Asiatic Acid

What is it?

The aglycone (non-sugar) form of asiaticoside and a major bioactive triterpene of Centella asiatica, studied for antioxidant, anti-photoaging and wound-healing/anti-scarring effects.

What does it do?

According to PubMed, a 2023 review on Centella asiatica and its metabolite asiatic acid describes its role in promoting fibroblast proliferation, collagen synthesis and cutaneous wound repair (DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13020276). A 2019 study found a bioavailable asiatic acid-glucosamine salt alleviated UVB-induced photoaging in human dermal fibroblasts and nude mouse skin, reducing reactive oxygen species and matrix metalloproteinase expression while restoring collagen content (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/php.13160). A 2024 comparative study of Centella's four major triterpenes found asiatic acid was the most potent of the four at protecting human skin fibroblasts from UVB-induced oxidative stress and at inhibiting UVB-induced collagen-degrading matrix metalloproteinases (DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13040483). A 2026 study delivered asiatic acid nanoparticles via dissolving microneedles, finding reduced scar thickness and normalized collagen architecture in a rabbit hypertrophic-scar model (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12951-025-03946-2).

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