A common foot problem, are often referred to as heel fissures. It is generally characterized by yellowing of skin on the heel, callused, growth of hard skin, flaky patches, cracked and peeling skin. Various factors like standing for longer duration, uncovered heels, diabetes (which facilitate dry skin formation) and certain skin conditions (e.g. psoriasis and eczema) are responsible for causing cracked heels. Under extreme conditions, cracked heels can be infection-prone, which may cause to cellulitis.
Herbal extracts like Centella asiatica have been traditionally known to play a critical role in the prevention and management of various health conditions, including wound healing. Several studies have also reported about its role in cell growth, collagen synthesis around wound sites, quicker epithelialisation and improving the tensile strength of newly formed skin around wounds and angiogenesis.
To evaluate the safety and efficacy of Centellin® CG foot care cream, a formulation containing 2% Centella asiatica leaf extract, in the management of cracked heels in healthy female volunteers.
In this 28-day, split-controlled study, 24 participants (age: 18–40 years) presenting cracks or fissures in feet (especially in the heel region), associated with dryness, pain and roughness of the sole were included
Out of 24 participants, 12 were asked to apply fingertip unit of the Centellin® CG foot care cream on their right feet, whereas remaining 12 on to their left feet twice daily, and the untreated foot of each subject served as a control
All subjects were followed-up on weekly basis (i.e. day 7, 14, 21 and 28), were provided with study medication and were instructed to wash their feet properly before applying the cream
During each visit, participants were assessed for primary efficacy endpoint (i.e. number of cracks, scaling, pain and laxity of skin) as well as secondary endpoint (i.e. short and long-term safety, assessed by the incidence of adverse events) . Additionally, on day 28, volunteers independently rated the overall improvement on the following scale: 1- No changes, 2- Average, 3- Good, 4- Excellent, 5- Extremely Excellent
Only 22 out of 24 participants completed the study (two dropped out citing personal reasons)
No incidence of adverse events were reported during the entire study period
At the end of the study, a significant reduction in the number of cracks in treated foot was observed, while moisturization benefits were seen improved
From the photographs taken after 28 days of the study, a significantly improved visual change in the treated foot was witnessed
Overall product rating by participants revealed that product was satisfactory and well accepted (Good: 54.5%; Excellent: 22.7%; Extremely Excellent: 9%)
Hence, it was concluded that Centellin® CG foot care cream can be effective in healing cracks and reducing the associated pain by virtue of its moisturizing, analgesic and collagen boosting properties.
Efficacy of Centella asiatica extract in the management of cracked feet: in vitro and clinical evidence, World J Pharm Pharmaceutical Sci. 2016; 5(12): 983–94. Muhammed Majeed, Priti Vaidyanathan, Lakshmi Mundkur, Shaheen Majeed, Pratiksha Sable and Kian Kumar Vuppala

The repeated insult patch test study now reported was designed to determine by repetitive epidermal contcat the primary or cuimultive irritation and of allergic contact sensitivization potential of centellin CG on human subjects. (...) It is conluded from the present that the test substance Centellin CG did not produce any reaction in the induction as well as challenge phase in all the 50 patients

Centellin CG is a standardized extract obtained from Centella asiatica (fam. Umbelliferae), which is also known as Hydrocotyle, Gotu kola or Indian pennywort. This perennial herb is easy to identify by its small rounded leaves, more or less cordate, borne at the nodes of a long running stem. Umbels with very small flowers characterize this species.
The plant contains several biologically important constituents, including an essential oil, sterols, flavonol glycosides, polyalkynes and saponins. Centella asiatica (Mandukaparni in Ayurveda) has been used traditionally, since ancient times, to treat dermatitis and heal superficial wounds. It has also been used as a brain tonic.
In recent years, scientists attributed the healing properties of this herb to the presence of asiaticosides and their derivatives. Centella extracts have been used topically as adjunct therapy in the treatment of surgical wounds and minor burns. They have also been successfully employed in the complementary treatment of ulcers in the legs (in the granulation stage). Centella extracts have also been used orally to improve lymphatic and venous circulation and thereby promote wound healing
Centella asiatica extract was shown to enhance the levels of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, vitamin E and ascorbic acid in newly formed tissues14, further validating its role in skin health mainten-ance. Reported topical applications of Centella asiatica extract include OTC skin care products recommended for regeneration of aged skin1 and innovative scar management products (such as those used after plastic surgery). Products containing Centella asiatica extract are also used in the management of dermal itch and other skin irritations1.
The extract therefore finds a wide range of cosmetic applications including soothing creams, milks, repairing and regeneration creams, anti-aging products, after-shave products, preparations for chapped hands, lip balms, stretch mark removal preparations and related products.

Abstracts : Centella asiatica has a reputation to restore decline cognitive function in traditional medicine and in animal model. However, little evidence regarding the efficacy of Centella asiatica from systematized trials is available. Therefore, the present randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study investigated the effect of Centella asiatica on cognitive function of healthy elderly volunteer. Materials and methods: Twenty-eight healthy elderly participants received the plant extract at various doses ranging 250, 500 and 750 mg once daily for 2 months. Cognitive performance was assessed using the computerized test battery and event-related potential whereas mood was assessed using Bond–Lader visual analogue scales prior to the trial and after single, 1 and 2 months after treatment.
Results: The results showed that the high dose of the plant extract enhanced working memory and increased N100 component amplitude of event-related potential. Improvements of self-rated mood were also found following the Centella asiatica treatment. Conclusion: Therefore, the present findings suggest the potential of Centella asiatica to attenuate the age-related decline in cognitive function and mood disorder in the healthy elderly. However, the precise mechanism(s) underlying these effects still require further investigation.
In conclusion, this study is the first study to demonstrate the scientific document with many valid biological markers to support the positive modulation effect of Centella asiatica on the cognitive function and mood in the healthy elderly.However, the precise mechanism(s) underlying these effects still require further investigation.
Positive modulation of cognition and mood in the healthy elderly volunteer following the administration of Centella asiatica, Journal of Ethnopharmacology 116 (2008) 325–332, Jintanaporn Wattanathorn, Lugkana Mator, Supaporn Muchimapura

Stretch marks may be prevented in some women by daily massage but it is unclear if any particular ingredients bring special benefit. Stretch marks are common by the end of pregnancy, occurring in most women. Though they later shrink and fade somewhat, they do not go away. Therefore, any treatment which prevented them would be welcomed by many women. The two papers reviewed may show that any cream massaged onto the abdomen, thighs and breasts (areas most affected by stretch marks) may help a little. There may be additional benefit from certain ingredients in the cream and the ointment described but it is unknown which constituent(s) is beneficial. Neither preparation is widely available.
Background : Many women (between 50% and 80% are reported) develop stretch marks (striae gravidarum) during pregnancy. A number of creams have been claimed to remove these stretch marks once they have developed but there is no reliable evidence to support such claims. Any topical treatment which could prevent the development of striae would be welcomed by many women.
Objectives : To assess the effects of topical treatments applied during pregnancy on the later development of stretch marks.
Main results : Two studies, involving 130 women in total, were included. One study, involving 80 women, indicated that, compared to placebo, massage with a cream (Trofolastin) containing Centella asiatica extract, alpha tocopherol and collagen-elastin hydrolysates was associated with less women developing stretch marks (odds ratio (OR) 0.41, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.17 to 0.99). A second study of 50 women compared massage using an ointment (Verum) containing tocopherol, panthenol, hyaluronic acid, elastin and menthol with no treatment. Massage with the ointment was associated with less women developing stretch marks (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.84)
Authors' conclusions : Trofolastin cream appears to help prevent the development of stretch marks in pregnancy in some women. Verum ointment may be helpful but the trial had no placebo and may show the benefitt of massage alone.
Creams for preventing stretch marks in pregnancy (Review) / Young GL, Jewell D / Cochrane review of 8 pages - The Cochrane Library 2005, Issue 1

Introduction: Centella asiatica is a plant used for centuries to enhance memory. We have previously shown that a water extract of Centella asiatica (CAW) attenuates age- related spatial memory deficits in mice and improves neuronal health. Yet the effect of CAW on other cognitive domains remains unexplored as does its mechanism of improving age-related cognitive impairment. This study investigates the effects of CAW on a variety of cognitive tasks as well as on synaptic density and mitochondrial and antioxidant pathways.
Methods: Twenty-month-old CB6F1 mice were treated with CAW (2 mg/ml) in their drinking water for 2 weeks prior to behavioral testing. Learning, memory, and execu- tive function were assessed using the novel object recognition task (NORT), object location memory task (OLM), and odor discrimination reversal learning (ODRL) test. Tissue was collected for Golgi analysis of spine density as well as assessment of mi- tochondrial, antioxidant, and synaptic proteins.
Results: CAW improved performance in all behavioral tests suggesting effects on hippocampal and cortical dependent memory as well as on prefrontal cortex medi- ated executive function. There was also an increase in synaptic density in the treated animals, which was accompanied by increased expression of the antioxidant response gene NRF2 as well as the mitochondrial marker porin.
Conclusions: These data show that CAW can increase synaptic density as well as antioxidant and mitochondrial proteins and improve multiple facets of age-related cognitive impairment. Because mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress also accompany cognitive impairment in many pathological conditions this suggests a broad therapeutic utility of CAW.
Keywords : aging, antioxidant, memory Centella asiatica increases hippocampal synaptic density and improves memory and executive function in aged mice - Nora E. Gray, Jonathan A. Zweig, Maya Caruso, Marjoen D. Martin, ennifer Y. Zhu, Joseph F. Quinn, Amala Soumyanath - Brain and Behavior. 2018

Abstract: Leaves of Centella asiatica (Centella) were analysed for their triterpene composition and bioactivity such as collagen enhancement, antioxidant, anticellulite and UV protection capacity properties. Triterpenes of Centella were measured using HPLCPAD on an Excil ODS 5 μm (C18) column for the simultaneous determination of asiatic acid, madecassic acid, asiaticoside and madecassoside. Centella was found to contain significant amounts of madecassoside (3.10 ± 4.58 mg/mL) and asiaticoside (1.97 ± 2.65 mg/mL), but was low in asiatic and madecassic acid. The highest collagen synthesis was found at 50 mg/mL of Centella extracts. The antioxidant activity of Centella (84%) was compared to grape seed extract (83%) and Vitamin C (88%). Its lipolytic activity was observed by the release of glycerol (115.9 μmol/L) at 0.02% concentration. Centella extracts exhibited similar UV protection effect to OMC at 10% concentration. In view of these results, the potential application of Centella in food and pharmaceutical industries is now widely open.
Conclusion : Centella extract exhibited several potential bioactivities which could be of potential commercial interest in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Evaluation on Centella has found its chemical composition consist of four triterpenes, namely madecassoside, asiaticoside, madecassic acid and asiatic acid. The extract significantly stimulated collagen synthesis, better than vitamin C, and the lipolysis activity was found to be better than that of caffeine. The extract also showed an inhibitory effect with regards to free radical scavenging activity, comparable to grape seed extract. This preliminary UV study suggested that the Centella extract could be a potential natural protection against UVB damage and this activity might be due to its triterpene component(s). Therefore, further experiments are required to identify the component(s) responsible.
Triterpene Composition and Bioactivities of Centella asiatica, Molecules 2011, 16, 1310 - 1322, Puziah Hashim, Hamidah Sidek, Mohd Helme M. Helan