Description

Asiaticoside is a triterpene found in Centella that exhibits anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, cognition enhancing, antipyretic, antioxidative, pro-angiogenic, anticancer chemotherapeutic, and chemopreventive activities. Asiaticoside inhibits melanogenesis by decreasing DNA binding by MITF; as a result, it is occasionally used in skin whitening treatments. Asiaticoside induces apoptosis, increases activation of caspase 3, decreases release of TNF-α and IL-1β, and suppresses tumor development and size in animal models of breast cancer. In animal models of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, asiaticoside improves memory and learning deficits and decreases levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β. Additionally, asiaticoside decreases LPS-induced inflammation and fever, suppresses activity of myeloperoxidase, and increases activity of heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) in vivo. This compound also supports wound healing activity, increasing cell migration, attachment, and growth in vitro.