Centella Asiatica (commonly known as Gotu Kola) is highly regarded in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries as “plant collagen.” However, its core active compounds—such as Asiaticoside and Madecassoside—are encased within tough, fibrous cellulose cell walls. Traditional grinding methods often generate excessive heat that degrades these heat-sensitive actives and fail to reach the fineness required for optimal skin absorption.
To achieve efficient cell-wall breaking while preserving natural bioactivity, Epic Powder’s MQW series Jet Mill was utilized for the Ultrafine Grinding of Centella Asiatica sourced from Malaysia.
1. Core Challenges
- Thermal Sensitivity: The active ingredients in Centella Asiatica are sensitive to high temperatures.
- High Fiber Content: The tough, fibrous nature of dried herbs makes it difficult for conventional mills to achieve a fineness below 10 μm.
- Purity Requirements: Cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications demand zero metal contamination during the processing cycle.
2. Technical Solution: MQW Jet Mill Application
The MQW series Jet Mill utilizes supersonic airflow to cause particles to collide with each other at high speeds in a fluidized bed, achieving self-grinding. This specific setup for the Ultrafine Grinding of Centella Asiatica ensures the following:
- Cold Processing: The expansion of compressed air at the nozzles creates a cooling effect. This ensures the entire process remains at low temperatures, perfectly protecting the heat-sensitive components of the Centella.
- Precision Classification: The equipment features an integrated high-precision vertical classifying wheel, allowing for meticulous particle size control by adjusting the rotational speed.
- Fibrous Material Adaptation: Specifically for the strong fibers of Malaysian Centella, the high-intensity collision field provided by the MQW effectively tears the cell walls apart.
3. Processing Results & Parameters
Upon testing, the processed Centella Asiatica powder demonstrated exceptional physical properties:
| Item | Technical Specification |
| Equipment | Epic Powder MQW Series Jet Mill |
| Raw Material Origin | Malaysia |
| Median Particle Size | D50: 9.37 μm |
| Sensory Evaluation | Pale green powder, silky texture, no perceptible grit |
| Application Benefit | High cell-wall breakage; significantly improved solubility and bioavailability |