Gotu kola
Summary
Gotu kola is a culinary and medicinal herb rich in triterpenes. A 2017 meta-analysis found no effect on any cognitive domain, only small mood changes. Two 2026 Korean trials reported fewer wrinkles and higher macular pigment, both co-authored by supplement-company staff. Rare cases of liver injury with jaundice have been reported.
Key facts
- Linked to rare cases of acute liver injury with jaundice; three women developed hepatitis after 20-60 days, and one relapsed on re-exposure[7][6]
- Meta-analysis of 5 RCTs: no significant difference from placebo in any cognitive domain; alertness rose and anger fell 1 hour after a dose[1]
- 200 mg/day for 12 weeks cut average wrinkle depth 11.1% from baseline in 112 Korean women; hydration, elasticity and brightness changes were small[3]
- A review of 8 trials found better microcirculation measures in chronic venous insufficiency, but most trials had unclear risk of bias[5]
- Gotu kola is unrelated to kola nut and contains no caffeine[9]
- 3 graded human outcomes on this page
- October 13, 2026
How it works
ProposedThe main actives are triterpene glycosides (asiaticoside, madecassoside) and caffeoylquinic acids. After oral dosing the glycosides were not found in plasma, but their aglycones asiatic and madecassic acid were, and blood-cell NRF2 antioxidant gene expression shifted. How this relates to skin, vein or cognitive effects is not established.[8][7]
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form column shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
At a glance: strongest evidence per outcome
| Outcome | Grade | Effect | Strongest evidence | Rows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skin | Grade C | Improved | RCT · n = 112 · 2026 | 1 row |
| Eye health | Grade D | Improved | RCT · n = 80 · 2026 | 1 row |
| Memory and mood | Grade D | Improved | RCT · n = 28 · 2008 | 1 row |
Every graded row
| Outcome | Effect | Grade | Best evidence | PMID |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Facial wrinkles and skin barrier in middle-aged women | Improved | Grade C | RCT · n = 112 · 2026 Middle-aged Korean women (112 randomised; per-protocol analysis) Form: Oral Centella asiatica extract · Dose: 200 mg/day · Duration: 12 weeks Average wrinkle depth fell 11.1% and maximum depth 13.3% from baseline with minimal placebo change; water loss through the skin fell. Hydration (2.7%), elasticity (0.7%) and brightness (0.7%) changes were small. | 42196964 (opens PubMed)Source [3] |
| Macular pigment optical density | Improved | Grade D | RCT · n = 80 · 2026 Adults aged 45-65 with low-to-moderate macular pigment (Korea) Form: Standardised Centella extract (CA-HE50) · Dose: 300 mg/day · Duration: 6 months Macular pigment density rose more than placebo in each eye by day 180 (P < 0.001), with differences already at day 120; no serious adverse events. | 41901080 (opens PubMed)Source [4] |
| Working memory and mood in healthy older adults | Improved | Grade D | RCT · n = 28 · 2008 Healthy older volunteers (Thailand) Form: Centella asiatica extract · Dose: 250, 500 or 750 mg once daily · Duration: 2 months The 750 mg dose improved working memory and an event-related potential measure; self-rated mood improved. | 18191355 (opens PubMed)Source [2] |
Forms
| Form | Elemental % | Absorption (human data) | GI tolerance | Studied for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standardised Centella extract (triterpenes) | Varies[8] | After 2 g or 4 g of an aqueous extract, asiatic and madecassic acid appeared in plasma but the parent glycosides did not.[8] | No serious adverse events in 12-week and 6-month trials; rare liver injury reported outside trials.[3][4][7] | Skin trial (200 mg/day) and macular pigment trial (300 mg/day) |
| Dried whole herb or powder | Varies[9] | No head-to-head human absorption data.[9] | Active-compound content varies widely with where the herb is grown.[9] | Not tested separately in the trials cited here |
Studied doses
Doses studied in human trials ranged from 200 mg/day of extract for 12 weeks (skin) and 300 mg/day for 6 months (macular pigment) to 250-750 mg/day for 2 months (memory in older adults).[2][3][4]
Interactions
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
Medicines
- Medicines that can harm the liverReviewGotu kola has been linked to rare acute liver injury with jaundice; combining it with other liver-stressing drugs has not been studied.[7][6]
- Drugs metabolised by CYP450 enzymesReviewLab studies suggest gotu kola may increase side effects of CYP450 substrate drugs; clinical relevance is not established.[9]
Who should be careful
- Liver disease or past herb-related liver injury
- Rare cases of jaundice and hepatitis have been reported, including recurrence on re-exposure.[6][7]
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- No human safety data; the trials enrolled non-pregnant adults only.[3][4]
- People on many prescription drugs
- Lab data suggest effects on CYP450 drug metabolism.[9]
Talk to your pharmacist or clinician before starting a supplement, especially if you take prescription medicines.
Safety first
Generally well tolerated in short trials, with rare liver injury.
- Liver injury cases
- Three women developed jaundice (ALT up to 1,694 U/L) after 20-60 days; all improved after stopping, and one relapsed when she took it again.[6]
- Trial safety
- No serious adverse events and normal blood tests in a 12-week and a 6-month trial.[3][4]
- Skin rash
- Skin rash is a listed side effect.[9]
How to read the label
Where to buy Gotu kola
Products from brands we partner with that contain Gotu kola. Listing a product is not a claim that it works; check the amount per serving against the doses studied above, and the label for other ingredients.
- SupersmartPaid linkCentella Asiatica Gotu Kola (90 veg. caps)3 capsules: 180 mg Centella asiatica extract standardised to 20% asiaticosides and madecassosides; 30 servings. Close to the 200 mg/day used in the skin trial, though not the same extract.Shop at Supersmart (opens in new tab)Price and label checked 2026-10-13 on the brand’s site.
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Frequently asked questions
Does gotu kola improve memory?
A meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials found no significant effect on any area of cognition, though alertness rose briefly.[1]
Does gotu kola help skin wrinkles?
One 12-week trial in 112 Korean women found shallower wrinkles with 200 mg/day; it was co-authored by supplement-company staff.[3]
Is gotu kola safe for the liver?
It is usually well tolerated, but rare cases of liver injury with jaundice have been reported.[7][6]
Is gotu kola related to kola nut or caffeine?
No. It is a different plant and contains no caffeine.[9]
Does it help leg veins?
A review of 8 small trials found better microcirculation measures in chronic venous insufficiency, but trial quality was unclear.[5]
Sources
- [1]Effects of Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. on cognitive function and mood related outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.. Sci Rep, 2017. meta-analysis
- [2]Positive modulation of cognition and mood in the healthy elderly volunteer following the administration of Centella asiatica.. J Ethnopharmacol, 2008. RCT
- [3]A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial Assessing the Effects of Oral Centella asiatica Extract on Skin Aging-Related Parameters in Middle-Aged Korean Women.. Nutrients, 2026. RCT
- [4]Effects of Long-Term Supplementation with Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. Extract (CA-HE50) on Macular Pigment Optical Density: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.. Nutrients, 2026. RCT
- [5]A Systematic Review of the Efficacy of Centella asiatica for Improvement of the Signs and Symptoms of Chronic Venous Insufficiency.. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2013. systematic-review
- [6]Hepatotoxicity associated with the ingestion of Centella asiatica.. Rev Esp Enferm Dig, 2005. observational
- [7]Centella asiatica.. LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury, 2012. database
- [8]Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Key Components of a Standardized Centella asiatica Product in Cognitively Impaired Older Adults: A Phase 1, Double-Blind, Randomized Clinical Trial.. Antioxidants (Basel), 2022. PK-study
- [9]Gotu Kola (About Herbs). Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 2022. database
What changed
- Initial editorial evidence review: source titles and years taken from NCBI E-utilities esummary (no retraction or expression-of-concern flags), every evidence row, dose, n and duration read against the PubMed abstract or full text, funding and author affiliations checked where available, and grades held conservative.