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Gotu kola

Gotu kola suppliers and sourcing guide

Gotu kola is Centella asiatica, a creeping herb of wet tropical ground in South and Southeast Asia, Madagascar and southern Africa. The aerial parts are harvested, dried and sold cut or powdered for food and supplements, or extracted to concentrate the triterpenes asiaticoside, madecassoside, asiatic acid and madecassic acid. Purified triterpene extracts are widely used in cosmetics under Centella asiatica INCI names.

See suppliersWhat to ask for on the COA
Also known as
Centella asiatica · Indian pennywort · ji xue cao · Centella asiatica extract
Facts checked
November 2026

Forms and grades of gotu kola

Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.

  • Cut and powdered herb

    Dried aerial parts cut for tea or milled to powder, usually not standardized.

  • Standardized extract

    Hydroalcoholic extract with a declared percentage of total triterpenes or of asiaticoside by HPLC.

  • Purified triterpene fraction

    Highly concentrated mix of asiaticoside, madecassoside and their acids, mainly for cosmetics.

  • Single triterpenes

    Isolated madecassoside or asiaticoside sold as cosmetic actives with a purity specification.

  • Organic

    Herb from certified organic cultivation, with the certificate tied to the lot.

What to check on the COA

Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.

Identity
HPTLC fingerprint against reference standards to confirm Centella asiatica aerial parts.
Triterpene assay (HPLC)
Asiaticoside, madecassoside, asiatic acid and madecassic acid by HPLC, reported individually and as a total.
Heavy metals
Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury by ICP-MS against the buyer's limits and any Prop 65 exposure targets.
Microbiology
Total plate count, yeast and mold, E. coli and Salmonella. Raw cut herb and powder carry more microbial load than extracts and may be steam treated.
Pesticide residues
Multi-residue screen by GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS, required for organic claims and commonly asked for on conventional lots.
Physical tests
Loss on drying, particle size or mesh, and for extracts the extract ratio, carrier and residual solvents (USP <467> or the buyer's spec).

Storage, lots and expiry

Storage and shelf life

Keep herb, powder and extract sealed in lined bags or drums, cool, dry and out of direct light. Powders and dry extracts pick up moisture and cake once opened, so reseal containers and limit time open on the production floor. Shelf life or a retest date comes from the supplier's specification, and the marker assay is usually repeated at retest.

Lots and expiry dates

Triterpene levels vary widely with origin, harvest and plant part, so check each lot's HPLC results rather than relying on the supplier's typical values. Record origin and supplier lot, and note that EU food status differs between the herb and concentrated extracts.

Regulatory status

Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.

This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.

Gotu kola suppliers

Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.

We are checking gotu kola suppliers now

Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.

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Frequently asked questions

What forms of gotu kola can brands buy?

Common forms include cut and powdered herb, standardized extract, purified triterpene fraction, single triterpenes and organic. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.

What should the COA for gotu kola include?

Expect identity, triterpene assay (HPLC), heavy metals, microbiology, pesticide residues and physical tests, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.

How should gotu kola be stored?

Keep herb, powder and extract sealed in lined bags or drums, cool, dry and out of direct light. Powders and dry extracts pick up moisture and cake once opened, so reseal containers and limit time open on the production floor. Shelf life or a retest date comes from the supplier's specification, and the marker assay is usually repeated at retest.

What is the regulatory status of gotu kola?

Health Canada's Traditional Chinese Medicine Ingredients monograph lists Centella asiatica under the Chinese name ji xue cao and the pharmaceutical name Herba Centellae. The EU Novel Food status Catalogue entry for Centella asiatica (POL-NF-00228) lists the stem, flowers and leaves as not novel in food. The same EU entry records that a Centella asiatica extract standardised to 40% triterpenes was considered novel food after a request to the Czech authority.

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