Did you know that Mandooka Parni (Centella asiatica), a herbal plant, native to the wetlands in India, with a vernacular name Brahmi soppu (ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಿ ಸೊಪ್ಪು), is used in decoction form as a brain tonic and its tender leaves used to treat leprosy?
Mandooka Parni with the botanical name Centella asiatica, also known as Indian pennywort, is a common herbal plant which grows widely in wetlands (aquatic) of India, Asia. and also in temperate and tropical swampy areas in many regions of the world. It is a small, herbaceous, frost-tender perennial flowering plant in the family of Apiaceae. It is a creeping herb with shovel shaped leaves emerging alternately in clusters at the stem nodes. It is not only a medicinal herb but its aerial part is used as a a vegetable in many Asian countries.
The Plant, indigenous to the Indian subcontinet, has many Indian vernacular language names such as: Mandooka parni, Bhandiri in Sanskrit; Brahmi soppu ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಿ ಸೊಪ್ಪು , Gadde baraga ಗದ್ದೆ ಬರಗ in Kannada, Bheki in Hindi; Kutakam, Kutannal in Malayalam; Kacappi, Matanti in Tamil; Mandukaparni, Sarasvati-aku in Telugu; Brahmi, Khadabrahmi in Gujarati.
Mandooka Parni is a spreading herb with profuse runners. Leaves are reniform. Its roots and flowers are formed at the nodes. Flowering season is June - August. Flowers are generally of white or crimson in color, borne in small, rounded bunches (umbels) near the surface of the soil. Its fruits, ovoid type, 3-4 mm long, are laterally compressed orbicular and ribbed and bearing many seeds.
Chemical composition of Centella asiatica contains pentacyclic triterpenoids, including asiaticoside, brahmoside, asiatic acid, and brahmic acid (madecassic acid). Other constituents include centellose, centelloside, and madecassoside.
As an Ayurvedic herbal plant, its aerial leaves are made into a decoction and used as brain tonic. The leaf is also extracted as a medicinal oil to treat bone fracture. Fresh tender leaves are administered to treat leprosy. It has also been used to treat other various disorders such as Hysteria, Dysuria, Insomnia, Swelling, Chronic ulcers, Cold, Cough, Diarrhea, and Asthma, and to treat minor wounds.
Centella, a highly invasive plant, is generally a wetland (aquatic) plant (sensitive to biological and chemical pollutants in the water), and as such, it is rated as "high risk". It should be used with great care in culinary preparations when grown in soils contaminated by heavy metals. However, if grown as a cultivated plant with controlled application of water, it can be used in many culinary prepartions. Leaves of such cultivated plants are used in modern sweet pennywort drinks and herbal teas. In addition, the leaves are served stir-fried whole in coconut oil, or cooked in coconut milk with garlic and pulses (dhal).
- Narasipur Char
