Bacopa monnieri extract supplement for memory and mental enhancement by Ray Sahelian, M.D. Benefit and side effects, safety, dosage and interactions with other supplements

Bacopa monnieri plant is an Ayurvedic herb used in India for memory enhancement. Ayurvedic medicine has touted the cognitive enhancing effects of Bacopa monniera for centuries. Bacopa herb commonly grows in marshy areas throughout India. Studies show that bacopa herb has strong antioxidant properties, protects mental function in those with epilepsy who take the drug phenytion, while a study on rats showed bacopa administration improves learning skills.  I have seen Bacopa monnieri also spelled as bacopa monniera but I have been informed that bacopa monnieri is the correct spelling.
   It usually takes a few days to notice the mental enhancement from this herbal supplement. I prefer using it in smaller amounts in combination with other brain boosting nutrients.

What's in Bacopa herb?
Two saponins, designated as bacopaside I and II, are found in Bacopa monniera. Additional phytochemicals betulinic acid, wogonin and oroxindin have been isolated from the aerial parts of Bacopa monniera. Bacopa also has the flavonoids apigenin and luteolin.

Bacopa Extract supplement, 225 mg, 120 Tablets - Planetary Formulas
Bacopa has been revered for centuries in the Ayurvedic herbal tradition of India to enhance clear thinking and support memory function. Studies have shown that Bacopa supports learning and memory in humans. In animal models, Bacopa monnieri provides antioxidant protection for critical memory centers and helps to reduce the effects of stress on the brain. Traditional application suggests that Bacopa has a direct effect on improving brain functions, increasing concentration, and in promoting memory functions. Bacosides play a protective role in the synaptic functions of the nerves in the hippocampus, the seat of memory. Nerve impulses are transmitted across the synapses and their degeneration is believed to contribute to impaired memory and cognition.

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Bacopa Monnieri Supplement Facts
Amount Per two capsules
Calcium - 100 mg - 10%DV
Bacopa whole plant extract - 450 mg* (20% bacosides A+B)

* Bacopa monnieri daily value not established.

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Bacopa: Ayurvedic memory herb
Researchers at the Department of Psychology, University of Wollongong, in Australia, studied the effects of Bacopa 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 showed a significant effect of bacopa monniera on a test for the retention of new information. Follow-up tests showed that the rate of learning was unaffected, suggesting that bacopa decreases the rate of forgetting of newly acquired information.

Bacopa dosage
The usual dosage of bacopa herb is 100 mg to 300 mg of the extract once or twice daily. It appears that bacopa works better when taken a few days in a row rather than just once.

Additional benefits of bacopa extract
Bacopa moniera has antioxidant properties. One rodent study indicates bacopa to have some potential in helping protect the stomach from ulcer formation.

Bacopa side effects, safety
Long term side effects and safety are currently not fully known. As with most herbs, it's best to take breaks from use.

Potential use for Alzheimer's disease
Cognitive enhancement and neuroprotective effects of Bacopa monnieri in Alzheimer's disease model.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2009 Oct 4.  Uabundit N, Wattanathorn J, Mucimapura S, Ingkaninan K. Department of Physiology (Neuroscience Program) and Graduate School, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, 40002, Thailand.
To determine the effect of alcoholic extract of Bacopa monnieri on cognitive function and neurodegeneration in animal model of Alzheimer's disease induced by ethylcholine aziridinium ion. Male Wistar rats were orally given the alcoholic extract of Bacopa monnieri at doses of 20, 40 and 80mg/kg BW for a period of 2 weeks before and 1 week after the intracerebroventricular administration of ethylcholine azinridinium ion. Rats were tested for spatial memory using Morris water maze test and the density of neurons and cholinergic neurons was determined. Bacopa monnieri extract improved the escape latency time in Morris water maze test. Moreover, the reduction of neurons and cholinergic neuron densities were also mitigated. These findings suggest that Bacopa monnieri is a potential cognitive enhancer and neuroprotectant against Alzheimer's disease.

Neuroprotective effect of Bacopa monnieri on beta-amyloid-induced cell death in primary cortical culture.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2008 Oct 30; Limpeanchob N, Jaipan S, Rattanakaruna S, Phrompittayarat W, Ingkaninan K. Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok 65000, Thailand.
Bacopa monnieri (Brahmi) is extensively used in traditional Indian medicine as a nerve tonic and thought to improve memory. To examine the neuroprotective effects of Brahmi extract, we tested its protection against the beta-amyloid protein (25-35) and glutamate-induced neurotoxicity in primary cortical cultured neurons. From this study, the mode of action of neuroprotective effects of Brahmi appeared to be the results of its antioxidant to suppress neuronal oxidative stress and the acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities. Therefore, treating patients with Brahmi extract may be an alternative direction for ameliorating neurodegenerative disorders associated with the overwhelming oxidative stress as well as Alzheimer's disease.

Mechanism of action
Scopolamine Induced Amnesia is Reversed by Bacopa monniera Through Participation of Kinase-CREB Pathway.
Neurochem Res. 2009 Sep 16. Saraf MK, Anand A, Prabhakar S. Neuroscience Research Lab, Department of Neurology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Sector-12, Chandigarh, 160012, India.
Scopolamine, an anticholinergic drug, is reported to produce amnesia by interference of long term potentiation and has been used for discerning the efficacy of various antiamnesic drugs. The intoxication with anticholinergics and benzodiazepines tend to produce neurodegeneration which cause memory deficits. Our earlier reports have shown the antiamnesic drug, B. monniera to be capable of alleviating diazepam induced memory deficits. We have now tested how scopolamine affects downstream signaling molecules of long term potentiation and if Bacopa can also modulate the scopolamine induced amnesia. Scopolamine downregulated protein kinase C and iNOS without affecting cAMP, protein kinase A, calmodulin, MAP kinase, nitrite, CREB and pCREB. Bacopa herb reversed the scopolamine induced amnesia by significantly improving calmodulin and by partially attenuating protein kinase C and pCREB. These observations suggest involvement of calmodulin in evoking antiamnesic effects of Bacopa plant.

Upregulation of 5-HT2C receptors in hippocampus of pilocarpine-induced epileptic rats: antagonism by Bacopa monnieri.
Epilepsy Behav. 2009 Oct; Krishnakumar A, Nandhu MS, Paulose CS. Molecular Neurobiology and Cell Biology Unit, Centre for Neuroscience, Department of Biotechnology, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin 682022, Kerala, India.
Emotional disturbances, depressive mood, anxiety, aggressive behavior, and memory impairment are the common psychiatric features associated with temporal lobe epilepsy. The present study was carried out to investigate the role of Bacopa monnieri extract in hippocampus of pilocarpine-induced temporal lobe epileptic rats through the 5-HT(2C) receptor in relation to depression. Our results showed upregulation of 5-HT(2C) receptors with a decreased affinity in hippocampus of pilocarpine-induced epileptic rats. Also, there was an increase in 5-HT(2C) gene expression and inositol triphosphate content in epileptic hippocampus. Carbamazepine and B. monnieri treatments reversed the alterations in 5-HT(2C) receptor binding, gene expression, and inositol triphosphate content in treated epileptic rats as compared to untreated epileptic rats. The forced swim test confirmed the depressive behavior pattern during epilepsy that was nearly completely reversed by B. monnieri treatment.

Bacopa Human Research studies
Examining the nootropic effects of a special extract of Bacopa monniera on human cognitive functioning: 90 day double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial.
Phytother Res. 2008 Aug 6. Stough C, Downey LA, Lloyd J, Silber B, Redman S, Hutchison C, Wesnes K, Nathan PJ. Brain Sciences Institute, Swinburne University, P.O. Box 218 (H99), Hawthorn, Victoria 3122, Australia.
One hundred and seven healthy participants were recruited for this double-blind placebo-controlled independent group design investigation. Neuropsychological testing using the Cognitive Drug Research cognitive assessment system was conducted at baseline and after 90 days of treatment with a special extract of bacopa monniera (2 x 150 mg KeenMind) or placebo. The bacopa monniera product significantly improved performance on the 'Working Memory' factor, more specifically spatial working memory accuracy. The number of false-positives recorded in the Rapid visual information processing task was also reduced for the bacopa monniera group following the treatment period. The current study provides support for the two other published studies reporting cognitive enhancing effects in healthy humans after a 90 day administration of the bacopa monniera extract. KeenMind is a bacopa extract with 55 percent bacosides.

Chronic effects of Brahmi (Bacopa monniera) on human memory.
Neuropsychopharmacology. 2002 Aug;27(2):279-81.
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 Bacopa monniera on a test for the retention of new information. Follow-up tests showed that the rate of learning was unaffected, suggesting that Bacopa monniera 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.

The chronic effects of an extract of Bacopa monniera (Brahmi) on cognitive function in healthy human subjects.
Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2001 Aug;156(4):481-4
Extracts of Bacopa monniera have been reported to exert cognitive enhancing effects in animals. However, the effects on human cognition are inconclusive. The current study examined the chronic effects of an extract of bacopa on cognitive function in healthy human subjects. The study was a double-blind placebo-controlled independent-group design in which subjects were randomly allocated to one of two treatment conditions, bacopa (300 mg) or placebo. Neuropsychological testing was conducted pre-(baseline) and at 5 and 12 weeks post drug administration. The herb significantly improved speed of visual information processing measured by the IT task, learning rate and memory consolidation compared to placebo, with maximal effects evident after 12 weeks. These findings suggest that Bacopa monniera may improve higher order cognitive processes that are critically dependent on the input of information from our environment such as learning and memory.

The acute effects of an extract of Bacopa monniera (Brahmi) on cognitive function in healthy normal subjects.
Hum Psychopharmacol. 2001 Jun;16(4):345-351.
The Ayurvedic medicine Bacopa monniera (Brahmi) has been shown to exert cognitive enhancing effects in animals. The current study examined the acute effects of an extract of Bacopa monniera on cognitive function in normal healthy human subjects. Subjects were randomly allocated to one of two treatment conditions, Bacopa monniera (300 mg) or placebo. Neuropsychological testing was conducted before and 2 hours after drug administration. No significant changes were found on any of the tests. The findings suggest that Bacopa monniera, at least for the dose administered, has no acute effects on cognitive functioning in normal healthy subjects.

Animal Research studies
Adaptogenic effect of Bacopa monniera (Brahmi).
Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2003 Jul;75(4):823-30.
We report the investigations on the adaptogenic property of a standardized extract of Bacopa monniera against acute and chronic stress (CS) models in rats. Panax root powder (Panax quinquefolium) was taken as a standard. Male rats exposed to immobilization stress for 150 min once only for acute and for seven consecutive days in CS, were fed with Bacopa monniera or Panax root powder daily for 3 days in acute 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. Acute exposure significantly increased the ulcer index, adrenal gland weight, plasma glucose, liver enzymes, but significantly decreased the spleen weight. Pretreatment with Bacopa monniera po significantly reduced the acute state-induced increase in the ulcer index, adrenal gland weight, plasma glucose, AST, and CK. A Bacopa monniera dose of 80 mg/kg po significantly reversed the acute state-induced changes in adrenal gland weight, spleen weight, plasma glucose, ALT, and AST. Pretreatment with low dose of Bacopa 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 Bacopa monniera possesses a potent adaptogenic activity.

Effect of Bacopa monniera and Azadirachta indica on gastric ulceration and healing in experimental NIDDM rats.
Indian J Exp Biol. 2004 Apr;42(4):389-97.
Gastric ulcers were induced in normal /NIDDM rats by various physical and chemical agents and duodenal ulcer were induced by cysteamine. Ulcer healing activity was studied in gastric ulcers induced by acetic acid and HCI. The result indicated that in both, normal and NIDDM rats, Bacopa monniera extract did not show any significant effect on blood glucose level, while Azadirachta indica significantly decreased it. However, both Bacopa monniera extract and Azadirachta showed significant anti-ulcer and ulcer-healing activities in normal and NIDDM rats. Further, the present results also indicated that the ulcer protective effects of Bacopa monniera extract was more pronounced in non-diabetic, while that of Azadirachta was more in NIDDM rats. The anti-ulcer and ulcer-healing activities of Bacopa monniera extract and Azadirachta may be due to their effects on various mucosal offensive and defensive factors, and correction of blood sugar level by Azadirachta may help to have more ulcer protective effect in NIDDM rats.

Antidepressant activity of standardized extract of Bacopa monniera in experimental models of depression in rats.
Phytomedicine. 2002 Apr;9(3):207-11.
Bacopa monniera is a commonly used Ayurvedic drug for mental disorders. The standardized bacopa 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) was investigated for potential antidepressant activity in rodent models of depression. The effect was compared with the standard antidepressant drug imipramine. The bacopa monnieri 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.

Bacopa Laboratory Studies
Quantitative determination of the major saponin mixture bacoside A in Bacopa monnieri by HPLC.
Phytochem Anal. 2005 Jan-Feb;16(1):24-9.
Bacoside A, the putative bioactive component of the Indian medicinal plant Bacopa monnieri, was found to be a mixture of saponins with bacoside A3 (1), bacopaside II (2), jujubogenin isomer of bacopasaponin C (3) and bacopasaponin C (4) as major constituents. An HPLC method together with an optimised extraction procedure was developed for the estimation of 1-4 in B. monnieri to enable standardisation of the latter. Two common flavonoids, luteolin and apigenin, were present in all samples of Bacopa monnieri.

Phytotoxic and antimicrobial constituents of Bacopa monnieri and Holmskioldia sanguinea.
Phytother Res. 2004 Feb;18(2):114-7.
The phytochemicals betulinic acid, wogonin and oroxindin isolated from the aerial parts of Bacopa monnieri and Holmskioldia sanguinea showed significant antifungal activity against the two fungi Alternaria alternata and Fusarium fusiformis.

Free radical scavenging capacity and protective effect of Bacopa monniera on DNA damage.
Phytother Res. 2003 Sep;17(8):870-5.
Bacopa monniera 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 Bacopa monniera and the effect on DNA cleavage induced by H2O2 UV-photolysis was investigated. In addition, we examined whether Bacopa monniera extract is capable of reducing the hydrogen peroxide-induced cytotoxicity and DNA damage in human non-immortalized fibroblasts. Bacopa monniera showed a dose-dependent free radical scavenging capacity and a protective effect on DNA cleavage. The antioxidant capacity of Bacopa monniera 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, Bacopa monniera may be useful in the treatment of human pathologies in which free radical production plays a key role.

In vitro evaluation of Bacopa monniera on anti-Helicobacter pylori activity and accumulation of prostaglandins.
Phytomedicine. 2003;10(6-7):523-7.
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 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 Bacopa monniera on other contributing factors towards ulcerogenesis. Bacopa monniera showed anti-Helicobacter pylori activity in vitro and 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 Bacopa monniera.

Broncho-vasodilatory activity of fractions and pure constituents isolated from Bacopa monniera.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2003 May;86(1):27-35.
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. Overall bioassay-directed fractionation of Bacopa 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 Bacopa monniera 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. Thus, it may be concluded that various fractions derived from Bacopa monniera possess broncho-vasodilatory activity, which is attributed mainly to inhibition of calcium ions.

Bacopasides III-V: three new triterpenoid glycosides from Bacopa monniera.
Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo). 2003 Feb;51(2):215-7.
Three new saponins, designated as bacopasides III, IV and V have been isolated from Bacopa monniera

Antistress effects of bacosides of Bacopa monnieri
Phytother Res. 2002 Nov;16(7):639-45.
The antistress effect of bacosides of Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) was studied in adult male Sprague Dawley rats by administering oral doses of 20 and 40 mg/kg for 7 consecutive days. In half of the animals treated with 20 or 40 mg/kg of bacopa, stress was given 2 h after the last dose. Stress was also administered to the animals treated with distilled water alone. Bacopa, at both doses, did not induce a significant change in the expression of Hsp70 in any brain region studied while stress alone produced a significant increase in the Hsp70 expression in all the brain regions. A significant decrease in the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was evident in the hippocampus with the lower dose of Bacopa and in animals given stress alone, while an increase in the activity of SOD was observed in the brain regions with the higher dose of Bacopa. An increase in the activity of cytochrome P450 (P450) dependent 7-pentoxyresorufin-o-dealkylase (PROD) and 7-ethoxyresorufin-o-deethylase (EROD) was observed in all the brain regions after exposure to stress alone and with both doses of Bacopa although the magnitude of induction of P450 expression was less with a higher dose of the herb. Interestingly, stress when given to the animals pretreated with Bacopa for 7 days resulted in a decrease in Hsp70 expression in all the brain regions with a significant decrease occurring only in the hippocampus. Likewise the activity of SOD was found to be further reduced in all the brain regions in the animals treated with the lower dose of Bacopa followed by stress. However, when stress was given to the animals pretreated with the higher dose of Bacopa, a significant increase in the enzyme activity was observed in the cerebral cortex and in the rest of the brain while the activity of SOD was reduced to a much greater extent in the cerebellum and in the hippocampus. Likewise, the activity of P450 enzymes was found to be restored to almost control levels in the animals given stress and pretreated with the higher dose of Bacopa, while a lesser degree of induction, compared with animals treated with Bacopa or stress alone, was observed in the animals pretreated with the lower dose of Bacopa and given stress. The data indicate that Bacopa has potential to modulate the activities of Hsp70, P450 and SOD thereby possibly allowing the brain to be prepared to act under adverse conditions such as stress.

Bacopa extract supplement emails
Q. My daughter has Epilepsy and Landau Kleffner Syndrome which causes delays and wipes out speech. I started her on Bacopa monnieri and have noticed that she seems more alert and notices her surroundings more. I asked her 2 questions yesterday: 1. She picked up the frozen juice off the counter and I asked her to "Put it back!" and she turned around and put it back. 2. She was laying near our dog, She got up and started to walk away, I asked her "Where's Saedys nose?" She turned around, came back, and touched saedy's nose. This is not my daughter. My daughter is in her own world and Never understands questions the first time. It is amazing. I never knew that herbs such  as bacopa monnieri existed.

Q. Might you give me the correct dosage of bacopa? You suggest 100mg daily but the bottle of the BACOPA Extract suggests 2 tablets of 225mg twice daily.
     A. There is no right dosage of bacopa monniera that applies to everyone, each person is unique. In general use the lowest dosage that works.

Q. FYI: On your website, you wrote, "I have seen Bacopa monniera also spelled as Bacopa monnieri. I am not sure if the latter is an acceptable spelling variation." Actually, the latter is THE correct spelling, your former (B. monniera) is incorrect.
James G. Duquesnel, Biological Scientist II
Florida Division of Recreation & Parks,
Department of Environmental Protection
John D. Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park
     A. Thank you very much for your help, we made the change. It appears Bacopa monnieri is sometimes spelled as Bacopa monniera but the more accepted spelling is monnieri.

I am writing an article on bacopa monnieri and would love to know how it works to promote mental clarity and focus and the recommended dose.
    This herb works in many ways in the brain, including: Works as an antioxidant to suppress neuronal oxidative stress. Has some acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities. Influences calmodulin levels in the brain. Influences brain chemicals through modulating binding of neurotransmitters to nerve cells. The suggested dosage is about 100 to 300 mg of a 20 percent extract but there is a great deal of individual variation in required dosage.