Posted by circusboy on February 10, 2007, at 11:42:36
In reply to Gotu Kola - MAOI?, posted by linkadge on February 3, 2007, at 17:18:17
I've been taking Gotu Kola (Gaia Herbs tincture, 40 drops 2x/day) recently, and I'm feeling positive results so far -- better concentration and better sleep, less irritability. I haven't been on it long enough to be completely sure, though. It certainly does *something* though -- to me it's slightly sedating for a couple of hours after dosing.
There are a surprising number of studies on Gotu kola... One that *may* suggest MAOI activity is this one:
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[Effects of total triterpenes of Centella asiatica on the corticosterone levels in serum and contents of monoamine in depression rat brain]
[Article in Chinese]
Chen Y, Han T, Rui Y, Yin M, Qin L, Zheng H.
Pharmacy School, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possible effect of antidepressant effect of total triterpentes of Centella asiatica. METHODS: The corticosterone levels in serum were measured by fluorescence spectroscopy. The contents of monoamine neurotransmitters and their metabolites in rats cortex, hippocamopus and thalamus were evaluated by using HPLC with electrochemical detector. RESULTS: Significant reduction of the corticosterone level in serum and increase of the contents of 5-HT, NE, DA and their metabolites 5-HIAA, MHPG in rat brain were observed. CONCLUSION: The antidepressant effect of total triterpenes of Centella asiatica may be involved in ameliorating the function of HPA axis and increasing the contents of monoamine neurotransmitters.
PMID: 16209267 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
=======================================Not so much MAOI, but certainly some kind of AD effect:
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[Effect of total triterpenes from Centella asiatica on the depression behavior and concentration of amino acid in forced swimming mice]
[Article in Chinese]
Chen Y, Han T, Qin L, Rui Y, Zheng H.
School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the antidepressant activity of total triterpenes from Centella asiatica in forced swimming test. METHODS: Mice were randomly divided into control group, model group and treatment group. The effect of total triterpenes from Centella asiatica on the immobility time in forced swimming mice and concentration of amino acid in mice brain tissue was observed. RESULTS: Imipramine and total triterpenes from Centella asiatica reduced the immobility time and ameliorated the imbalance of amino acid levels. CONCLUSION: The total triterpenes from Centella asiatica had antidepressant activity.
PMID: 15058206 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
=======================================The studies that show evidence of nerve growth and regeneration with GK are really fascinating, too. I remember you used to be (still are?) really into BDNF/NGF and hippocampal regeneration, which got me thinking along those lines as I lurked here on p-babble. This message is getting long enough, so I'll just link to the abstract:
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Centella asiatica accelerates nerve regeneration upon oral administration and contains multiple active fractions increasing neurite elongation in-vitro.
http://tinyurl.com/yogdzw (pubmed link)
=======================================There's also evidence that it has anticonvulsant activity, which is interesting to me since I've been (mis?)diagnosed BPII by two psychaitrists, (my most recent one is trying to push Lamictal on me), and, as I implied above, I've been feeling more stable on GK.
-cb
> Has anyone come across any research suggesting that Gotu-Kola is an MAOI? It feels like it could be one.
>
> Linkadge
poster:circusboy
thread:729413
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20070201/msgs/731588.html