Brahmi (Bacopa Monnieri)– A Potential Ayurvedic Cognitive Enhancer and Neuroprotective Herb

Abstract

In Ayurveda, a wide variety of neuroprotective herbal plants have been reported. Brahmi, Bacopa monnieri, belonging to the family Scrophulariaceae, is one of the foremost nootropic and neuroprotective Ayurvedic herb known from ancient times. It is used in the traditional medicinal system to treat various brain related health problems and as a memory enhancer. In the modern era, it is generally used to upgrade memory, learning and to treat tension, depression and other major problems like cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal, hepatic, neurological and respiratory problems. There are vast reported studies on the Alzheimer's disease also, Brahmi is known to have anticancer, antidiabetic, mitigating, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Bacopa plants contain various phytochemicals which include alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides and saponins. Other important constituents present in this plant are bacosides, bacopasides, and bacopa saponins, which are responsible for its therapeutic properties.

Untitled

“…Brahmi is described as a "Medhya" drug (the drug that possesses properties that support memory, re-establish intellectual deficiencies, and enhance mental capacity). [46] It has various medicinal properties, such as an anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, sedative, antiepileptic, antioxidant, immuno-modulatory, memory enhancing, anti-stress, anti-anxiety, and anti-cancer. [47][48][49][50] The chemical constituents of Bacopa monnieri are alkaloids, brahmine, and herpestine.The major phytochemicals reported are saponins, terpenoids [51] monnierin, hersaponin, tannins, flavonoids, [52] and glycosides.…”

Untitled

“…It is also said to be used as a memory enhancer and to treat worm infestations in children. Additionally, this herb is thought to be beneficial in treating diabetes mellitus 2 . In the Wayanad district of Kerala, India, the plant's powdered form is taken orally to treat epilepsy and asthma.…”

“…Pharmacological Importance of B. monnieri: On the priority list of significant Indian medicinal plants, B. monnieri is currently listed as number two. The ranking is based on the plant's potential for use in medicine and potential economic value 2 . The estimated market demand for this important medicinal plant is approximately a thousand tonnes per year, per National Medicinal Plants Board 3 .…”

“…Thus, the ancient storehouse of traditional knowledge serves as the foundation for ethnomedicine. Ayurveda, which has its parentage in India, is among the oldest medicinal practices based on conventional knowledge 2 .…”

Synthesis of copper nanoclusters from Bacopa monnieri leaves for fluorescence sensing of dichlorvos

“…Inspired by the above synthesis strategies for the fabrication of CuNCs, improving CuNCs stability and emission properties via effective encapsulation of CuNCs with the phytochemical present in plant extracts or active functional groups of biopolymers, here, blue fluorescent CuNCs were prepared from Brahmi extracts ( Bacopa monnieri is botanical name, and water hyssop is the common name). Brahmi belongs to Plantaginaceae family and shows good medicinal properties due to the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, and bacosides [33].…”