Ingredients

Madecassic Acid

Written by Reviewed by the SYNC editorial team Published Last reviewed Editorial standards

Madecassic Acid — one of the aglycone (non-sugar-bound) triterpenoid acids found in Centella Asiatica, studied for its soothing and antioxidant properties. It is closely related to madecassoside, which is its glycoside form. It is used in centella formulas aimed at calming and supporting stressed skin.

Key points

  • It is a free triterpenoid acid, distinct from the glycoside madecassoside that carries an attached sugar group.
  • Research associates it with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity in skin.
  • It is one of the four principal actives that define standardized centella extracts.
  • It is often present alongside asiatic acid, asiaticoside, and madecassoside in full-spectrum centella blends.

Frequently asked

Is madecassic acid an exfoliating acid like AHA or BHA?

No, despite the name it is a triterpenoid, not an exfoliating acid, and it does not work by shedding surface skin cells.

How does madecassic acid relate to madecassoside?

Madecassoside is the glycoside (sugar-bound) version of madecassic acid, so the two are chemically related forms of the same triterpenoid.

Related topics

This is a foundational entry in the SYNC Skin Encyclopedia and is expanded over time. Educational information only — not medical advice.

Encyclopedia

Further reading

This entry was written and checked against the sources below. They are published by clinical and scientific bodies, they are listed most readable first, and each one opens in a new tab. They are background for the whole entry rather than footnotes to individual sentences.

  1. Centella asiatica - LiverTox StatPearls (NCBI Bookshelf) Reference text ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. Pharmacological Effects of Centella asiatica on Skin Diseases: Evidence and Possible Mechanisms PubMed Central Peer-reviewed, open access pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  3. Therapeutic properties and pharmacological activities of Centella asiatica PubMed Central Peer-reviewed, open access pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  4. Burn wound healing properties of asiaticoside and madecassoside PubMed Peer-reviewed (abstract) pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  5. Centella asiatica in dermatology: an overview PubMed Peer-reviewed (abstract) pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

SYNC does not publish medical advice. Nothing here replaces a consultation with a doctor or a pharmacist about your own skin.