Asiaticosid from Centella asiatica

Asiaticoside, an ursane-type triterpene saponin from Centella asiatica has been shown to stimulate skin human fibroblasts collagen I synthesis in vitro. By comparison asiaticoside and asiatic acid, it seemed that the sugar moiety was not necessary for this activity [223]. 

Mahato, S.B. Sahu, N.P. An improved process for the isolation of asiaticoside, useful as an antileprotic agent from Centella asiatica, Indian patent filed, 1993. 

Aerial material from Centella asiatica was extracted and characterized for asiaticoside content [413]. A 70/30 methanol/water (1% TFA) mobile phase and a Cjg column (A = 220 nm) provided separation of the analyte from numerous other compounds. Elution was complete in <10min. A linear range for asiaticoside was reported as 1-30 pg injected. 

Four triterpenes (asiatic acid, madecassic acid, asiaticoside, madecassoside) were extracted from Centella asiatica and baseline resolved on a Cj colunm... 

A modified TLC method from the European Pharmacopoeia was used for identification of four triterpenoids from Centella asiatica [30]. The plant extract was applied onto a silica gel 60 F254 TLC plate, which was developed using ethyl acetate-methanol (60 40, v/v). The bands were visualized by anisaldehyde derivatization reagent. The identity of four determined triterpenoids—madecassoside, asiaticoside, madecassic acid, and asiatic acid— was confirmed by offline TLC-MALDI-MS analysis. The adsorbent containing the analytes was scraped from the TLC support and the triterpenoids were reextracted using methanol and subjected to MALDI plates, along with the matrix, for MS analysis. 

Asiaticoside. Saponin-like triterpene glycoside C48H78O, Mr 959.14, mp. 235-238°C, [aln -14° (C2H5OH) from the leaves of the Asian marsh pennywort, Centella asiatica Hydrocotyle asiatica, Apia-ceae). A. shows antibiotic activity against Gram-positive bacteria and mycobacteria and has a wound-healing effect. 

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