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Brahmi (small-leaved bacopa) is a herb whose properties and healing effects should be appreciated especially by people who have memory problems. Tablets and other preparations based on brahmi improve the work of the brain, increase the ability to concentrate, and improve memory in both young and old people. What else does brahmi have? How to dose this herb? What are the side effects of its use?

Brahmi( small-leaved bakopa , LatinBacopa monnieri ) is a herb whosepropertiesandhealing effectshas been appreciated by the people of India, where it comes from, for years. In traditional Indian medicine - Ayurveda - brahmi has foundusedin the treatment of epilepsy, insomnia and as a calming and anxiety-relieving ingredient. The Indian Materia Medica (book of knowledge about natural resources) recommends this plant as a memory and concentration enhancer .¹

Research confirms that brahmi improves, among others, mental functions in children suffering from ADHD and supports the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, including alzheimer's and parkinson's.

Brahmi (small-leaved bacopa) for better memory and concentration

Small-leaved bakopa improves the work of the brain, increases the ability to concentrate, and improves memory in both young and old people, which has been scientifically proven.

Clinical studies confirm the good effects of using bacopa in rebuilding mental functions in children suffering from ADHD, in improving cognitive functions in people after stroke and in epilepsy.

American and Australian scientists investigated the effect of brahmi extract on focus, cognitive abilities and memory in a group of he althy, middle-aged people. The studies - in which one group of patients received 300 mg of the extract daily and the other a placebo - confirmed the effect of brahmi on mental abilities. However, they appeared only after long-term supplementation (about 12 weeks). No disclosure of these properties was observed before this time .²

Better test results (determining mental performance) were obtained at the end of the study (at week 12) than at the beginning of the test (at week 4). This effect lasted up to 4 weeks after discontinuation of takingpreparation.

For this reason, preparations containing brahmi extract are recommended for pupils and students, people working in professions requiring high intellectual efficiency. Research also confirms the good effects of using this plant in improving mental functions in children suffering from ADHD, in improving cognitive functions in people after stroke and in epilepsy. This plant also supports the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases (including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's).

Worth knowing

Brahmi (small-leaved bakopa) - where to buy? What's the price?

Brahmi can be purchased in the form of cut or powdered herb, and also in the form of tablets. The price of 50 g of chopped herb in herbal shops is about PLN 10. You have to pay more for the tablets - about PLN 40 for 90 pcs.

Brahmi (small-leaved bacopa) - anti-depressant properties

Brahmi (given at a dose of 300 mg a day for 12 weeks) has been shown to be an antidepressant in a study of 54 elderly depressed adults. After completing the study, participants completed the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) questionnaire measuring the scale of depression.

It turned out that in people who took brahmi, it is lower than before the beginning of the experiment. It has also been shown to reduce anxiety and heart rate. It has been suggested that this effect is due to the increase in dopamine and serotonin levels by bacosides - the main active substances contained in Bacopa monnieri.

Norepinephrine and dopamine send information about when a person needs to gather strength, focus attention, prepare for a fight or flight. Serotonin triggers a feeling of sleepiness, stimulates the brain to relax the body. When for some reason there are too few neurotransmitters, there is interference in the links between the neutrons. These are the processes that lead to depression.

Brahmi (small-leaved bacopa) and epilepsy and anticonvulsant properties

Ethanol extract from small-leaved bacopa has anticonvulsant properties, argue scientists in the "International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research".4However, the effectiveness of this extract is lower (84 percent ) than phenytoin used in the treatment of epilepsy (100%). The latter compound, on the other hand, is burdened with side effects (e.g. arrhythmias, headaches), which are not observed when taking an extract with brahmi.

Brahmi (small-leaved bacopa) and stomach ulcers

Iranian scientists at Thi Qar University showed5that methanolic brahmi extract showed antiulcer activity, both when usedpreventively and therapeutically. This extract increases the secretion of mucus (which protects the stomach against irritating and damaging factors), increases the vitality of the mucosa cells, and also has antioxidant properties. In addition, in vitro studies have shown that it works against Helicobacter pylori - a bacterium that is one of the causes of peptic ulcer disease.

Brahmi (small-leaved bacopa) protects the liver

Ethanol brahmi extract has a protective effect on the liver - this was the conclusion of Indian scientists from Jiwaji University.6Thanks to it, the levels of the liver enzymes ALAT and ASPAT in mice treated with toxic tetrachloromethane ( CCl4) decreased almost to a level comparable to the norm. The level of bilirubin also decreased. This study further demonstrated that in vitro grown bacopa has the same pharmacological properties as a naturally grown herb.

Worth knowing

Bakopa - side effects and contraindications

  • after taking brahmi the following may appear: nausea, dry mouth, increased intestinal peristalsis, fatigue;
  • it is not recommended to use bacopa during pregnancy and breastfeeding;
  • interactions with other plants and supplements: unknown;
  • drug interactions: bacopa may increase the effect of phenothiazine (a hypnotic drug).

Brahmi (small-leaved bacopa) - a natural anti-inflammatory drug

Ethanol extract of B. monnieri has an anti-inflammatory effect without showing any side effects. This was demonstrated by Indian scientists from the University of Kerala.7They investigated the effect of bacopa extracts on arthritis in rats.

After the experiment, it turned out that the level of inflammation was reduced (among other things, a decrease in the value of C-reactive protein, which is an "detector" of inflammation in the body, was demonstrated). In addition, the MTT test (a calorimetric technique determining the cytotoxicity of a given substance to cells) showed that the ethanol extract of B. monnieri, even administered in high doses, did not show any toxic properties.

Brahmi (small-leaved bacopa) - antibacterial and antifungal properties

Brahmi extract also has antibacterial properties, as reported by experts from Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (India).8Betulinic acid contained in the plant showed antifungal activity against Alternaria alternata and Fusarium fusiformi . Bacopa extracts acted on Escherichia coli and significantly limited the growth of Salmonella enteritidis, Listeria monocytogenes and blue oil rods.

Bibliography:

  1. Łojewski M., Muszyńska B., Sułkowska-Ziaja K., Bacopa monnieri L. Pennell - a plant with multidirectional healing effects, "Advances in Phytotherapy" 2014, No. 2
  2. Calabrese C. Effects of a standardized Bacopa monnieri extract on cognitive performance, anxiety, and depression in the elderly: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, "Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine" 2008: www .ncbi.nlm.nih.gov / pmc / articles / PMC3153866 /
  3. Effects of a Standardized Bacopa monnieri Extract on Cognitive Performance, Anxiety, and Depression in the Elderly: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ PMC3153866 /
  4. Wasnik U. Evaluation of anticonvulsant activity on leaves of alcoholic extract of Bacopa monnieri Linn. Int J Pharm Sci Rev Res 2012, www.researchgate.net/publication/283140283_Evaluation_of_anticonvulsant_activity_on_leaves_of_alcoholic_extract_of_Bacopamonnieri_Linn
  5. Vangalapati MA. Review on pharmacological studies of Bacopa monnieri. J Chem Biol Phys Sci 2011
  6. Gudipati T. Hepatoprotective potential of in vitro Bacopa monnieri L. against carbon tetrachloride - induced hepatotoxicity in albino mice. Int J Pharma Bio Sci 2012
  7. Viji V. Inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators: role of Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst. Inflammopharmacol 2011
  8. Ravikumar S. Antibacterial activity of traditional therapeutic coastal medicinal plants against some pathogens. J Environ Biol 2005 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16334271

Category:

Alternative medicine