A preliminary study: Centella asiatica extract modulates acetylcholine in the heart

Abstract

Abstract Previous studies have demonstrated the cardioprotective effect of acetylcholine (Ach), and therefore is indeed a potential theraupetic target for cardiovascular disease. Recent studies have shown that Ach is not only important in the pathological but also physiological state of the heart. The herb Centella asiatica has long been used to cure a number of conditions in traditional Indian medicine. Previous studies have shown that the acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of the Centella asiatica extract is capable of increasing the Ach level in the brain. However, it is unclear whether it can affect Ach level in other organs, such as the heart. In this study, healthy adult male Wistar rats were allocated into groups treated with the positive control, Donepezil, or the aqueous extract at doses 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, and 800 mg/kg. After 21 days, the whole heart was evacuated and weighed prior to further measurement for Ach content. The present study showed that long-term consumption of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of aqueous Centella asiatica extract could modulate the Ach content in the heart.