Centella asiatica as a Model Biomass for Sustainable Production of Biochemicals via Green Extraction and Purification Technologies: A Comprehensive Field-to-Market Review

A humble weed from traditional medicine is now a biotech superstar—Centella asiatica could redefine how we produce high-value biochemicals sustainably.

Centella asiatica, long revered in traditional medicine, is stepping into the spotlight of modern biotechnology. This review highlights its rich phytochemical profile, especially triterpenoid saponins like asiaticoside and madecassic acid, which are key players in pharmaceuticals, dermatology, and nutraceuticals. But the real excitement lies in how we extract them.

Green extraction methods—ultrasound, microwave, ohmic heating, and supercritical CO2—are proving more efficient than conventional techniques. They recover high-purity biochemicals while slashing solvent use, energy consumption, and environmental harm. With analytical tools like HPLC and GC-MS, quality control can be maintained from field to final product, ensuring regulatory compliance.

From a biorefinery perspective, C. asiatica offers multiple metabolite streams, aligning perfectly with circular economy principles. Yet, challenges remain: agronomic variability, scaling up green technologies, and supply chain resilience. The solutions? Good Agricultural and Collection Practices, tissue culture, metabolic engineering, and integrated biorefinery frameworks.

This plant is more than a remedy—it's a model for sustainable biochemical production, bridging science, industry, and ecology.

Key Points

• Green extraction: ultrasound, microwave, ohmic, supercritical CO2.
• Key bioactives: asiaticoside, madecassic acid, and more.
• Circular economy: multiple metabolite streams from one plant.