Plant Comparison
Gotu Kola vs Ajwain
A side-by-side comparison of two medicinal plants — every documented constituent, action, use, safety note and cited source, assembled automatically from the Omnia Sana database.
At a glance
Gotu Kola and Ajwain: both belong to the Apiaceae family.
Key Constituents
The marker compounds and principal actives for wound healing, vascular and neuroprotective effects.
Antioxidant and aromatic supporting constituents.
Thymol is the principal active constituent, responsible for most of the antimicrobial, antispasmodic and carminative activity.
Secondary aromatic constituents contributing to the antimicrobial profile.
Pharmacological Actions
Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant; supports inflammatory skin conditions (eczema, psoriasis, ulcers)
Improves venous tone and microcirculation - supports chronic venous insufficiency / varicose veins and reduces leg swelling
Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant; supports inflammatory skin conditions (eczema, psoriasis, ulcers)
Anxiolytic / calming (anxiety)
Improves venous tone and microcirculation - supports chronic venous insufficiency / varicose veins and reduces leg swelling
Traditional & Indicated Uses
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
Improves alertness and mood (raises alertness, reduces anger); a meta-analysis found no significant improvement in specific cognitive-function domains versus placebo
Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant; supports inflammatory skin conditions (eczema, psoriasis, ulcers)
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
inferred from anxiolytic action
Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant; supports inflammatory skin conditions (eczema, psoriasis, ulcers)
inferred from anti-inflammatory action
Improves venous tone and microcirculation - supports chronic venous insufficiency / varicose veins and reduces leg swelling
Improves venous tone and microcirculation - supports chronic venous insufficiency / varicose veins and reduces leg swelling
inferred from digestive action
inferred from digestive action
Safety, Cautions & Contraindications
Generally well tolerated topically and orally; it can occasionally cause allergic contact dermatitis and, rarely, reversible elevation of liver enzymes with prolonged high oral doses.
May add to the effect of sedatives; use caution with other liver-affecting medicines. Safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding is not established, so avoid medicinal doses.
Generally safe at culinary amounts used in Indian and Middle Eastern cooking. Ajwain essential oil is highly concentrated and should not be ingested in large quantities — thymol toxicity can cause nausea, vomiting, and central nervous system effects at high doses. May increase photosensitivity (phototoxic potential of essential oil). May mildly lower blood pressure and blood sugar — caution when combined with antihypertensive or antidiabetic medications. Contains thymol, which may enhance anticoagulant effects at very high doses. Not recommended in medicinal doses during pregnancy (has emmenagogue properties in traditional use) or breastfeeding. Avoid in large amounts with peptic ulcer as it may aggravate gastric acidity in some individuals (Bairwa et al., 2012).
According to Duke (2002), ajowan essential oil is fungitoxic at 500 ppm and possesses spasmogenic activity. The oil is rich in thymol, which may be responsible for many of the plant's biological activities including its antispasmodic, carminative, and antimicrobial effects. Recommended dosage in traditional medicine is 3–6 g of powdered seed, or 125 mg of standardized extract (Duke, 2002).
External Ids
Botanical Description
Low, creeping perennial herb rooting at the nodes along slender, prostrate stems. The leaves are long-stalked, rounded to kidney- or fan-shaped, with a gently scalloped (crenate) margin, arising in small clusters at each node. Tiny, pinkish-white flowers are borne in small, inconspicuous clusters hidden near the base of the leaf stalks, close to the ground.[12]
Slender annual herb with finely divided, feathery leaves, resembling a smaller parsley. Small white flowers are borne in flat-topped umbels, giving way to small, ridged, aromatic, oval seeds (technically schizocarps) that are the primary part used.[12]
Habitat
Grows in damp, shaded ground, lawns, ditches and wetland margins throughout tropical and subtropical Asia (China, India, Southeast Asia) and parts of Africa, Australia and the Pacific.[12]
Cultivated as an annual crop, mainly in India, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Egypt; believed native to the eastern Mediterranean region.[13]
Harvesting
The aerial parts (leaves and trailing stems) are harvested during active growth, cut a short distance above the soil to allow regrowth, and used fresh or dried.
Seeds are harvested when the umbels dry and turn brown, then threshed and dried further; leaves are gathered fresh through the growing season and the root is dug when needed.[12]
Traditional Uses
Gotu kola is a cornerstone herb of Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine, valued as a 'rasayana' (rejuvenating) tonic for skin healing, memory and mental clarity, and calming the mind; it has a particularly strong traditional and modern reputation for wound healing and connective-tissue/vascular support, reflected in its widespread use for scars, minor wounds and varicose veins.[12]
Ajwain seed has a long South Asian and Middle Eastern culinary and Ayurvedic tradition as a warming digestive carminative for bloating and indigestion, an antispasmodic for menstrual cramps, an oral-health antiseptic, and a respiratory-supportive remedy, with its high thymol content underlying much of its antimicrobial and antispasmodic activity.[1, 12, 14]
Preparations
Extract titrated to triterpenoid (asiaticoside/madecassoside) content, taken orally as capsules/tablets for venous and cognitive support, or applied topically for wound and scar care.
Standardised extract or fresh leaf preparation applied topically to wounds, scars and inflamed skin.
Dosage
Clinical studies commonly use extracts providing around 60-180 mg total triterpenoids daily, in divided doses. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
The EU herbal monograph on Centella asiatica herba is for CUTANEOUS USE ONLY and gives, for adults and elderly, a single dose of 0.6 g of the comminuted herb infused in a small amount of boiling water, the still-warm infusion applied as an impregnated dressing 3 times daily (daily dose 1.8 g); or 0.6 g of the powdered herb applied to the affected area 3 times daily. Not to be used for more than 1 week, and not recommended under 18 years. The monograph gives no oral posology - see the separate standardised-extract entry. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
Traditional sources suggest around 3-6 g of powdered seed daily, or 125 mg of a standardized extract. Educational reference only, not a prescription.
References
Lookalikes Review
Dangerous Lookalikes
Not documented
References & Sources
- Bylka, W., Znajdek-Awizen, P., Studzinska-Sroka, E., Danczak-Pazdrowska, A. and Brzezinska, M (2014) 'Centella asiatica in dermatology: an overview', Phytotherapy Research, 28(8), pp. 1117-1124. doi:10.1002/ptr.5110 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.5110 - Bylka, W., Znajdek-Awizen, P., Studzinska-Sroka, E. and Brzezinska, M (2013) 'Centella asiatica in cosmetology', Postepy Dermatologii i Alergologii, 30(1), pp. 46-49. doi:10.5114/pdia.2013.33378 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.5114/pdia.2013.33378 - Park, K.S (2021) 'Pharmacological effects of Centella asiatica on skin diseases: evidence and possible mechanisms', Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2021, pp. 5462633. doi:10.1155/2021/5462633 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/5462633 - Diniz, L.R.L., Calado, L.L., Duarte, A.B.S. and de Sousa, D.P (2023) 'Centella asiatica and its metabolite asiatic acid: wound healing effects and therapeutic potential', Metabolites, 13(2), pp. 276. doi:10.3390/metabo13020276 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13020276 - Arribas-Lopez, E., Zand, N., Ojo, O., Snowden, M.J. and Kochhar, T (2022) 'A systematic review of the effect of Centella asiatica on wound healing', International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(6), pp. 3266. doi:10.3390/ijerph19063266 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19063266 - Lin, P., Shi, H., Lu, Y. and Lin, J (2023) 'Centella asiatica alleviates psoriasis through JAK/STAT3-mediated inflammation: an in vitro and in vivo study', Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 317, pp. 116746. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2023.116746 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2023.116746 - Ratz-Lyko, A., Arct, J. and Pytkowska, K (2016) 'Moisturizing and antiinflammatory properties of cosmetic formulations containing Centella asiatica extract', Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 78(1), pp. 27-33. doi:10.4103/0250-474x.180247 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.4103/0250-474x.180247 - Sun, B., Wu, L., Wu, Y., Zhang, C., Qin, L., Hayashi, M., Kudo, M., Gao, M. and Liu, T (2020) 'Therapeutic potential of Centella asiatica and its triterpenes: a review', Frontiers in Pharmacology, 11, pp. 568032. doi:10.3389/fphar.2020.568032 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2020.568032 - Razali, N.N.M., Ng, C.T. and Fong, L.Y (2019) 'Cardiovascular protective effects of Centella asiatica and its triterpenes: a review', Planta Medica, 85(16), pp. 1203-1215. doi:10.1055/a-1008-6138 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1008-6138 - Sharma, R., Banerjee, S. and Sharma, R (2024) 'Role of Mandukparni (Centella asiatica Linn Urban) in neurological disorders: evidence from ethnopharmacology and clinical studies to network enrichment analysis', Neurochemistry International, 180, pp. 105865. doi:10.1016/j.neuint.2024.105865 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuint.2024.105865 - Banerjee, O., Singh, S., Paul, T., Maji, B.K. and Mukherjee, S (2024) 'Centella asiatica mitigates the detrimental effects of Bisphenol-A (BPA) on pancreatic islets', Scientific Reports, 14(1), pp. 8043. doi:10.1038/s41598-024-58545-2 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-58545-2 - Bandopadhyay, S., Mandal, S., Ghorai, M., Jha, N.K., Kumar, M., Radha, Ghosh, A., Prockow, J., Perez de la Lastra, J.M. and Dey, A (2023) 'Therapeutic properties and pharmacological activities of asiaticoside and madecassoside: A review', Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine. doi:10.1111/jcmm.17635 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1111/jcmm.17635 - European Medicines Agency (HMPC) (2018) 'European Union herbal monograph on Centella asiatica (L.) Urb., herba, Revision 1'. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/european-union-herbal-monograph-centella-asiatica-l-urb-herba-revision-1_en.pdf Traditional / reference
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/european-union-herbal-monograph-centella-asiatica-l-urb-herba-revision-1_en.pdf - Belcaro, G., Maquart, F.-X., Scoccianti, M., Dugall, M., Hosoi, M., Cesarone, M.R., Luzzi, R., Cornelli, U., Ledda, A. and Feragalli, B (2011) 'TECA (Titrated Extract of Centella Asiatica): new microcirculatory, biomolecular, and vascular application in preventive and clinical medicine. A status paper', Panminerva Medica. Preclinical
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=TECA%20%28Titrated%20Extract%20of%20Centella%20Asiatica%29%3A%20new%20microcirculatory%2C%20biomolecular%2C%20and%20vascular%20application%20in%20preventive%20and%20clinical%20medicine.%20A%20status%20paper - Chong, N.J. and Aziz, Z (2013) 'A Systematic Review of the Efficacy of Centella asiatica for Improvement of the Signs and Symptoms of Chronic Venous Insufficiency', Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. doi:10.1155/2013/627182 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/627182 - Martinez-Zapata, M.J., Vernooij, R.W., Simancas-Racines, D., Uriona Tuma, S.M., Stein, A.T. and others (2020) 'Phlebotonics for venous insufficiency', Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003229.pub4 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD003229.pub4 - Puttarak, P., Dilokthornsakul, P., Saokaew, S., Dhippayom, T., Kongkaew, C. and others (2017) 'Effects of Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. on cognitive function and mood related outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis', Scientific Reports, 7(1). doi:10.1038/s41598-017-09823-9 Meta-analysis / review
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-09823-9 - Haupt, H (2001) 'Poisonous and less poisonous plants. 52', Kinderkrankenschwester, 20(8), pp. 335. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14584174/ Traditional / reference
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14584174/ - North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox 'Centella asiatica (Gotu Kola, Asiatic Pennywort)'. Available at: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/centella-asiatica/ Traditional / reference
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/centella-asiatica/
- Bairwa, R., Sodha, R.S. and Rajawat, B.S (2012) 'Trachyspermum ammi', 6(11), pp. 56--60. doi:10.4103/0973-7847.95871 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-7847.95871 - Eftekhari, M., Hoseinsalari, A., Mansourian, M., Farjadmand, F., Shams Ardekani, M.R., Sharifzadeh, M., Hassanzadeh, G., Khanavi, M. and Gholami, M (2019) 'Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague, superb essential oil and its major components on peptic ulcers: in vivo combined in silico studies', DARU Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 27(1), pp. 317-327. doi:10.1007/s40199-019-00279-y Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40199-019-00279-y - Khan, A. and Gilani, A.H (2023) 'An insight investigation to the antiurolithic activity of Trachyspermum ammi using the in vitro and in vivo experiments', Urolithiasis, 51(1), pp. 43. doi:10.1007/s00240-023-01415-9 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00240-023-01415-9 - Soni, K. and Parle, M (2017) 'Trachyspermum ammi Seeds Supplementation Helps Reverse Scopolamine, Alprazolam and Electroshock Induced Amnesia', Neurochemical Research, 42(5), pp. 1333-1344. doi:10.1007/s11064-017-2177-0 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-017-2177-0 - Gupta, B.D., Kar, A., Narayan, S., Thakur, C.P., Mukherjee, P.K. and Haldar, P.K (2023) 'Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-Quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry-based metabolite profiling, quality evaluation, and marker analysis of Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague by high-performance thin-layer chromatography', Journal of Separation Science, 46(10), pp. e2200872. doi:10.1002/jssc.202200872 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1002/jssc.202200872 - Arasu, A., Pingley, V., Prabha, N., O V, R., Annathurai, K., Kasirajan, S., Govindasamy, A., Alwahibi, M.S., Elshikh, M.S., Abdel Gawwad, M.R. and Arockiaraj, J (2021) 'Impact and fungitoxic spectrum of Trachyspermum ammi against Candida albicans, an opportunistic pathogenic fungus commonly found in human gut that causes Candidiasis infection', Journal of Infection and Public Health, 14(12), pp. 1854-1863. doi:10.1016/j.jiph.2021.09.027 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jiph.2021.09.027 - Sharifzadeh, A., Khosravi, A.R., Shokri, H. and Sharafi, G (2015) 'Antifungal effect of Trachyspermum ammi against susceptible and fluconazole-resistant strains of Candida albicans', Journal de Mycologie Medicale, 25(2), pp. 143-150. doi:10.1016/j.mycmed.2015.03.008 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mycmed.2015.03.008 - Petramfar, P., Moein, M., Samani, S.M., Tabatabaei, S.H. and Zarshenas, M.M (2016) 'Trachyspermum ammi 10% topical cream versus placebo on neuropathic pain, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial', Neurological Sciences, 37(9), pp. 1449-1455. doi:10.1007/s10072-016-2600-3 Randomized trial
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-016-2600-3 - Saleem, U., Riaz, S., Ahmad, B. and Saleem, M (2017) 'Pharmacological Screening of Trachyspermum ammi for Antihyperlipidemic Activity in Triton X-100 Induced Hyperlipidemia Rat Model', Pharmacognosy Research, 9(Suppl 1), pp. S34-S40. doi:10.4103/pr.pr_37_17 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.4103/pr.pr_37_17 - Dadpe, M.V., Dhore, S.V., Dahake, P.T., Kale, Y.J., Kendre, S.B. and Siddiqui, A.G (2018) 'Evaluation of antimicrobial efficacy of Trachyspermum ammi (Ajwain) oil and chlorhexidine against oral bacteria: An in vitro study', Journal of the Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, 36(4), pp. 357-363. doi:10.4103/JISPPD.JISPPD_65_18 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.4103/JISPPD.JISPPD_65_18 - Arabi Monfared, A., Ayatollahi Mousavi, S.A., Zomorodian, K., Mehrabani, D., Iraji, A. and Moein, M.R (2020) 'Trachyspermum ammi aromatic water: A traditional drink with considerable anti-Candida activity', Current Medical Mycology, 6(3), pp. 1-8. doi:10.18502/cmm.6.3.3979 Preclinical
https://doi.org/10.18502/cmm.6.3.3979 - Awan, S.J., Kanwal, M., Riaz, M.N. et al (2021) 'A Review on the Medicinal Potential of Trachyspermum ammi', pp. 302--311. doi:10.9734/jpri/2021/v33i41B32457 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.9734/jpri/2021/v33i41B32457 - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (n.d.) 'Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague'. Available at: https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:http://ipni.org:names:436285-1 Traditional / reference
https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:http://ipni.org:names:436285-1 - Boskabady, M.H., Alitaneh, S. and Alavinezhad, A (2014) 'Carum copticum L.: A Herbal Medicine with Various Pharmacological Effects'. doi:10.1155/2014/569087 Traditional / reference
https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/569087 - Shova, D.C., Shrestha, S., Sharma, S. and Dhakal, H (2020) 'GC-MS analysis, antibacterial, antioxidant study and brine shrimp lethality analysis of Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague', 1(1), pp. 45--50. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=GC-MS%20analysis%2C%20antibacterial%2C%20antioxidant%20study%20and%20brine%20shrimp%20lethality%20analysis%20of%20Trachyspermum%20ammi%20%28L.%29%20Sprague - Duke, J.A (2002) 'Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, Second Edition'. Traditional / reference
https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Handbook%20of%20Medicinal%20Herbs%2C%20Second%20Edition
Generated automatically from the Omnia Sana plant database and its cited sources. For educational purposes only — not medical advice. Always consult a qualified practitioner before using medicinal plants.