Bacopa monnieri                                     

Common name: Bacopa, Brahmi

Family: Scrophulariaceae

Parts used:  Aerial

Constituents: 

• Steroidal & Tripterpene saponins (bacosides & bacosine, jujubogenin)
• Alkaloids (brahmine & herpestatine)
• Betulinic acid
• Phytosterols (stigmastarol & beta-sitosterol)

Medicinal actions: 

• Adaptogen
• Alterative
• Anti-inflammatory
• Antioxidant
• Aphrodisiac
• Bitter
• Cardiotonic
• Cognition & memory enhancer
• Nervine Tonic & Sedative

Medicinal use:

• Used for more than 3000 years in Ayurvedic medicine for increasing brain function, or promoting longevity. Has a reputation for enhancing circulation to the brain, thereby increasing short and long-term memory, improving concentration, mental performance & cognitive function as a whole.
• Used in disorders of the nervous system such as insomnia, anxiety, stress, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
• Taken internally or applied topically for rheumatic conditions, joint pain and neuralgias.

Pharmacology:

• Various mechanisms of action for cognitive effects have been proposed, including acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition, β-amyloid reduction, antioxidant neuroprotection, neurotransmitter modulation (Ach),  5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT], dopamine, choline acetyltransferase activation and increased cerebral blood flow.
• Steroidal & Triterpenoid saponins (bacosides) increase protein kinase activity, protein synthesis in the long-term memory brain regions, and are responsible for cognitive effects and enhanced nerve impulse transmission (balances GABA and glutamate levels in the brain). Has protective effects against β-amyloid toxicity and beneficial effects on cognitive performance.
• Bacosine has analgesic effects.
• The alkaloid brahmine is toxic in very large doses.

Pharmacy:

• Tincture: (1:2, 25%), 5-13 ml QD, 90 ml/week.
• Whole herb: 5-15 grams a day, divided
• Standardized extract (20% bacosides A & B): 200-400 mg QD.

Toxicity:

• May cause gastric irritation of the gastric mucosa membranes and reflux due to saponin content.

Contraindications: 

• None known.

Interactions: 

• Potential interaction when orally co-administered with drugs metabolized by CYP1A2, CYP3A4, CYP2C9 and CYP2C19.

References:

• Find a complete list of references for this monograph as well as images and a review of its evidence based applications in Dr. Marciano’s Herbal Textbook.