Consumption of fresh Centella asiatica improves short term alertness and contentedness in healthy females

• Consumption of a smoothie containing Centella asiatica improves alertness and contentedness after one hour. • No effect was observed on cognitive performance. • A dose–response effect for improving alertness was observed. • Clear-headedness was significantly enhanced even with a low dose smoothie. Centella asiatica is rich in pentacyclic triterpenes that have been associated with several beneficial health effects. Several earlier studies investigated the effects of long term intake of C. asiatica on several cognitive functions and mood, either in the form of dried herb, powder, supplements or extract, but not as a fresh herb in a human intervention study. In this research, for the first time, the short-term effect of consuming a single smoothie, containing two concentrations of the fresh herb, on the cognition and mood of healthy female participants was investigated. Madecassic acid was the major triterpene in the fresh leaves of C. asiatica . Cognitive performance and mood dimensions were assessed before and one hour after consuming a single serving of smoothies. Alertness and contentedness factors significantly improved with higher concentration of C. asiatica . No significant improvements in cognitive functions after one hour of consumption were found.