Fx. Maquart et al., Triterpenes from Centella asiatica stimulate extracellular matrix accumulation in rat experimental wounds, EUR J DERM, 9(4), 1999, pp. 289-296
Titrated Extract from Centella asiatica (TECA) is a drug which has been use
d for many years in Europe for the treatment of wound healing defects. It i
s a reconstituted mixture of 3 triterpenes extracted from the plant, asiati
c acid, madecassic acid and asiaticoside. In this report, we studied the ef
fects of TECA and its separated components in the wound chamber model descr
ibed by Schilling ct al. Stainless steel wound chambers were surgically ins
erted under the skin of rats and received serial injections of either TECA
or its purified components. Chambers were collected at days 7, 14, 21 or 28
for biochemical analysis or histological examination. TECA-injected wound
chambers were characterized by increased dry weight, DNA, total protein, co
llagen and uronic acid contents. Peptidic hydroproline was also increased,
showing an increased remodeling of the collagen matrix in the wound. The 3
purified components of TECA were all able to reproduce the effects of the c
omplete drug, with some differences depending on the product. Asiatic acid
and asiaticoside were the most active of the 3 triterpenes. Asiaticoside ex
erted a preferential stimulation of collagen synthesis and was active at lo
w doses only. In addition to collagen, the 3 components were also able to s
timulate glycosaminoglycan synthesis.