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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by linkadge on February 3, 2007, at 17:18:17
Has anyone come across any research suggesting that Gotu-Kola is an MAOI? It feels like it could be one.
Linkadge
Posted by Declan on February 3, 2007, at 17:38:50
In reply to Gotu Kola - MAOI?, posted by linkadge on February 3, 2007, at 17:18:17
Any opinion on the use of it for social phobia?
Posted by nolvas on February 3, 2007, at 18:43:29
In reply to Re: Gotu Kola - MAOI? » linkadge, posted by Declan on February 3, 2007, at 17:38:50
There's very little research done with regard to anxiety based disorders. The well known study regarding acoustic startle response is circa 2000.
Bradwein, J., et al. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study on the effects of Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) on acoustic startle response in healthy subjects. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 20(6):680-684, 2000.
"Human study demonstrated the ability of gotu kola (12 grams) to reduce the acoustic startle response (a measure of anxiety), making it a useful therapy for anxiety."
A bit of an over enthusiastic response since it's based on just one study.
ADAM. Nutrition Care Practitioner Manual Edition 4. 2001:1-2.
Gotu kola is claimed to exert mild anti-stress activity.
As for Got Kolu being an MAOI well I have no data regarding that unfortunately. As for it feeling like an MAOI well that doesn't count I'm afraid. It needs to be tested and proven so :)
Posted by djmmm on February 3, 2007, at 18:56:52
In reply to Gotu Kola - MAOI?, posted by linkadge on February 3, 2007, at 17:18:17
> Has anyone come across any research suggesting that Gotu-Kola is an MAOI? It feels like it could be one.
>
> LinkadgePerhaps...gotu kola contains triterpene glycosides, which have some effect on serotonin and dopamine, and saponin glycosides, which I'm certain have an effect on dopamine (post synaptic) because of many studies involving saponin and ginseng. It also contains madecassoside, which influences serotonin (try a google search for this one). There is also some research showing that GABA is involved (Chatterjee TK et al.
Effects of plant extract Centella asiatica on cold resistant stress ulcer in rats.
Indian J Exp Biol 1992;30:889-891. )I'm not sure if any of Gotu Kola's active components involve MAO. Since Ginseng contains the same glycosides, you may want ot research the effects of ginseng on monoamines (several published studies)
1) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&list_uids=1674972&dopt=Abstract
**Some other info to support Gotu Kola and antianxiety:
2)Diwan PV et al.
Anti-anxiety profile of Manduk Parni (Centella asiatica) in animals.
Fitoterapia 1991; 62(3):253-257."An evaluation of the influence on the CNS of an aqueous extract of C. asiatica has been conducted in mice. Administered intraperitoneally, the extract decreased spontaneous motor activity and delayed pentylenetetrazole-induced convulsions to a degree comparable with diazepam. It also potentiated pentabarbitone-induced sleep but did not affect immobility time in swimming tests"
3) Sarma DNK et al.
Antistress activity of Tinospora cordifolia and Centella asiatica extracts.
Phytother Res 1996; 10:181-183.An ethanolic extract of C. asiatica was found to exhibit significant anti-stress activity in a variety of stress tests on rats, again using diazepam as a control. Antidepressant activity was also indicated, and an analgesic effect demonstrated along with a reduction in the adrenocortical response.
4) Diwan PV et al.
Anti-anxiety profile of Manduk Parni (Centella asiatica) in animals.
Fitoterapia 1991; 62(3):253-257Studies with a hydroalcoholic extract of C. asiatica leaves have confirmed the plants anxiolytic/sedative influence, potentiating in rats, the hypnotic effect of phenobarbitone as well as anticonvulstant acitivity against PTZ as previously observed for the aqueous extract in mice.
Posted by linkadge on February 4, 2007, at 9:47:50
In reply to Re: Gotu Kola - MAOI?, posted by djmmm on February 3, 2007, at 18:56:52
Hey, I knew turmeric was an MAOI before I even found out.
I realize it needs to be proven, but I would put my money on the notion that it is.
Linkadge
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:
=======================================
[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:
=======================================
[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:
=======================================
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
Posted by linkadge on February 10, 2007, at 22:33:26
In reply to Re: Gotu Kola - MAOI? » linkadge, posted by circusboy on February 10, 2007, at 11:42:36
Hey, thanks for the information, thats great.
I definately noticed antidepresant effect from this herb. I found it very "grounding".
It felt like an MAOI in the way I felt when I woke up the next day. Kind of like I woke up in new world.
So it does have effect on monoamines, but also on their metabolite levels? I wonder what the mechanism is.
Linkadge
Posted by circusboy on February 11, 2007, at 22:14:30
In reply to Re: Gotu Kola - MAOI?, posted by linkadge on February 10, 2007, at 22:33:26
> So it does have effect on monoamines, but also on their metabolite levels? I wonder what the mechanism is.
>I wish I knew, too. I haven't run across any studies that went too far beyond asking various forms of the question, "Hey, they use Gotu Kola in Ayurvedic medicine for this... are they really on to something?"
And you're right; I wasn't thinking too hard about that first study re MAOI activity. I don't know enough about MAOIs to know whether, by some mechanism, they (paradoxically?) increase monoamine metabolites. So that study might not be evidence of MAOI activity after all. Still, fascinating stuff.
-cb
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