Bacopa

Scientific Name(s): Bacopa monniera (L.) Wettst.
Common Name(s): Brahmi, Jalanimba, Jalnaveri, Sambrani chettu, Thyme-leaved gratiola

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Nov 2, 2021.

Clinical Overview

Use

Bacopa is used for its antioxidant activity. It has been investigated for use in improving cognition.

Dosing

Numerous dosage forms and commercial products are available and marketed for improved short- and long-term memory. A typical commercially available regimen is 2 oral capsules (500 mg; herbal extract of bacopa ratio, 10:1) twice a day with water after meals. Each capsule contains 500 mg (herbal extract of bacopa ratio is 10:1). Bacopa extracts have been used in clinical trials at dosages of 100 to 1,050 mg/day with 225 mg/day given for up to 6 months.

Contraindications

Avoid use with hypersensitivity to any of the components of bacopa.

Pregnancy/Lactation

Avoid use. Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.

Interactions

None well documented.

Adverse Reactions

Commonly reported adverse effects are flu-like symptoms, GI irritation, nausea, increased intestinal motility, and muscle fatigue.

Toxicology

No clinical data are available regarding toxicity.

Scientific Family

• Scrophulariaceae (figwort)

Botany

Bacopa is a small creeping herb that grows in wet and marshy locations (altitude of up to 1,500 m) and is frequently planted in freshwater aquaria.1, 2, 3 It is native throughout the Indian subcontinent but has spread throughout the tropics. It is also found in the Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, Yunnan, and Sichuan provinces of China.4 The herb has ascending branches, oblong and obovate leaves, and solitary flowers. The calyx is 6 mm long and the white or pale violet-blue corolla is 5 to 6 mm long. The leaves are light green and the stem is light green to brown; both are slightly aromatic and have a bitter odor and taste.5 Synonyms for bacopa include Herpestis monniera and Moniera cuneifolia.

The common name "brahmi" has also been applied to herbs unrelated to Bacopa species, including Centella asiatica (gotu kola) and Merremia gangetica.6

History

The name "brahmi" comes from Brahma, the Hindu god of creation. Bacopa is a well-known herb in the Ayurvedic medical system and was prominently mentioned in Indian texts as early as the sixth century AD.7 For more than 5,000 years, bacopa has been traditionally used to treat epilepsy, insomnia, and anxiety, and is valued for its sedative properties. Indian Materia Medica documents the herb’s use for improving memory and concentration.8 Other reported uses include treatment of skin diseases, fever, inflammation, anemia, urinary disorder, psychiatric disorders, and hoarseness. It has also been traditionally used to treat asthma and is considered a potent nerve tonic, cardiotonic, and diuretic. Ethnobotanically, the leaves are used in speech disorders, premature ejaculation, flatulence, abdominal pain, cough, and colds. Fresh bacopa leaf juice has been used in rheumatism and as a mental revitalizer.2, 3, 6

Chemistry

The principal constituents of bacopa, bacosides9 and bacopasaponins,10, 11 are triterpene saponins of the dammarane class, which contain 2 or...