Centella Asiatica
Centella asiatica · gotu kola
Ayurveda's 'brahmi' — the wound-healing scalp herb K-beauty perfected.
Region
Madagascar · standardised in South Korea
Form
Water/glycerin extract standardised to 10% total triterpenes
Shelf
24 months refrigerated
Class
Herbal extract
Key finding
4
Bioactive triterpenes — asiaticoside, madecassoside, asiatic + madecassic acid
The brief.
Origin
Wild-harvested from Madagascar (the finest triterpene profile), then standardised and extracted in South Korean cosmetic-biotech facilities.
Extraction
Whole aerial parts are hot water-extracted, filtered, and titrated to guarantee ≥10% total triterpenes — the actives responsible for wound healing and scalp repair.
Sustainability
Madagascar wild-harvest is regulated by local co-ops; the plant regenerates quickly in flooded paddies. Our Korean processor is EcoCert-audited.
How it works.
The four Centella triterpenes coordinate a repair cascade: madecassoside and asiaticoside down-regulate inflammatory cytokines, while asiatic and madecassic acid up-regulate fibroblast collagen synthesis. The net effect is a stronger, calmer, better-anchored follicle environment.
Delivers
- 01Rebuilds a compromised scalp barrier post-colour or chemical service
- 02Reduces redness and reactivity through triterpene anti-inflammatory action
- 03Boosts collagen synthesis around the follicle — supporting anchor strength
- 04One of the gentlest yet most-studied plant actives in modern dermatology
Molecular signature.
The bio-active constituents that make Centella Asiatica work — with standardised percentages where measured by HPLC.
- 01
Asiaticoside
Triterpene glycoside that up-regulates type I collagen and stimulates fibroblasts.
- 02
Madecassoside
Potent anti-inflammatory; reduces IL-1β and TNF-α in irritated scalps.
- 03
Asiatic acid + Madecassic acid
Aglycone triterpenes that strengthen the scalp barrier.
Signal profile.
Six-axis assay
A living profile — the vectors that make Centella Asiatica.
- Evidence52
1 peer-reviewed source
- Potency20
Standardised at 4
- Safety92
Broad tolerance
- Heritage81
Documented across 3 traditions
- Sensory76
Herbal extract profile
- Sourcing92
Traceable provenance
Heritage.
The record
Referenced in the Sushruta Samhita (600 BCE) as brahmi, one of Ayurveda's premier medhya (mind and skin) rasayanas. Adopted into traditional Chinese medicine as gotu kola. Reached Western dermatology through French research on Malagasy wound care in the 1940s, and became a K-beauty staple after Korean brands standardised the extract in the 2010s.
Traditional use
Ayurvedic brain and skin tonic; Sri Lankan post-partum scalp treatment; Malagasy wound-healing poultice; TCM 'longevity herb'.
Naturally found in
- Wetlands of tropical Asia, Madagascar, and the Pacific
- Cultivated commercially across Southeast Asia
- Grows wild in flooded rice paddies
Field → phial.
Every gram of Centella Asiatica passes five gates before it enters a Ghori formula. No shortcuts, no re-labels — the paper trail runs from soil to seal.
- 𖤣01
Stage 01
Harvest
Wild-harvested from Madagascar (the finest triterpene profile), then standardised and extracted in South Korean cosmetic-biotech facilities.
- ❋02
Stage 02
Extract
Whole aerial parts are hot water-extracted, filtered, and titrated to guarantee ≥10% total triterpenes — the actives responsible for wound healing and scalp repair.
- ◇03
Stage 03
Assay
HPLC-verified. 4 standardised for bioactive triterpenes — asiaticoside, madecassoside, asiatic + madecassic acid.
- ◉04
Stage 04
Formulate
0.5%–5% in leave-on and rinse-off formulas.
- ⌘05
Stage 05
Deliver
Stable 24 months refrigerated. Sealed under nitrogen where required.
Best for. Pairs with.
Best for
- ◆Reactive or bleach-damaged scalps
- ◆Post-chemical-service repair rituals
- ◆Sensitive-skin types needing a gentle barrier active
Pairs well with
People often ask.
Is Centella the same as CICA?
Yes — CICA is the K-beauty shorthand for standardised Centella asiatica extract. Same plant, same actives, standardised dose.
The paper trail.
- [01]Bylka W, et al. Adv Clin Exp Med. 2013 — Centella asiatica in cosmetology.
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