Clinical Studies
Bacopin, Bacopa, or Brahmi Leaf is used to help learning, and for anxiety, memory problems, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), allergic conditions and irritable bowel syndrome. Bacopin is also used for sexual dysfunction in both men and women, as a nerve tonic and cardiotonic. Bacopin may also be anti-allergic, anti-ulcerogenic, adaptogenic, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant/anti-aging.
Free radical scavenging capacity and protective effect of Bacopa monniera L. on DNA damage.1
Russo A, Izzo AA, Borrelli F, Renis M, Vanella A.
Department of Biochemistry, Medical Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Catania, V.le A. Doria 6, 95125, Catania, Italy. alrusso@unict.it
Bacopa monniera L. (family Scrophulariaceae) (BM) is an Ayurvedic medicine, clinically used for memory enhancing, epilepsy, insomnia and as a mild sedative. In this work, the free radical scavenging capacity of a methanol extract of BM and the effect on DNA cleavage induced by H2O2 UV-photolysis was investigated. In addition, we examined whether this plant extract is capable of reducing the hydrogen peroxide-induced cytotoxicity and DNA damage in human non-immortalized fibroblasts. It showed a dose-dependent free radical scavenging capacity and a protective effect on DNA cleavage. These results were confirmed by a significant protective effect on H2O2-induced cytoxicity and DNA damage in human non-immortalized fibroblasts. The antioxidant capacity of BM may explain, at least in part, the reported antistress, immunomodulatory, cognition-facilitating, antiinflammatory and antiaging effects produced by it in experimental animals and in clinical situations and may justify further investigation of its other beneficial properties. Moreover, this experimental evidence suggests that because of its antioxidant activity, this Ayurvedic drug may be useful in the treatment of human pathologies in which free radical production plays a key role. Copyright 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
PMID: 13680815 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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2 In vitro evaluation of Bacopa monniera on anti-Helicobacter pylori activity and accumulation of prostaglandins.
Goel RK, Sairam K, Babu MD, Tavares IA, Raman A.
Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India. rkgoel@banaras.ernet.in
Bacopa monniera is an Indian tratidional medicine widely used to improve intellectual functions. Earlier, we had reported the prophylactic and curative effects of standardized extract of Bacopa monniera (BME) in various gastric ulcer models. The effect was due to augmentation of the defensive mucosal factors like increase in mucin secretion, life span of mucosal cells and gastric antioxidant effect rather than on the offensive acid-pepsin secretion. The present study includes evaluation of standardized BME (bacoside A content--35.5 +/- 0.9) on other contributing factors towards ulcerogenesis. BME in the dose of 1000 microg/ml showed anti-Helicobacter pylori activity in vitrol and in the dose of 10 microg/ml increased in vitro of prostanoids (PGE and PGI2) in human colonic mucosal incubates. It may be concluded that these factors may contribute to antiulcerogenic activity of BME.
PMID: 13678238 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Adaptogenic effect of Bacopa monniera (Brahmi).3
Rai D, Bhatia G, Palit G, Pal R, Singh S, Singh HK.
Division of Pharmacology, Central Drug Research Institute, Chattar Manzil Palace, Lucknow, India. drai@rediffmail.com
As stress is linked to many diseases, research on an effective antistress agent (adaptogen) from plants has gained importance. We report the investigations on the adaptogenic property of a standardized extract of Bacopa monniera against acute (AS) and chronic stress (CS) models in rats. Panax root powder (Panax quinquefolium) was taken as a standard. Male SD rats, weighing 180-200 g, exposed to immobilization stress for 150 min once only for AS and for seven consecutive days in CS, were fed with B. monniera or Panax root powder daily for 3 days in AS and for 7 days in CS, 45 min prior to each exposure of stress. Rats were sacrificed immediately after stress, the blood was collected, and the plasma was separated out for biochemical estimation. Adrenals, spleen, and thymus were dissected for organ weight and stomach for ulcer score. AS exposure significantly increased the ulcer index, adrenal gland weight, plasma glucose, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and creatine kinase (CK) but significantly decreased the spleen weight. Pretreatment with B. monniera at 40 mg/kg po significantly reduced the AS-induced increase in the ulcer index, adrenal gland weight, plasma glucose, AST, and CK. A dose of 80 mg/kg po significantly reversed the AS-induced changes in adrenal gland weight, spleen weight, plasma glucose, ALT, and AST. Panax root powder, 100 mg/kg po, significantly reversed the AS-induced changes in spleen weight, plasma ALT, AST, and CK. CS exposure resulted in a significant increase in the ulcer index, adrenal gland weight, plasma AST, and CK with a significant decrease in the thymus and spleen weight, plasma triglyceride, and cholesterol. Pretreatment with low dose of B. monniera extract at 40 mg/kg significantly reversed changes in ulcer index and plasma AST only, whereas the pretreatment with higher dose significantly reversed CS-induced changes in ulcer index, adrenal gland weight, CK, and AST. Panax root powder significantly reversed CS-induced increase in ulcer index, adrenal gland weight, CK, and AST. On the basis of our result, it is concluded that the standardized extract of B. monniera possesses a potent adaptogenic activity.
PMID: 12957224 [PubMed - in process]
Nitric oxide-related toxicity in cultured astrocytes: effect of Bacopa monniera.4
Russo A, Borrelli F, Campisi A, Acquaviva R, Raciti G, Vanella A.
Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Catania, v.le A. Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy. alrusso@unict.it
There is growing evidence that high concentrations of nitric oxide (NO), generated by activated astrocytes, might be involved in a variety of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, ischemia and epilepsy. It has recently been suggested that glial cells may produce NO under superoxide radical stimulation by enzyme-independent mechanism. This suggests that also natural antioxidants may have therapeutical relevance in neurodegenerative diseases. Studies of Bhattacharya et al. have evidenced that Bacopa monniera (BM) (family Scrophulariaceae), an Ayurvedic medicinal plant clinically used for memory enhancing, epilepsy, insomnia and as a mild sedative, is able to reduce the memory-dysfunction in rat models of Alzheimer's disease, but the molecular mechanisms of this action are yet to be determined. In the present study, we examined the effect of a methanolic extract of BM on toxicity induced by the nitric oxide donor, S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine (SNAP), in culture of purified rat astrocytes. Our results indicate that, after 18 h of treatment, SNAP induced an increase in the production of reactive species, but did not induce the rupture of cellular membrane. Conversely, this NO donor induced a fragmentation of genomic DNA compared to control astrocytes. The extract of BM inhibited the formation of reactive species and DNA damage in a dose dependent manner. This data supports the traditional use of BM and indicates that this medicinal plant has a therapeutic potential in treatment or prevention of neurological diseases.
PMID: 12865091 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
5 Broncho-vasodilatory activity of fractions and pure constituents isolated from Bacopa monniera.
Channa S, Dar A, Yaqoob M, Anjum S, Sultani Z, Atta-ur-Rahman.
Pharmacology Section, HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi, 75270, Pakistan. shabnachanna@hotmail.com
The present study demonstrates that various fractions and sub-fractions isolated from Bacopa monniera produced significant inhibition of carbachol-induced bronchoconstriction, hypotension and bradycardia in anaesthetized rats. All these showed more potency towards inhibition of tracheal pressure compared to either blood pressure or heart rate. The sub-sub fraction and compound 1 caused greater inhibition of tracheal pressure and heart rate compared to blood pressure. Thus, overall bioassay-directed fractionation of B. monniera improved the bronchodilatory activity in various fractions and compound 1 (2-219x) in anaesthetized rats. In vitro, the KCl-induced contraction was equally inhibited by crude extract, petroleum ether and methanol fractions on trachea suggesting bronchodilatory activity remained the same in fractions. On pulmonary artery petroleum ether, dichloromethane and methanol fractions produced 2-2.6 times more vasodilatation compared to crude extract of B. monniera. Subsequent sub-fractions failed to show the existence of broncho-vasodilatory activity, however, the CHCl(3)/MeOH sub-fraction significantly reduced the acetylcholine-induced contraction on ileum. Both the methanol fraction and CHCl(3)/MeOH sub-fraction caused marked reduction of barium chloride-, potassium chloride- and calcium chloride-induced contraction on guinea-pig ileum, indicating their interference with Ca(2+) ion movement. Thus, it may be concluded that various fractions derived from B. monniera possess broncho-vasodilatory activity, which is attributed mainly to inhibition of calcium ions.
PMID: 12686438 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
6 A comparative study in rodents of standardized extracts of Bacopa monniera and Ginkgo biloba: anticholinesterase and cognitive enhancing activities.
Das A, Shanker G, Nath C, Pal R, Singh S, Singh H.
Division of Pharmacology, Central Drug Research Institute, P.O. Box 173, Lucknow, 226 001, India. amitavadascdri@rediffmail.com
Bacopa monniera and Ginkgo biloba are well-known cognitive enhancers in Indian and Chinese traditional medicine systems. Standardized extracts of B. monniera and G. biloba were used to evaluate the antidementic and anticholinesterase activities in adult male Swiss mice. Antidementic activity was tested against scopolamine (3 mg/kg ip)-induced deficits in passive avoidance test. Three different extracts of B. monniera (30 mg/kg) and extract of G. biloba (15, 30 and 60 mg/kg) were administered postoperatively, daily for 7 days and 60 min after the last dose, i.e., on Day 7, first trial was conducted. In passive avoidance test, increased transfer latency time (TLT) and no transfer response (NTR) were taken as criteria for learning. TLT and NTR were significantly increased and decreased in second trial, 24 h after the first trial in control group and scopolamine-dementia group, respectively. The B. monniera- and G. biloba-treated groups produced significant increase in TLT and NTR on second trial (40-80%) after scopolamine treatment, thus, attenuating its antidementic effect. Both the extracts showed a dose (10-1000 microg)-dependent inhibitory effect on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity (in vitro), performed spectrophotometrically. IC(50) of G. biloba was 268.33 microg, whereas none of the extracts of B. monniera showed more than 50% inhibition. At a dose concentration of 30 and 60 mg/kg, extracts of G. biloba showed a cognitive enhancing property and, at the same time, a significant decrease in AChE-specific activity in both per se and scopolamine-dementia groups. These extracts possess a significant anticholinesterase and antidementic properties, which may be useful in the treatment of dementia.
PMID: 12213536 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Chronic effects of Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) on human memory.7
Roodenrys S, Booth D, Bulzomi S, Phipps A, Micallef C, Smoker J.
Department of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Woolongong, Australia. steven_roodenrys@uow.edu.au
A study is reported on the effects of Brahmi (Bacopa monniera) on human memory. Seventy-six adults aged between 40 and 65 years took part in a double-blind randomized, placebo control study in which various memory functions were tested and levels of anxiety measured. There were three testing sessions: one prior to the trial, one after three months on the trial, and one six weeks after the completion of the trial. The results show a significant effect of the Brahmi on a test for the retention of new information. Follow-up tests showed that the rate of learning was unaffected, suggesting that Brahmi decreases the rate of forgetting of newly acquired information. Tasks assessing attention, verbal and visual short-term memory and the retrieval of pre-experimental knowledge were unaffected. Questionnaire measures of everyday memory function and anxiety levels were also unaffected.
Publication Types:
PMID: 12093601 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
8 Antidepressant activity of standardized extract of Bacopa monniera in experimental models of depression in rats.
Sairam K, Dorababu M, Goel RK, Bhattacharya SK.
Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.
Bacopa monniera Wettst. (syn. Herpestis monniera L.; Scrophulariaceae) is a commonly used Ayurvedic drug for mental disorders. The standardized extract was reported earlier to have significant anti-oxidant effect, anxiolytic activity and improve memory retention in Alzheimer's disease. Presently, the standardized methanolic extract of Bacopa monniera (bacoside A - 38.0+/-0.9) was investigated for potential antidepressant activity in rodent models of depression. The effect was compared with the standard antidepressant drug imipramine (15 mg/kg, ip). The extract when given in the dose of 20 and 40 mg/kg, orally once daily for 5 days was found to have significant antidepressant activity in forced swim and learned helplessness models of depression and was comparable to that of imipramine.
PMID: 12046860 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Prophylactic and curative effects of Bacopa monniera in gastric ulcer models.9
Sairam K, Rao CV, Babu MD, Goel RK.
Bacopa monniera Wettst. (BM, syn. Herpestis monniera L; Scrophulariaceae), is an Ayurvedic drug used as a rasayana. Its fresh juice was earlier reported to have significant antiulcerogenic activity. In continuation, methanolic extract of BM (BME) standardized to bacoside-A content (percentage-38.0 +/- 0.9), when given in the dose of 10-50 mg/kg, twice daily for 5 days, showed dose-dependent anti-ulcerogenic on various gastric ulcer models induced by ethanol, aspirin, 2 h cold restraint stress and 4 h pylorus ligation. BME in the dose of 20 mg/kg, given for 10 days, twice daily showed healing effects against 50% acetic acid-induced gastric ulcers. Further work was done to investigate the possible mechanisms of its action by studying its effect on various mucosal offensive acid-pepsin secretion and defensive factors like mucin secretion, mucosal cell shedding, cell proliferation and antioxidant activity in rats. BME 20 mg/kg showed no effect on acid-pepsin secretion, increased mucin secretion, while it decreased cell shedding with no effect on cell proliferation. BME showed significant antioxidant effect per se and in stressed animals. Thus, the gastric prophylactic and curative effects of BME may be due to its predominant effect on mucosal defensive factors.
PMID: 11824516 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
10 Calcium antagonistic activity of Bacopa monniera on vascular and intestinal smooth muscles of rabbit and guinea-pig.
Dar A, Channa S.
Pharmacology Section, HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi, Pakistan. dar@khi.comsats.net.pk
The present study demonstrates the calcium antagonistic activity in ethanol extract of Bacopa monniera. The plant extract inhibited the spontaneous movements of both guinea-pig ileum (IC50 = 24+/-4 microg/ml) and rabbit jejunum (IC50 = 136+/-9 microg/ml). A marked reduction in acetylcholine- and histamine-induced responses (0.0001-10 microM) in the ileum was evident in the presence of extract (260 microg/ml). The acetylcholine (1 microM)-induced contraction in the ileum was also inhibited by the extract (100-700 microg/ml) in a concentration dependent way (IC50 = 285+/-56 microg/ml). All these results indicate a direct action of the extract on smooth muscles. Calcium chloride-induced responses in the rabbit blood vessels and jejunum were attenuated in the presence of plant extract (10-700 microg/ml) implying a direct interference of plant extract with influx of calcium ions in the cells. However, the lack of modification of either noradrenaline- or caffeine-induced contractions in the presence of extract suggests that extract has no detectable effect on mobilization of intracellular calcium. These results indicate that spasmolytic effect of the B. monniera extract in smooth muscles is predominantly due to inhibition of calcium influx via both voltage and receptor operated calcium channels of the cell membrane.
PMID: 10433473 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]