Bacopa Monniera

Brahmi has been used by Ayurveda in India for almost 3000 years. The Ayurvedic treatise, the Charaka Samhita (100 A.D.), recommends Brahmi in formulations for a range of mental conditions including anxiety, poor cognition and lack of concentration. In India, Brahmi is currently recognized as being effective in the treatment of mental illness and epilepsy.

Origin
An annual creeping plant found throughout India in wet, damp and marshy areas.

Chemical composition/key active constituents
The herb contains the alkaloids brahmine, herpestine, and a mixture of three bases. It also contains the saponins, monnierin ; hersaponin, bacoside A and bacoside B. Other constituents present in the plant are D-mannitol, betulic acid, ß- sitosterol, stigmasterol and its esters, heptacosane, octacosane, nonacosane, triacontane, hentriacontane, dotriacontane, nicotine, 3-formyl-4-hydroxy-2H-pyran, luteolin and its 7-glucoside. The presence of a-alamine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid and serine is also reported.

      

Pharmacology
Alcoholic extract increases the learning performance of rats and the activity is attributed to saponin mixture consisting of bacosides A,B & other saponins. Other pharmacological effects of the extracts include sedative, antiepileptic, cardiotonic, vasoconstrictor and anti-inflammatory activities.

Remedies For
It is used in indigenous systems of medicine for the treatment of asthma, hoarseness, insanity, epilepsy and as a potent nerve tonic; cardio tonic and diuretic. The leaves are also useful as a diuretic and aperient.

Mb>Brain and Nervous System Conditions
Brain tonic, Epilepsy, Headaches, Insanity, Improves memory, improves mental capacities, such as concentration and learning, Nerve tonic, Nervous breakdown, Nervous deficit due to injury and stroke Nervous exhaustion.

References:

1. Phytochemistry, 1978,17:287
2. J.Res.Ayurveda & Siddha 1980, 1,133
3. Sharma, R. et al. (1987) J.Res. Edu. Ind. Med. 1-10
4. Singh, R.H.,Singh, L.J.(1980) J.Res.Ayur.Siddha. 1:133-14