| Bacopa monnieri | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Plantaginaceae |
| Genus: | Bacopa |
| Species: | B. monnieri |
| Binomial name | |
| Bacopa monnieri | |
| Synonyms | |
Bacopa monnieraHayata & Matsum. | |
Bacopa monnieri, also known aswater hyssop,[1]brahmi,[2]thyme-leafed gratiola,herb of grace,[2] andIndian pennywort, is aperennial, creepingherb native towetland areas globally.[2]
It is used inAyurveda. In 2019, the USFood and Drug Administration (FDA) warned manufacturers ofdietary supplement products containingBacopa monnieri against making illegal and unproven claims that the herb can treat various diseases.[3][4][5] There is inconclusive evidence of it improving cognitive performance andmemory, and its safety and effectiveness remain uncertain.[6]
Bacopa monnieri is a non-aromatic herb. Theleaves of this plant are succulent, oblong, and 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) thick. Leaves areoblanceolate and are arranged oppositely on the stem. Theflowers are small,actinomorphic and white, with four to five petals. It can even grow in slightlybrackish conditions. Propagation is often achieved through cuttings.[7]
Bacopa monnieri is one of the most widespreadBacopa species. It commonly grows inmarshy areas throughoutIndia,Nepal,Sri Lanka,China,Pakistan,Taiwan,Vietnam, tropical and southernAfrica, onMadagascar, inAustralia, in theCaribbean as well as in Middle and South America.[2] It is also found inFlorida,Louisiana,Texas, andHawaii.[1][8]
It used to be found growing wild in freshwater swamps ofSingapore and nearby regions known asberemi.[9]
Bacopa monnieri is used inAyurvedic traditional medicine in the belief it may improve memory and various ailments.[10] There is no good evidence that it improves cognitive performance and memory, while its safety and effectiveness remain uncertain.[6]
In 2019, the FDA issuedwarning letters to manufacturers ofdietary supplements containingB. monnieri that advertisedhealth claims for treating or preventing stomach disease,Alzheimer's disease,hypoglycemia,blood pressure, andanxiety were unproven and illegal.[4][5] The FDA stated that noB. monnieri products have beenapproved for medical purposes.[3]
The most commonly reportedadverse effects ofB. monnieri in humans arenausea, increasedintestinal motility, andgastrointestinal upset.[10]
The best characterizedphytochemicals inBacopa monnieri aredammarane-typetriterpenoidsaponins known asbacosides, with jujubogenin or pseudo-jujubogeninmoieties asaglycone units.[11] Bacosides comprise a family of 12 knownanalogs.[12] Other saponins calledbacopasides I–XII were identified.[13] Thealkaloids brahmine,nicotine, and herpestine have been catalogued, along withD-mannitol,apigenin, hersaponin, monnierasides I–III,cucurbitacin and plantainoside B.[14][15][16]
