Bacopa monnieri

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Bacopa monnieri
Starr 010818-0007 Bacopa monnieri.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Plantaginaceae
Genus: Bacopa
Species:
B. monnieri
Binomial name
Bacopa monnieri
Synonyms

Bacopa monnieraHayata & Matsum.
Bramia monnieri(L.) Pennell
Gratiola monnieriaL.
Herpestes monnieria(L.) Kunth
Herpestis faurieiH.Lev.
Herpestis monniera
Herpestris monnieria
Lysimachia monnieriL.
Moniera cuneifoliaMichx.

Contents

Bacopa monnieri, also known as water hyssop, [1] brahmi, [2] thyme-leafed gratiola, herb of grace, [2] and Indian pennywort, is a perennial, creeping herb native to wetland areas globally. [2]

It is used in Ayurveda. In 2019, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned manufacturers of dietary supplement products containing Bacopa monnieri against making illegal and unproven claims that the herb can treat various diseases. [3] [4] [5] There is inconclusive evidence of it improving cognitive performance and memory, and its safety and effectiveness remain uncertain. [6]

Description

Bacopa monnieri in Hyderabad, India Bacopa monnieri W IMG 1612.jpg
Bacopa monnieri in Hyderabad, India

Bacopa monnieri is a non-aromatic herb. The leaves of this plant are succulent, oblong, and 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) thick. Leaves are oblanceolate and are arranged oppositely on the stem. The flowers are small, actinomorphic and white, with four to five petals. It can even grow in slightly brackish conditions. Propagation is often achieved through cuttings. [7]

Ecology

Bacopa monnieri is one of the most widespread Bacopa species. It commonly grows in marshy areas throughout India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, China, Pakistan, Taiwan, Vietnam, tropical and southern Africa, on Madagascar, in Australia, in the Caribbean as well as in Middle and South America. [2] It is also found in Florida, Louisiana, Texas, and Hawaii. [1] [8]

It used to be found growing wild in freshwater swamps of Singapore and nearby regions known as beremi. [9]

Research and regulation

Bacopa monnieri is used in Ayurvedic traditional medicine in the belief it may improve memory and various ailments. [10] There is no good evidence that it improves cognitive performance and memory, while its safety and effectiveness remain uncertain. [6] Analysis of some preliminary research found that B. monnieri may improve cognition, specifically memory and learning. [10] [11] In other studies, effects became measurable only after several weeks of use. [12]

In 2019, the FDA issued warning letters to manufacturers of dietary supplements containing B. monnieri that advertised health claims for treating or preventing stomach disease, Alzheimer's disease, hypoglycemia, blood pressure, and anxiety were unproven and illegal. [4] [5] The FDA stated that no B. monnieri products have been approved for medical purposes. [3]

Adverse effects

The most commonly reported adverse effects of B. monnieri in humans are nausea, increased intestinal motility, and gastrointestinal upset. [10]

Phytochemistry

The best characterized phytochemicals in Bacopa monnieri are dammarane-type triterpenoid saponins known as bacosides, with jujubogenin or pseudo-jujubogenin moieties as aglycone units. [13] Bacosides comprise a family of 12 known analogs. [14] Other saponins called bacopasides I–XII were identified. [15] The alkaloids brahmine, nicotine, and herpestine have been catalogued, along with D-mannitol, apigenin, hersaponin, monnierasides I–III, cucurbitacin and plantainoside B. [16] [17] [18]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Lansdown, R.V.; Knees, S.G.; Patzelt, A. (2013). "Bacopa monnieri". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2013: e.T164168A17722668. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T164168A17722668.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Bacopa monnieri". Germplasm Resources Information Network . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture . Retrieved 2008-03-13.
  3. 1 2 "Health fraud scams: Unproven Alzheimer's disease products (Bacopa monnieri listed)". US Food and Drug Administration. 22 December 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  4. 1 2 William A Correll, Jr. (5 February 2019). "FDA Warning Letter: Peak Nootropics LLC aka Advanced Nootropics". Office of Compliance, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Inspections, Compliance, Enforcement, and Criminal Investigations, US Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  5. 1 2 William A Correll, Jr. (5 February 2019). "FDA Warning Letter: TEK Naturals". Office of Compliance, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Inspections, Compliance, Enforcement, and Criminal Investigations, US Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  6. 1 2 "Bacopa monnieri: Dietary supplements for brain health". www.opss.org. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
  7. ↑ Oudhia, Pankaj (2004). "Bramhi (Bacopa monnieri)". Society for Parthenium Management (SOPAM). Retrieved July 30, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Plants of Louisiana". warcapps.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2021-07-23.
  9. ↑ Khir Johari (Oct–Dec 2021). "The Role of Foraging in Malay Cuisine". BiblioAsia. Vol. 17, no. 3. National Library Board, Singapore. pp. 20–23.
  10. 1 2 3 Aguiar, Sebastian; Borowski, Thomas (2013). "Neuropharmacological review of the nootropic herb Bacopa monnieri". Rejuvenation Research. 16 (4): 313–326. doi:10.1089/rej.2013.1431. ISSN   1557-8577. PMC   3746283 . PMID   23772955.
  11. ↑ Kongkeaw, C; Dilokthornsakul, P; Thanarangsarit, P; Limpeanchob, N; Norman Scholfield, C (2014). "Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on cognitive effects of Bacopa monnieri extract". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 151 (1): 528–35. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2013.11.008. PMID   24252493.
  12. ↑ Neale, Chris; Camfield, David; Reay, Jonathon; Stough, Con; Scholey, Andrew (5 February 2013). "Cognitive effects of two nutraceuticals Ginseng and Bacopa benchmarked against modafinil: a review and comparison of effect sizes". British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 75 (3): 728–737. doi:10.1111/bcp.12002. ISSN   0306-5251. PMC   3575939 . PMID   23043278.
  13. ↑ Sivaramakrishna, C; Rao, CV; Trimurtulu, G; Vanisree, M; Subbaraju, GV (2005). "Triterpenoid glycosides from Bacopa monnieri". Phytochemistry. 66 (23): 2719–2728. Bibcode:2005PChem..66.2719S. doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2005.09.016. PMID   16293276.
  14. ↑ Garai, S; Mahato, SB; Ohtani, K; Yamasaki, K (2009). "Dammarane triterpenoid saponins from Bacopa monnieri". Can J Chem. 87 (9): 1230–1234. doi:10.1139/V09-111.
  15. ↑ Chakravarty, A.K; Garai, S.; Masuda, K; Nakane, T; Kawahara, N. (2003). "Bacopasides III–V: Three new triterpenoid glycosides from Bacopa monnieri". Chem Pharm Bull. 51 (2): 215–217. doi: 10.1248/cpb.51.215 . PMID   12576661.
  16. ↑ Chatterji, N; Rastogi, RP; Dhar, ML (1965). "Chemical examination of Bacopa monniera Wettst: Part II—Isolation of chemical constituents". Ind J Chem. 3: 24–29.
  17. ↑ Chakravarty, AK; Sarkar, T; Nakane, T; Kawahara, N; Masuda, K (2008). "New phenylethanoid glycosides from Bacopa monnieri". Chem Pharm Bull. 50 (12): 1616–1618. doi: 10.1248/cpb.50.1616 . PMID   12499603.
  18. ↑ Bhandari, Pamita; Kumar, Neeraj; Singh, Bikram; Kaul, Vijay K. (2007). "Cucurbitacins from Bacopa monnieri". Phytochemistry. 68 (9): 1248–1254. Bibcode:2007PChem..68.1248B. doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2007.03.013. ISSN   0031-9422. PMID   17442350.
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