Gotu Kola (Mandukaparni) vs Brahmi: Evidence and Dose
Gotu kola, Centella asiatica, is called mandukaparni and is often confused with brahmi (Bacopa monnieri). What its triterpenes are, what small studies on memory and mood found, typical doses and liver cautions.
Part of Ingredient evidence, graded. Related: Signal, a focus and clarity supplement.
Ajay Singh
Short answer: gotu kola is Centella asiatica, known in India as mandukaparni and, confusingly, sometimes also called brahmi. It is a different plant from Bacopa monnieri, the brahmi most memory research refers to. Gotu kola's active compounds are triterpenes such as asiaticoside and madecassoside. Human studies on attention, memory and mood exist but are small and few. Typical extract amounts are 300 to 750 mg a day. Rare cases of liver injury have been reported.
Last updated: October 2026.
Key takeaways
- Gotu kola and bacopa are both sold as "brahmi" in parts of India. Check the Latin name.
- Its marker compounds are triterpenes (asiaticoside, asiatic acid, madecassoside, madecassic acid).
- Cognition studies are small, often in older adults, with modest results.
- It is better studied for skin and wound healing, applied to the skin, than for the brain.
- Stop and see a doctor if you notice signs of liver trouble.
Gotu kola vs brahmi: are they the same?
| Gotu kola | Bacopa (brahmi) | |
|---|---|---|
| Latin name | Centella asiatica | Bacopa monnieri |
| Indian names | Mandukaparni; called brahmi in some regions | Brahmi, jalnimb |
| Leaf | Round, fan-shaped, on long stalks | Small, fleshy, oval |
| Marker compounds | Triterpenes: asiaticoside, madecassoside | Bacosides |
| Memory research | Small and few | Larger body, mostly over 12 weeks |
Because both are called brahmi, Ayurvedic products and markets mix them up. A product should state the Latin name. For bacopa specifically: Bacopa monnieri: bacosides, dose and why it takes weeks.
What does the research on gotu kola show?
- Attention and memory: a small trial in healthy older adults found improvements on some working memory measures and mood over two months at higher doses. Other small trials were mixed.
- Mood and anxiety: a single-dose study found a reduced startle response; very few trials since.
- Circulation in the legs: a purified triterpene fraction has trials for leg vein symptoms.
- Skin: applied to the skin, centella extracts have a long record in wound and scar care, which is a different use.
Overall the evidence for thinking and focus is thin. As a food supplement in India, gotu kola may not claim to treat or prevent any condition.
How much gotu kola do people take?
- Extract: trials used roughly 250 to 750 mg a day, standardised to triterpenes.
- Dried leaf: traditionally about 1 to 4 g a day, or the fresh leaf in chutney or salad, as in Sri Lanka and Kerala.
Trials typically ran six to twelve weeks, and some traditional sources suggest breaks after a few weeks of use.
Is gotu kola safe?
Short-term use at normal amounts is usually well tolerated; stomach upset and drowsiness are the common complaints. The concern is liver injury: a small number of case reports describe hepatitis linked to gotu kola, resolving after stopping. Check with a doctor first if you:
- have liver disease or drink alcohol heavily;
- take sedatives or sleep medicine, as the effects may add up;
- take medicine for diabetes or cholesterol;
- are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are giving it to a child.
Stop and see a doctor if you notice yellowing skin or eyes, dark urine or unusual tiredness.
What to check on a gotu kola product
- The Latin name, Centella asiatica.
- Leaf powder or extract, and for an extract, the triterpene standardisation figure.
- A batch test for heavy metals: centella grows in wet ground and takes up what is in it. What heavy metal testing covers.
Where SWATVA stands
Signal includes gotu kola extract, named on its own line in the ingredient ledger, alongside bacopa extract. They are different plants with different jobs, and we list them separately so you can tell which is which. Research on gotu kola as an ingredient does not establish an outcome for the finished blend, and we do not claim one. Ingredient evidence, graded.
The first run is 55 pouches. Pre-ordering takes four minutes and nothing is charged.
Sources
- Wattanathorn J et al., 2008. Positive modulation of cognition and mood in the healthy elderly volunteer following the administration of Centella asiatica. Journal of Ethnopharmacology.
- LiverTox, NIH National Library of Medicine. Gotu kola entry.
Gotu kola: what people search, answered
Gotu kola benefits
Gotu kola (Centella asiatica, mandukaparni or brahmi in some regions) is used in Ayurveda for the mind and in skincare for its triterpenes: asiaticoside, madecassoside, asiatic and madecassic acid. Small human trials have looked at memory and mood in older adults and at calm under stress. The results are promising but early.
Gotu kola vs bacopa (brahmi confusion)
Both are sold as "brahmi". Bacopa monnieri is the herb with the larger memory research base. Gotu kola is a different plant. Check the Latin name on the label; good products print it.
Gotu kola for skin and hair
Centella creams ("cica") are popular for skin, and that research is topical. Taking gotu kola by mouth for skin or hair growth has little human evidence.
Gotu kola side effects
Usually well tolerated at normal doses. Rare reports of liver injury exist with high-dose products, so avoid it with liver disease, in pregnancy, and alongside sedatives without your doctor's advice.
Gotu kola dosage
Trials commonly use 500 mg to 1 g of extract a day, standardised to triterpenes. A plain leaf powder needs much more to match.
Gotu kola ke fayde (Hindi)
Gotu kola ya mandukaparni ko Ayurveda mein dimaag aur yaaddasht ke liye istemaal kiya jaata hai. Brahmi (bacopa) alag paudha hai, label par Latin naam dekhein. Liver ki bimari ya pregnancy mein doctor se poochein.
Get gotu kola in Signal
Signal pairs a standardised gotu kola extract with bacopa, L-tyrosine, L-theanine, choline and algal DHA in one caffeine-free drink for long workdays. Every ingredient named with its form, every batch tested, berry and lemon. First batch: only 55 pouches. See Signal or pre-order free.
Get gotu kola in Signal, with 23 more named ingredients
| L-tyrosine, L-theanine, bacopa, gotu kola | Focus ingredients with human trials behind them |
| Choline, acetyl-L-carnitine, algal DHA, taurine | Built for long desk days, vegetarian DHA included |
| Magnesium, active B-complex, vitamin D3 | The workday micronutrients, in active forms |
| No caffeine, no stimulants | Fits an afternoon without a late coffee |
| 24 ingredients, all named | No proprietary blend, every batch tested. Berry and lemon. |
First batch: only 55 pouches. Pre-ordering is free, and nothing is charged until we email you the price. If you take prescribed medicine or are pregnant, check the ingredient list with your doctor first.
Common questions
Is gotu kola the same as brahmi?
No. Gotu kola is Centella asiatica, called mandukaparni. Brahmi usually means Bacopa monnieri. Both are sold as brahmi in parts of India, so check the Latin name.
How much gotu kola should I take?
Trials used roughly 250 to 750 mg of standardised extract a day for six to twelve weeks. Traditional dried-leaf amounts are about 1 to 4 g a day.
Is gotu kola safe?
Short-term use is usually well tolerated, but rare liver injury has been reported. Ask a doctor first if you have liver disease, take sedatives or are pregnant.
Is gotu kola the same as brahmi?
No. Brahmi usually means Bacopa monnieri. Gotu kola is Centella asiatica, though some regions call both brahmi. Check the Latin name.
How much gotu kola per day?
Trials commonly use 500 mg to 1 g of a standardised extract a day.
Who should avoid gotu kola?
People with liver disease, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and anyone on sedatives should ask their doctor first.
Which SWATVA product has gotu kola?
Signal, our caffeine-free focus drink, with bacopa, L-tyrosine and L-theanine.
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