Nutramedic &Cosmetics
Bacopa (Bacopa monnieri) and its effect on cognitive functions Bacopa has been at the center of research because of its effect on cognitive functions such as memory, focus and concentration. Numerous researches in the last thirty years have enabled a better understanding of the effects of this plant and the popularization of its application in the cognitive health segment. AUTHOR:
Ana Gjergja Sekulić, M.pharm., univ.mag. phytotherapy and dietotherapy
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B
acopa monnieri (Scrophulariaceae) is a small creeping plant that grows naturally in India and tropical areas. (Figure 1) It likes moist and wet soil, shallow water and swamps, and is easy to grow if it has a sufficient amount of water available. It is traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of various disorders of the nervous system such as epilepsy and anxiety, and as a learning sup port for the development of memory and concentra tion. It is also used for digestive problems, skin dis eases, and as an antipyretic and analgesic.1,2 Bacopa has been at the center of research precisely becau se of its effect on cognitive functions such as memo ry, focus and concentration. Numerous researches in the last thirty years have enabled a better under standing of the effects of this plant and the popula rization of its application in the cognitive health segment. The pharmacological action of bacopa is attribut ed to alkaloids, saponins and sterols. The main sapo nins are identified as bacoside A and bacoside B, al kaloids brahmin and herpestin, and sterols stigma sterol and beta-sitosterol. Numerous other ingredients
have also been identified, including betulinic acid and numerous bacosaponins. 3-7 As already mentioned, the focus of research is the effect of bacopa on brain functions. Some of the mo re interesting ones are highlighted below. (Table 1)
Anxiolytic and antidepressant effect
Research conducted on rats showed that bacopa extract containing 25% bacoside A showed anxioly tic activity comparable to lorazepam. An additional po sitive effect is manifested in the fact that the baco pa extract did not cause amnesia like lorazepam, but, on the contrary, showed an effect on improving me mory.8 The antidepressant potential of bacopa extract tes ted in an animal study showed that a dose range of 20-40 mg/kg once a day for 5 days has an effect com parable to the standard antidepressant drug imipra mine.