Bacopa Monnieri extract supplement health benefit,
review of research studies - Also known as Brahmi
How well does this herb work for mental enhancement and as a memory pill?
Bacopa is an herb used for memory and mental enhancement. Many mind formulas include
this herbal extract
combined with other herbs and nutrients used for memory and mind enhancement.
Research on humans is ongoing and shows promise. You may also consider a potent
brain enhancing formula that has extracts of this herb, it is called Mind Power
Rx and it was developed by a highly regarded and well known medical doctor.
Traditional uses
Brahmi is extensively used in traditional Indian medicine as a
nerve tonic and thought to improve memory and mental function.
Onset of action
The mental enhancement benefits of bacopa herb or extract are often noticed
within a few hours or a few days depending on the dosage used and how sensitive
you are to herbs.
Dosage
Adults can use a dosage of Bacopa herb between 200 mg to 500 mg a few times a
week. Many preparations are in the form of extracts with various
potencies. If you buy a bacopa extract product, your dosage would be less than
that of the regular bacopa powder. How much less depends on how potent and
concentrated the extract.
Availability as a dietary supplement
The herb is sold in health food stores or online in a variety of forms. It is
not easy to determine which product and in what dosage will work for you best
unless you personally try them.
Bramhi leaves, dried water extract 500 mg
Bacopa monniera 200 mg vegetarian capsules
Bacopa 100:1 extract ratio, PSE-50% bacosides, 500 mg
Bacopa Monniera leaf extract 20:1 (equivalent to 5,000 mg whole leaf) 250 mg,
plus 50% bacosides A and B 125 mg
Whole Plant Extract (20% bacosides A+B) 450 mg
Whole Plant Extract Standardized to 20% bacosides 150 mg
Purchase
Bacopa Monnieri herb for memory enhancement
Q. I have often used bacopa from Indian ayurvedic
companies to good effect. I notice that you sell an extract and I have read that
sometimes the whole herb can be better than the extract and vice versa. Do you
only sell the extract because you have compared it with the more traditional
Indian usage and found it to be better than the whole herb?
A. We have not seen studies comparing the extract versus the whole
herb in a human study group to know in the long run which is better for
cognitive enhancement.
Spelling
The accepted spelling of this herb is Bacopa Monnieri although you will see a
variation of this spelling as monniera.
Addiction or habituation
We are not aware of any studies or reports of this herb having addictive or
habituation potential.
Bacopa side effects
No significant bacopa side effects have been reported in published studies
with humans. However, as with any herb, adverse effects could occur so be
reasonable in the amount you use and take a couple of days off each week.
Bacopa monnieri and fertility issues
Evaluation of antifertility potential of Brahmi in male mouse.
Contraception. 2009. Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu
University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of Brahmi
on fertility of male laboratory mouse. The treatment had no effect on levels of
testosterone, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and
creatinine in blood serum, hematological parameters and on liver and kidney
histoarchitecture. In Bacopa treated males, libido remained unaffected, but
fertility was notably suppressed. The alterations caused in the above
reproductive endpoints by the plant extract were reversible, and by 56 days of
treatment withdrawal, the parameters recovered to control levels. The results in
mice thus suggest that Bacopa extract treatment causes reversible suppression of
spermatogenesis and fertility, without producing apparent toxic effects.
Human studies
Many studies have shown the herb to have a beneficial effect on the mind and
memory.
Bacopa improves memory
Effects of a standardized Bacopa monnieri extract on cognitive performance,
anxiety, and depression in the elderly: a randomized, double-blind,
placebo-controlled trial.
J Altern Complement Med. 2008; Calabrese C, Gregory WL, Kraemer D,
Bone K, Oken B. Helfgott Research Institute, National College of Natural
Medicine, Portland, OR, USA.
Study aims were to evaluate effects of Bacopa monnieri whole plant standardized
dry extract on cognitive function and affect and its safety and tolerability in
healthy elderly study participants. The study was a randomized, double-blind,
placebo-controlled clinical trial with a placebo run-in of 6 weeks and a
treatment period of 12 weeks. Volunteers were recruited from the community to a
clinic in Portland, Oregon by public notification. Fifty-four (54) participants,
65 or older (mean 73 years), without clinical signs of dementia, were recruited
and randomized to standardized Bacopa monnieri extract 300
mg/day or a similar placebo tablet given orally for 12 weeks. Controlling for
baseline cognitive deficit using the Blessed Orientation-Memory-Concentration
test, Bacopa participants had enhanced Auditory Verbal Learning Test delayed
word recall memory scores relative to placebo. Stroop results were similarly
significant, with the Bacopa group improving and the placebo group unchanged.
CESD-10 depression scores, combined state plus trait anxiety scores, and heart
rate decreased over time for the Bacopa group but increased for the placebo
group. The dose was well tolerated with few adverse events, primarily
stomach upset. This study provides further evidence that Bacopa monnieri
standardized extract has potential for safely enhancing cognitive performance in
the aging.
Mechanism of action
The mode of action of brain cell protective effects is due to
the antioxidants that suppress neuronal oxidative stress and the
acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities. Treating patients with bacopa
extract may be a way to treat neurodegenerative disorders associated with
oxidative stress as well as perhaps Alzheimer's disease.
Herb composition
Bacopa herb contains many compounds including bacopasaponins such as
bacoside A,
bacopaside II, bacopaside I, bacopaside X, bacopasaponin, bacopaside N2 and
minor components bacopasaponin F, bacopasaponin E, bacopaside N1 bacopaside III,
bacopaside IV and bacopaside V. The total saponin content in samples, plant
materials and extracts vary from 5 to 22%. Dammarane-type triterpenoid saponins
classified as pseudojujubogenin and jujubogenin glycosides are reported as some
of active components in this plant.
Animal studies
Alzheimer's disease and cognitive benefit
Cognitive enhancement and neuroprotective effects of Bacopa monnieri in
Alzheimer's disease model.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2010; Uabundit N, Wattanathorn J, Mucimapura S. Department of Physiology (Neuroscience Program) and Graduate
School, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Thailand.
To determine the effect of alcoholic
extract of Bacopa monnieri on cognitive function and neurodegeneration in animal
model of Alzheimer's disease induced by ethylcholine aziridinium ion (AF64A).
Male Wistar rats were orally given the alcoholic extract of Bacopa monnieri via
feeding needle for a period of 2 weeks before and 1 week after the
intracerebroventricular administration of AF64A bilaterally. Rats were tested
for spatial memory using Morris water maze test and the density of neurons and
cholinergic neurons was determined using histological techniques 7 days after
AF64A administration. Bacopa monnieri extract improved the escape latency time
in Morris water maze test. Moreover, the reduction of neurons and cholinergic
neuron densities were also mitigated. These findings suggest that it is a potential cognitive enhancer and neuroprotectant against
Alzheimer's disease.
Fertility
Evaluation of antifertility potential of Brahmi in male mouse.
Contraception. 2009K. Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu
University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of Bacopa monnieri
on fertility of male laboratory mouse. Mice of the Parkes strain were orally
administered Brahmi (250 mg/kg body weight/day, for 28 and 56 days), and effect
of the treatment on reproductive organs and fertility was investigated. The
treatment caused reduction in motility, viability, morphology, and number of
spermatozoa in cauda epididymidis. Histologically, testes in mice treated with
the plant extract showed alterations in the seminiferous tubules, and the
alterations included intraepithelial vacuolation, loosening of germinal
epithelium, exfoliation of germ cells and occurrence of giant cells. In severe
cases, the tubules were lined by only Sertoli cells or Sertoli cells,
spermatogonia and spermatocytes. Significant reductions were also noted in
height of the germinal epithelium and diameter of the seminiferous tubules in
Brahmi-treated mice compared to controls. Epididymis in treated males showed
slight alterations in histological appearance. The treatment had no effect on
levels of testosterone, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and
creatinine in blood serum, hematological parameters and on liver and kidney
histoarchitecture. In Brahmi-treated males, libido remained unaffected, but
fertility was notably suppressed. The alterations caused in the above
reproductive endpoints by the plant extract were reversible, and by 56 days of
treatment withdrawal, the parameters recovered to control levels. The results in
mice thus suggest that Brahmi treatment causes reversible suppression of
spermatogenesis and fertility, without producing apparent toxic effects.
Comments: The dosage used in this study is very high compared to
what humans may ingest and thus may not reflect what goes on in humans who would
ingest usually less than 15 mg per kilogram.
Interaction with other supplements
Epimedium extract, also known as horny goat weed - We suggest using
epimedium herb and the mind
enhancing herb on separate days unless the dosages are low.
Gotu kola - Bacopa can be used
together with gotu kola, or centella asiatica, but in lower dosages.
Mind Power Rx - We suggest not taking them the same day.
You can take Mind Power Rx one day and the herbal extract another day.