Gotu Kola may enhancing neuronal growth and combating age-related deficits

Aging and the fleeting duration of life are topics central to the human condition and experience. Myths about prolonging life, such as the Fountain of Youth or the Elixir of Life, are found across cultures. During the age of exploration, expeditions crossed oceans and continents in search of the ever-elusive ambrosia.

Today, scientists are exploring treatments for neurodegenerative and age-related diseases, which are increasingly prevalent due to rising global life expectancy and the growing elderly population. Some of these potential breakthroughs are rooted in traditional, non-Western medicine. 

At the Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences, Professor Doris Kretzschmar and colleagues Dr. Amala Soumyanath, Dr. Nora Gray and Karen Rowe from the Botanical Dietary Supplements Research Center at Oregon Health & Science University, in collaboration with other researchers, have published the effects of Centella asiatica, a traditional Indian herbal medicine and popular supplement in the West, on nerve tissue and fruit flies. This collaborative effort, published in Frontiers in Aging, demonstrates that the herb's constituent chemical compounds, caffeoylquinic acids (CQAs) and triterpenes, significantly enhance dendritic arborization (the process that creates new synapses) in mouse neurons and improve locomotion in aging fruit flies. 

Centella asiatica, known commercially as Gotu Kola, has long been celebrated for its potential benefits to cognitive function and overall brain health. In their study, Professor Kretzschmar and colleagues aimed to investigate the specific mechanisms through which this herb affects the nervous system. To achieve this aim, the research team treated mouse neurons with an extract of Gotu Kola and its components to assess their impact on neuronal growth. 

The study found that Gotu Kola extract and mixtures of its individual triterpene and CQA components significantly increased dendritic arborization compared to control levels. The findings suggest that Gotu Kola, and some of its components may promote neuronal connectivity, which is vital for cognitive function and memory. 

In addition to studying the effects of the compounds on neurons, the team examined how Gotu Kola and its active chemical components impacted aging fruit flies. Aged flies treated with Gotu Kola, CQAs and triterpenes showed improvements in locomotion, indicating the potential of Gotu Kola as a natural intervention for enhancing cognitive and motor functions in aging populations. The findings underscore the herb's promise in this area. 

The two parts of the study provide compelling evidence that Gotu Kola and its bioactive compounds can positively influence neuronal growth and function. This could have significant implications for developing natural therapies aimed at mitigating age-related cognitive decline and improving overall neuronal health, particularly in aging populations. 

As the global population ages, the need for effective strategies to combat cognitive decline and improve quality of life becomes increasingly urgent. The findings from this study suggest that Gotu Kola may offer a natural solution to support brain health and resilience against age-related challenges. 

According to Professor Kretzschmar, studies examining botanical supplements like Gotu Kola contribute to our understanding of the effectiveness of the supplements and the compounds therein, which is important, particularly for consumers, given that the federal government does not regulate supplements as stringently as it does for conventional drugs. Going forward, Kretzschmar notes that the study lays the groundwork for additional clinical trials testing the effectiveness of Gotu Kola for improving neurological health in aging human populations.