Efforts to increase asiaticoside content of Centella asiatica in Inceptisol Ngipiksari, Yogyakarta

Abstract

Asiaticoside is an active constituent for anti-leprosy, wound healing, increasing vitality, and memory in overcoming dementia. Centella asiatica contains asiaticoside, that is widely used as a medicinal simplicia. Inceptisol Ngipiksari is a type of soil on the southern slopes of Mount Merapi which rich in weathered minerals and nutrients K, Ca, Na and Mg which are necessary for the growth and continuity of Centella asiatica cultivation. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of SP-36 fertilizer dose and soil moisture conditions on the contents and production of asiaticoside. The experiment used a factorial Completely Randomized Block Design with 3 replications. The factors tested were the dose of SP-36 fertilizer (4 levels: 0, 75, 150 and 225 kg SP-36 ha−1), and soil moisture conditions (2 levels: 50% of field capacity conditions and field capacity conditions). The results showed that the soil CEC significantly positively correlated with asiaticoside contents. The number of leaves, secondary vines, tillers, fresh and dry shoots weight, fresh and dry root weight, available P after fertilization, P absorption by plant, and asiaticoside contents were significantly positively correlated with the asiaticoside production with a moderate to very strong relationship. Watering at field capacity can increase asiaticoside production as 276.6%. The application of SP-36 fertilizer was able to increase asiaticoside contents as 39.1–101.6%. This shows that SP-36 fertilization can increase the asiaticoside content, and control of soil moisture at field capacity can increase the asiaticoside production of Centella asiatica as medicinal simplicia.