Bacoside research studies

Bacoside A is a triterpenoid saponin and the active substance isolated from Bacopa monnieri herb.

Brain cell injury prevention
Cigarette smoking induces heat shock protein 70 kDa expression and apoptosis in rat brain: Modulation by bacoside A.
Neuroscience. 2006; Anbarasi K, Kathirvel G, Vani G, Jayaraman G. Department of Biochemistry, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai, India.
Cigarette smoking is associated with the development of several diseases and antioxidants play a major role in the prevention of smoking-related diseases. Apoptosis is suggested as a possible contributing factor in the pathogenesis of smoking-induced toxicity. Therefore the present study was designed to investigate the influence of chronic cigarette smoke exposure on apoptosis and the modulatory effect of bacoside A (isolated from the plant Bacopa monniera) on smoking-induced apoptosis in rat brain. Administration of bacoside A prevented expression of hsp70 and neuronal apoptosis during cigarette smoking. We speculate that apoptosis may be responsible for the smoking-induced brain damage and bacoside A can protect the brain from the toxic effects of cigarette smoking.

Epilepsy and seizures
Increased excitability and metabolism in pilocarpine induced epileptic rats: Effect of Bacopa monnieri.
Fitoterapia. 2010. Mathew J, Paul J, Nandu MS, Paulose CS. Molecular Neurobiology and Cell Biology Unit, Centre for Neuroscience, Department of Biotechnology, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin, Kerala, India.
We have evaluated the acetylcholine esterase and malate dehydrogenase activity in the muscle, Epinephrine, Norepinephrine, insulin and T3 content in the serum of epileptic rats. Acetylcholine esterase and Malate dehydrogenase activity increased in the muscle and decreased in the heart of the epileptic rats compared to control. Insulin and T3 content were increased significantly in the serum of the epileptic rats. Our results suggest that repetitive seizures resulted in increased metabolism and excitability in epileptic rats. Bacopa monnieri and Bacoside-A treatment prevents the occurrence of seizures there by reducing the impairment on peripheral nervous system.

Liver protection
Hepatoprotective effect of Bacoside-A, a major constituent of Bacopa monniera Linn.
Phytomedicine. 2008; Sumathi T, Nongbri A. Department of Medical Biochemistry, Dr. ALM Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Bacoside-A was evaluated for its hepatoprotective activity against d-GalN induced liver injury in rats. B-A is a major constituent isolated from the plant Bacopa monniera Linn. Our results suggest that bacoside A has hepatoprotective effect against d-GalN induced liver toxicity in rats.