Bacopa Monnieiri

Question 1

What does ‘“perennial’ mean?

Answer 1

A plant that lives for more than 2 years

Question 2

Where is it native to?

Answer 2

native to the wetlands of southern and Eastern India, Australia, Europe, Africa, Asia, and North and South America

Question 3

What type of herb is it?

Answer 3

A creeping herb

Question 4

Which practice uses bacopa?

Answer 4

Ayurveda medicine

Question 5

What is a. medicine?

Answer 5

An ancient indian medicine that is classes by the government as an alternative medicine. Uses herbal remedies with little scientific evidence.

Question 6

What is it’s alternative name in Ayurveda medicine?

Answer 6

Brahmi (after the God)

Question 7

Is it an aromatic herb?

Answer 7

No

Question 8

Desrcibe its appearance?

Answer 8

oblong and 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) thick. Leaves are oblanceolate and are arranged oppositely (opposite deccusate) on the stem. The flowers are small, actinomorphic and white, with four to five petals. Its ability to grow in water makes it a popular aquarium plant. It can even grow in slightly brackish conditions

Question 9

How can the plant be grown?

Answer 9

Hydroponically (using mineral nutrient solutions instead of water to grow plants)

Question 10

What is its traditional usage in Ayurveda medicine?

Answer 10

used in traditional Ayurvedic treatment for epilepsy and asthma.[4] It is also used in Ayurveda for ulcers, tumors, ascites, enlarged spleen, inflammations, leprosy, anemia, and gastroenteritis

Question 11

Describe its ancient roots briefly

Answer 11

Bacopa monnieri was initially described around the 6th century A.D. in texts such as the Charaka Samhita, Atharva-Veda, and Susrut Samhita as a medhya rasayana–class herb taken to sharpen intellect and attenuate mental deficits. The herb was allegedly used by ancient Vedic scholars to memorize lengthy sacred hymns and scriptures.

Question 12

What is its best known active compound?

Answer 12

Bacosides

Question 13

What is the chemical name for b——-s?

Answer 13

dammarane-type triterpenoid saponins

Question 14

Name 5 out of the 12 analogs of bacosides known currently

Answer 14

Other saponins called bacopasides I–XII have been identified more recently.[10] The alkaloids brahmine, nicotine, and herpestine have been catalogued, along with D-mannitol, apigenin, hersaponin, monnierasides I–III, cucurbitacin and plantainoside B.

Question 15

Go through the most studied constituent bacoside

Answer 15

The constituent most studied has been bacoside A, which was found to be a blend of bacoside A3, bacopacide II, bacopasaponin C, and a jujubogenin isomer of bacosaponin C

Question 16

What did Rastogi et al find to be the bacoside profile of one Bacopa sample?

Answer 16

In one Bacopa monnieri sample, Rastogi et al. found this bacoside profile—bacopaside I (5.37%), bacoside A3 (5.59%), bacopaside II (6.9%), bacopasaponin C isomer (7.08%), and bacopasaponin C (4.18%)

Question 17

What special in vitro and microscopic effects has Bacopa been shown to have?

Answer 17

In vitro antioxidant and cell-protective effects

Question 18

What has Bacopa been shown to do in animals?

Answer 18

In animals, it also inhibits acetylcholinesterase, activates choline acetyltransferase, and increases cerebral blood flow

Question 19

What have several small studies and clinical trials shown?

Answer 19

Several studies have suggested that Bacopa monnieri extracts may have protective effects in animal models of neurodegeneration.[18] Small clinical trials in humans have found promising evidence for memory recall but research for other cognitive domains remains in its infancy

Question 20

What toxicological effects has Bacopa been shown to induce?

Answer 20

Several studies have suggested that Bacopa monnieri extracts may have protective effects in animal models of neurodegeneration.[18] Small clinical trials in humans have found promising evidence for memory recall but research for other cognitive domains remains in its infancy

Question 21

In humans, what side effects have been discovered?

Answer 21

Nausea, increased intestinal motility, and gastrointestinal upset