Pharmacognostic Standardization, Phytochemical Profiling and Molecular Evaluation of Centella asiatica Extract for Neuroprotection Against Experimental Cognitive Dysfunction

The present study was designed to standardize Centella asiatica extract and evaluate its phytochemical composition and neuroprotective potential against experimental cognitive dysfunction. The plant material was subjected to pharmacognostic evaluation, physicochemical analysis, preliminary phytochemical screening, and chromatographic profiling. An ethanolic extract of C. asiatica was subsequently investigated in a scopolamine-induced cognitive dysfunction model in rats. Behavioral performance was assessed using the Morris water maze and Y-maze tests, while biochemical and molecular parameters associated with neuroprotection were evaluated. The extract showed characteristic pharmacognostic features, acceptable physicochemical parameters, and the presence of triterpenoids, flavonoids, phenolics, saponins, and other secondary metabolites. Illustrative results showed that treatment with C. asiatica extract improved spatial learning and spontaneous alternation behaviour, reduced brain acetylcholinesterase activity and oxidative stress, and enhanced antioxidant defence. Molecular evaluation indicated improvement in BDNF expression together with attenuation of inflammatory signaling. These findings suggest that standardized C. asiatica extract may exert neuroprotective effects through complementary cholinergic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neurotrophic mechanisms.