Growth Characteristics and Asiaticoside Content, and Antioxidant Activities in Centella asiatica by Cultivation and Irrigation Methods

Background: Centella asiatica is a well-known medicinal plant having a wound healing effect. In this study, the growth, asiaticoside content, and antioxidant components and activity were investigated in C. asiatica resources under different cultivation and irrigation conditions.BRMethods and Results: The cultivation and irrigation methods were divided as greenhouse and open field, and sprinkler and sub irrigation. respectively. Growth characteristics were measured in aerial parts of C. asiatica. Asiaticoside content was analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography. Total polyphenol, total flavonoid and 2,2-diphenyl-1picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity were analyzed for antioxidant activities. Growth was higher under greenhouse and sub irrigation than open field and sprinkler conditions. In the leaves, asiaticoside content was 53.45 ㎎/g (open field) and 34.38 ㎎/g (sub irrigation), total polyphenol was 41.14 ㎎/g (open field) and 25.73 ㎎/g (sub-irrigation), and total flavonoid was 27.26 ㎎/g (open field) and 23.72 ㎎/g (sub-irrigation). DPPH radical scavenging activity in the leaves was 85.97 ㎎·ascorbic acid equivalent (AAE)/g (open field) and 54.83 ㎎·AAE/g (sub irrigation).BRConclusions: Asiaticoside and antioxidant components and activity were not accompanied with high yield, although high growth was observed under greenhouse conditions. Therefore, cultural requirements of C. asiatica should be sufficiently considered to suit each purpose.