Vol. 10, Issue 5 (2021)

Author(s):
PS Geetha, S Kanchana, E Pasupathi, M Murugan and C Rohini

Abstract:
Bacopa monnieri (BM) has been used by ayurvedic medical practitioners for centuries for a variety of purposes, including improving memory, reducing anxiety and treating epilepsy Bacopa monnieri (L) Penn. (Family: Scrophulariaceae) commonly known in both India and Bangladesh as ‘Brahmi’ is an ancient and renowned medicinal plant with legendary reputation as a memory vitalizer (Brimson et al., 2021) in the traditional system of medicine (Ayurveda). Brahmi is classified as medhya rasayana, a drug that is supposed to counteract the effect of mental stress and improved the intelligence and memory function. Brahmi have an effect on various neurodegenerative diseases as they modulate signaling pathways (Maity, 2019). Brahmi is found to be effective in the case of anxiety and neurosis. Numerous studies suggested that B. monnieri’s bioactive components (i.e. bacosides) protect the brain against oxidative damage and age related cognitive deterioration with several mechanisms of action (Manap, 2019). It possesses anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-pyretic activity. It is also used to treat asthma, insanity epilepsy, enlargement of spleen, snakebite, rheumatism, leprosy, eczema, ring worm and as a diuretic and cardio tonic. Present review will amalgamate molecular neuroscience with behavioral research and also to examine the prominent effects of standardized extract of Bacopa monnieri on the action of the central nervous system.