn. is a widely recognized medicinal herb with diverse therapeutic applications.
• Concerns exist regarding the adulteration of Centella asiatica raw materials with inferior or cheaper substances.
• Ensuring the authenticity and quality of medicinal herbs is crucial for patient safety and therapeutic efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically evaluate the current status of Centella asiatica in the local market.
• To identify and quantify adulteration in commercially available Centella asiatica powder samples.
• To compare the phytochemical profile of authentic Centella asiatica with market samples.

Main Methods:

• Macroscopic and microscopic analysis of powdered authentic and market samples of Centella asiatica.
• Fluorescence analysis to detect characteristic spectral properties.
• Quantitative analysis of key phytochemical constituents, including Asiatic acid.

Main Results:

• Market samples of Centella asiatica powder showed characteristic fragments of sclerenchymatous net, indicative of umbelliferous fruit adulteration.
• Presence of prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate and abundant starch grains confirmed adulteration with cheaper materials.
• Significant differences observed in fluorescence characteristics, crude fiber content, and Asiatic acid content (3.25% vs. 0.12%) between authentic and market samples.

Conclusions:

• Centella asiatica powder available in the local market is significantly adulterated.
• Adulteration compromises the quality and potentially the therapeutic efficacy of Centella asiatica.
• Standardized quality control measures are essential to prevent adulteration of medicinal herbs.