1*Department of Pharmacognosy, Smt. Sharadchandrika Suresh Patil College of Pharmacy, Chopda, Maharashtra, India
Centella asiatica is a widely used medicinal plant valued for its pharmacological potential; however, variations in ecological origin may significantly influence its quality and therapeutic efficacy. The present study aimed to comparatively evaluate wild and cultivated C. asiatica through pharmacognostic characterization, physicochemical standardization, phytochemical profiling, and in-vitro biological assessment. Macroscopic and microscopic analyses demonstrated distinct morphological and anatomical differences, with wild samples exhibiting higher stomatal index, palisade ratio, and vascular density. Physicochemical evaluation revealed higher ash values and extractive values in wild samples, indicating greater mineral content and bioactive constituent availability. Fluorescence analysis provided characteristic diagnostic patterns supporting identity and quality assessment. Preliminary phytochemical screening confirmed the abundance of flavonoids, phenolics, triterpenoids, and saponins, particularly in ethanol and aqueous extracts. Antioxidant activity assessed by DPPH assay showed superior radical scavenging potential of wild ethanolic extract (IC₅₀ = 40.8 ± 1.4 µg/mL) compared to cultivated extract (IC₅₀ = 55.2 ± 2.0 µg/mL). In-vitro anti-inflammatory activity evaluated using HRBC membrane stabilization and protein denaturation assays demonstrated higher inhibition by wild ethanolic extract (72.6 ± 2.5% and 66.8 ± 2.0%, respectively). Overall, the findings establish significant quality and bioactivity differences between wild and cultivated C. asiatica and emphasize the necessity of systematic standardization and source selection to ensure consistent therapeutic performance and pharmaceutical reliability.
Keywords: Centella asiatica; pharmacognostic standardization; wild and cultivated comparison; phytochemical screening; antioxidant activity; anti-inflammatory activity.
How to cite this article: Vadnere GP, Usman MRM, Milind PS. Pharmacognostic, Physicochemical, and Biological Comparison of Wild and Cultivated Centella asiatica. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(15s): 895-904. DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.15s.100
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: None