Centella Asiatica vs Madecassoside
Which is right for your skin?
Centella is the whole plant extract with multiple soothing compounds; Madecassoside is its most potent, purified active part. Madecassoside for targeted clinical repair; Centella for general soothing.
Also called "cica," it calms redness, repairs the skin barrier, and speeds up recovery. The go-to for irritated or reactive skin.
A purified compound from the cica (centella) plant, laser-focused on calming inflammation and speeding up how fast skin recovers.
Can you use Centella Asiatica and Madecassoside together?
Yes, Centella Asiatica and Madecassoside are documented to pair well together.
You want anti-inflammatory, barrier repair. Also called "cica," it calms redness, repairs the skin barrier, and speeds up recovery. The go-to for irritated or reactive skin.
You want anti-inflammatory, barrier repair. A purified compound from the cica (centella) plant, laser-focused on calming inflammation and speeding up how fast skin recovers.
Cited research
Hur N et al., A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial Assessing the Effects of Oral Centella asiatica Extract on Skin Aging-Related Parameters in Middle-Aged Korean Women, Nutrients 2026
Borowicz KK et al., Geroprotective Potential of Centella asiatica: Modulation of Cellular Aging, Nutrients 2026
Witkowska K et al., Topical Application of Centella asiatica in Wound Healing: Recent Insights into Mechanisms and Clinical Efficacy, Pharmaceutics 2024;16(10):1252 — modern hydrogel and nanostructured Centella delivery systems accelerate wound healing across wound types
Park KS, Pharmacological Effects of Centella asiatica on Skin Diseases: Evidence and Possible Mechanisms, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2021;2021:5462633 — Centella triterpenes show therapeutic effects across acne, burns, atopic dermatitis and wounds via multiple signaling pathways
Jenwitheesuk K et al., A prospective randomized, controlled, double-blind trial of the efficacy using Centella cream for scar improvement, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2018;2018:9525624 — 7% Centella cream produced statistically significant pigmentation-score improvements over 12 weeks on STSG donor sites
Bylka W et al., Centella asiatica in dermatology: an overview, Phytotherapy Research 2014;28(8):1117-1124 — pentacyclic triterpenes in Centella enhance wound healing, scar reduction, and burn recovery
Liu L et al., Madecassoside Attenuated UVB Irradiation-Induced Skin Ferroptosis by Targeting POR, Phytomedicine 2026
Bandopadhyay S et al., Therapeutic properties and pharmacological activities of asiaticoside and madecassoside: A review, Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine 2023;27(5):593-608 — comprehensive review of wound-healing, anti-inflammatory and regenerative activity
Park KS, Pharmacological Effects of Centella asiatica on Skin Diseases: Evidence and Possible Mechanisms, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2021;2021:5462633 — KR-authored review of triterpenes including madecassoside
Haftek M et al., Clinical, biometric and structural evaluation of the long-term effects of a topical treatment with ascorbic acid and madecassoside in photoaged human skin, Experimental Dermatology 2008;17(11):946-52 — 6-month topical madecassoside + ascorbic acid produced measurable photoaging improvement
Liu M, Dai Y, Li Y et al., Madecassoside isolated from Centella asiatica herbs facilitates burn wound healing in mice, Planta Medica 2008;74(8):809-15 — topical madecassoside accelerated burn-wound closure via enhanced collagen synthesis and angiogenesis in a mouse model
Bonté F et al., Influence of asiatic acid, madecassic acid, and asiaticoside on human collagen I synthesis, Planta Medica 1994;60(2):133-5
Every entry points to a specific paper or regulatory document. See methodology for what each outcome label means.