In the era of modern neuroscience research, knowledge about the complexity of the human brain continues to evolve. The hippocampus, a 5 cm brain structure, draws attention to its role as a critical center for learning, memory consolidation, and cognitive mapping functions.
Unfortunately, the hippocampus is susceptible to stress, and the prolonged impact of stress on the hippocampus has become a significant concern in neuroscience and mental health fields.
One therapy currently being developed to address memory deficits in the hippocampus involves using the herbal plant Centella asiatica, commonly known as gotu kola. Its active compounds are believed to enhance human learning and memory capabilities.
Dr. Dwi Cahyani Ratna Sari, MD, a lecturer at the UGM Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing (FK-KMK UGM), stated this during her inaugural speech as a professor of anatomy on Tuesday (Apr. 23) at the UGM Senate Hall.
Professor Sari explained that the hippocampus is a memory center containing numerous neurons. Through synaptic plasticity, short-term memory can be processed into long-term memory and stored in the cerebral cortex. The hippocampus also cognitively maps the spatial environment, letting one know one’s location and activities.
The new professor elaborated that memory formation in the hippocampus involves four stages. The first stage is encoding, where information is stored with sufficient attention to prevent it from being easily forgotten. The following stages are memory consolidation and storage, and the final stage is retrieval.
“Memories with strong impressions can be recalled easily and vice versa,” she said.
If a person experiences stress, it affects their learning and memory abilities. During this time, dendritic atrophy occurs, which is a decline in the function of nerve cells in receiving signals from other cells, and neurogenesis suppression, meaning the formation of new neurons does not occur.
She stated that Centella asiatica, or gotu kola, is one therapy being developed to address memory deficits in the hippocampus.
Its active compounds, such as asiatic acid and asiaticoside, are believed to penetrate the blood-brain barrier, influence glucocorticoid permeability, and increase calcium ion influx, potentially improving memory processes by optimizing neuron function in the hippocampus.
“In general, gotu kola also improves spatial memory post-stress through its anxiolytic effects and its ability to enhance neurotransmitter synthesis, especially dopamine, which supports memory consolidation through LTP,” said Professor Sari.
Professor Sari hopes further research can confirm the cascade pathways of gotu kola and its target points in the hippocampus. The active compounds in gotu kola, such as asiatic acid and asiaticoside, must be studied further to determine effective doses.
Additionally, the effects of gotu kola and its active compounds on improving human learning and memory abilities need to be validated.
The UGM Council of Professors Chair, Professor Mochammad Maksum, also gave a speech after bestowing the professor’s title on Professor Sari. In his remarks, he mentioned that Professor Sari is one of the 68 active professors out of 131 who have ever existed at FK-KMK UGM.
Author: Dita
Editor: Gusti Grehenson