Neuro Botanicals

Question 1

MOA and Energetics of Bacopa moniera

Answer 1

Bacopa moniera - Brahmi

MOA: ACHE inhibition, choline acetyltransferase activation, b-amyloid reduction, increases cerebral blood flow and monoamine production – enhances cognition and memory - trophorestorative of CNS, decreases forgetting, not increasing ability to memorize

Energetics: cooling

Question 2

CIs and Dist Char of Bacopa moniera

Answer 2

Contraindications: large doses may upset GI

Distinguishing characteristics: prevents lipid peroxidation, increases SOD, GPx, GSR, restores zinc and selenium levels in nervous tissue

Question 3

Centella asiatica

Answer 3

Centella asiatica – Gotu Kola

MOA: nutritive, vulnerary, nervine, neuroprotective, circulatory tonic, alterative, dec. scarring, hepatoprotective; anxiolytic

Energetics: cooling

Question 4

Centella asiatica

Answer 4

Contraindications: none

Distinguishing characteristics: venous insufficiency herb, Asiatic acid protects neurons from oxidative damage, good against Parkinson’s disease, promotes neurite elongation, enhances mitochondrial biogenesis, inhibits acetylcholinesterase (ACHE)

Question 5

Ginkgo biloba

Answer 5

MOA: increases blood flow in smaller capillaries (brain and kidney), antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic, benefits cognition; modulation of Ach; effects of microcirc (inc oxygenation)

Energetics: moving

Question 6

Ginkgo biloba

Answer 6

Contraindications: pregnancy, hemophilia, blood thinning medications

Distinguishing characteristics: modulates glutamate neurotransmission, reduces b-amyloid aggregation, improves anxiety and depression, helps with recovery from ischemic stroke

Question 7

Petasites hybridis

Answer 7

Petasites hybridis - Butterbur

MOA: smooth muscle antispasmodic, anti-allergy; migraine prophylaxis, stabilizing mast cells

Contraindications: PA-free preparation is important when using long-term

Distinguishing characteristics: anti-histamine effects, migraine treatment

Question 8

Tenacetum parthenium

Answer 8

Tenacetum parthenium – Feverfew

MOA: reduces secretion of inflammatory mediators, inhibits PG synthesis, vascular stabilizer, prevents dilation and contraction, inhibits histamine release; for migraines – inhibits CGRP release within the trigeminovascular system; *migraine tx

Energetics: drying and warming

Question 9

Tenacetum parthenium

Answer 9

Contraindications: none

Distinguishing characteristics: inhibits 5-lipooxygenase and cyclo-oxygenase, used for HA and migraines

Question 10

Huperzia serrata

Answer 10

Huperzia serrata – Firmoss (Huperzine A)

MOA: reversible ACHE inhibitor

Distinguishing characteristics: long duration of action, better penetration of the BBB, higher oral availability, fewer ARE; Alzheimer’s and dementia

**mcg doses (low dose herb 50 – 200 mcg); cognitive decline; tends to be well tolerated, some jitters

Question 11

Vinca minor

Answer 11

Vinca minor – Vinpocetine constituent

MOA: vasodilation and nootropic

Distinguishing characteristics: acoustic trauma related to tinnitus and for Menier’s disease; used for cognitive fxn, semi-synthetic

Question 12

Mucuna pruriens

Answer 12

Mucuna pruriens

MOA: aphrodisiac, calms nerves, neuroprotective (contains L-DOPA)

Energetics: heating

Distinguishing characteristics: Parkinson’s disease

Question 13

Capsicum annuum

Answer 13

anti inflamm, circulatory stimulant, studied in neuro for antiinflamm activity