Is this humble swamp-dwelling herb a culinary treasure or a hidden health risk?

Nature · Published 30 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Known as gotu kola, Indian pennywort is a staple leafy green across Asia, prized for its role in salads, porridges, and stir-fries. Yet, this aquatic plant is more than a kitchen ingredient; it is a complex biological machine that absorbs heavy metals and harbors potent, medically significant chemical compounds.

Centella asiatica, a perennial member of the Apiaceae family, thrives in the swampy, tropical environments of the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and parts of Australia. Its structure is defined by slender, creeping stolons and small, rounded leaves. Because it is an aquatic plant, it is uniquely sensitive to its environment, acting as a potential tool for phytoremediation by translocating heavy metals from soil into its shoots. This sensitivity means that while it is a versatile culinary vegetable, it can also accumulate environmental pollutants.

The plant is a chemical powerhouse, containing approximately 124 isolated compounds, including pentacyclic triterpenoids like asiatic acid and madecassic acid. These substances are the focus of intense scientific scrutiny, particularly regarding their use in traditional medicine for dermatological conditions and wound healing. However, clinical research has yet to confirm the efficacy or safety of these applications. Genomic studies, including a 2025 telomere-to-telomere map, are now helping researchers understand how the plant produces these secondary metabolites.

Despite its popularity—from Sri Lankan malluma to Thai herbal drinks—the plant carries notable risks. Recent 2024 reviews highlight that consumption can lead to adverse effects, including contact dermatitis, jaundice, and even liver disease after prolonged use. Furthermore, the plant is considered highly invasive in several Pacific island ecosystems, where it is linked to the decline of native sedge species. Whether viewed as a nutritious food source or a biological invader, Centella asiatica remains a plant of profound, and sometimes hazardous, complexity.

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