This review describes in detail the phytochemistry and neurological effects of the medicinal herb Centella asiatica (L.) Urban. C. asiatica is a small perennial plant that grows in moist, tropical and sub-tropical regions throughout the world. Phytochemicals identified from C. asiatica to date include isoprenoids (sesquiterpenes, plant sterols, pentacyclic triterpenoids and saponins) and phenylpropanoid derivatives (eugenol derivatives, caffeoylquinic acids, and flavonoids). Contemporary methods for fingerprinting and characterization of compounds in C. asiatica extracts include liquid chromatography and/or ion mobility spectrometry in conjunction with high-resolution mass spectrometry. Multiple studies in rodent models, and a limited number of human studies support C. asiatica's traditional reputation as a cognitive enhancer, as well as its anxiolytic and anticonvulsant effects. Neuroprotective effects of C.asiatica are seen in several in vitro models, for example against beta amyloid toxicity, and appear to be associated with increased mitochondrial activity, improved antioxidant status, and/or inhibition of the pro-inflammatory enzyme, phospholipase A2. Neurotropic effects of C. asiatica include increased dendritic arborization and synaptogenesis, and may be due to modulations of signal transduction pathways such as ERK1/2 and Akt. Many of these neurotropic and neuroprotective properties of C.asiatica have been associated with the triterpene compounds asiatic acid, asiaticoside and madecassoside. More recently, caffeoylquinic acids are emerging as a second important group of active compounds in C. asiatica, with the potential of enhancing the Nrf2-antioxidant response pathway. The absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of the triterpenes, caffeoylquinic acids and flavonoids found in C. asiatica have been studied in humans and animal models, and the compounds or their metabolites found in the brain. This review highlights the remarkable potential for C. asiatica extracts and derivatives to be used in the treatment of neurological conditions, and considers the further research needed to actualize this possibility.

中文翻译：

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Centella asiatica-神经保护和认知增强的植物化学及其机制。

这篇评论详细描述了药草积雪草（L.）Urban的植物化学和神经系统作用。C. asiatica是多年生小型植物，生长在世界各地的潮湿，热带和亚热带地区。迄今为止，从积雪草中鉴定出的植物化学物质包括类异戊二烯（倍半萜，植物固醇，五环三萜和皂苷）和苯丙烷衍生物（丁香酚衍生物，咖啡酰奎尼酸和类黄酮）。用于在积雪草提取物中进行化合物指纹识别和表征的现代方法包括液相色谱法和/或离子迁移谱法以及高分辨率质谱法。在啮齿动物模型中进行的多项研究以及数量有限的人体研究都证明了亚洲念珠菌作为认知增强剂的传统声誉，以及其抗焦虑和抗惊厥作用。在几个体外模型中都观察到了C.asiatica的神经保护作用，例如抗β淀粉样蛋白毒性，并且似乎与线粒体活性增加，抗氧化剂状态改善和/或促炎酶磷脂酶A2抑制有关。积雪草的神经营养作用包括增加树突状树突和突触发生，可能是由于信号转导途径如ERK1 / 2和Akt的调节。C.asiatica的许多这些神经营养和神经保护特性都与三萜化合物积雪草酸，积雪草苷和马德卡索甙有关。最近，咖啡酰奎尼酸正在成为亚洲念珠菌中第二重要的活性化合物。具有增强Nrf2-抗氧化反应途径的潜力。在人和动物模型中研究了在亚洲假单胞菌中发现的三萜，咖啡酰奎尼酸和类黄酮的吸收，分布，代谢和排泄，并在大脑中研究了这些化合物或其代谢产物。这篇综述强调了亚洲隐孢子虫提取物和衍生物在神经疾病治疗中的巨大潜力，并考虑了为实现这种可能性而需要进行的进一步研究。