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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Estimation of twelve bacopa saponins in Bacopa monnieri extracts and formulations by high-performance liquid chromatography.

A simple and sensitive reversed phase high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of twelve bacopa saponins present in the extracts of the Indian Medicinal Plant, Bacopa monnieri. The separation was achieved on a reversed phase C(18) column (Luna C(18)), 5 microm by isocratic elution with 0.05 M sodium sulphate buffer (pH 2.3) and acetonitrile (68.5 : 31.5, v/v) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min with an operating temperature of 30 degrees C. The method was validated for linearity, precision, intra- and inter-day precision and accuracy. Several Bacopa samples (plant materials, extracts and commercial formulations) were successfully analyzed. Major bacopasaponins were bacosides A(3) (3), bacopaside II (4), bacopaside I (5), bacopaside X (6), bacopasaponin C (7), bacopaside N2 (9) and the minor components were bacopasaponin F (1), bacopasaponin E (2), bacopaside N1 (8) bacopaside III (10), bacopaside IV (11) and bacopaside V (12). The total saponin content in the samples, plant materials and extracts varied from 5.1 to 22.17% and 1.47 to 66.03 mg/capsule or tablet in the commercial formulations.

Bacopa↗

PubMed2006

Bacopa monniera prevents from aluminium neurotoxicity in the cerebral cortex of rat brain.

Bacopa monniera is a perennial herb, and is used as a nerve tonic in äyurveda, a traditional medicinal system in India. Aluminium-induced neurotoxicity is well known and different salts of aluminium have been reported to accelerate oxidative damage to biomolecules like lipids, proteins and nucleic acids. The objective of the present study was to investigate whether Bacopa monniera could potentially inhibit aluminium toxicity in the cerebral cortex. Male Wister rats (8 months old) were administered with AlCl(3) orally at a dose of 50mg/kg/day in drinking water for 1 month. Experimental rats were given AlCl(3) along with Bacopa monniera extract at a dose of 40 mg/kg/day. One group of rats was treated with l-deprenyl at a dose of 1mg/kg/day along with AlCl(3) treatment. We have observed that Bacopa monniera prevented accumulation of lipid and protein damage significantly, which resulted from aluminium intake. Decline in the activity of endogenous antioxidant enzymes associated with aluminium administration was also inhibited by Bacopa monniera extract. The potential of Bacopa monniera to inhibit Al-induced oxidative stress was observed to be similar to that of l-deprenyl, which was taken as standard. The potential of Bacopa monniera extract to prevent aluminium neurotoxicity was reflected at the microscopic level as well, indicative of its neuroprotective effects. These findings strongly implicate that Bacopa monniera has potential to protect brain from oxidative damage resulting from aluminium toxicity.

Aldehydes↗

PubMed2006

Neuroprotective role of Bacopa monniera extract against aluminium-induced oxidative stress in the hippocampus of rat brain.

Bacopa monniera is a nerve tonic used extensively in traditional Indian medicinal system "Ayurveda". Reports regarding its various antioxidative, adaptogenic and memory enhancing roles have already appeared in the last few decades. In the present study, aluminium chloride (AlCl(3)) was used to generate neurotoxicity. We have investigated the neuroprotective effect of Bacopa extract against aluminium-induced changes in peroxidative products, such as thio-barbituric acid-reactive substance (TBA-RS) and protein carbonyl contents and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Effect on lipofuscin (age pigments) accumulation and ultrastructural changes were also studied. Bacopa effects were compared with those of l-deprenyl. Co-administration of Bacopa extract during aluminium treatment significantly prevented the aluminium-induced decrease in SOD activity as well as the increased oxidative damage to lipids and proteins. Protective effect was also observed at microscopic level. Fluorescence and electron microscopic studies revealed considerable inhibition of intraneuronal lipofuscin accumulation and necrotic alteration in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. Observations showed that Bacopa's neuroprotective effects were comparable to those of l-deprenyl at both biochemical and microscopic levels.

Aluminum Chloride↗

PubMed2004

Effects of a combined extract of Ginkgo biloba and Bacopa monniera on cognitive function in healthy humans.

Extracts of Ginkgo biloba and Bacopa monniera have been shown to produce positive effects on cognitive function in healthy subjects. While the exact mechanisms are not known, it has been suggested that antioxidant properties and cholinergic modulation may play a role. In the current study the sub-chronic (2 weeks) and chronic (4 weeks) effects of an extract containing Ginkgo biloba (120 mg) and Bacopa monniera (300 mg) (Blackmores Ginkgo Brahmi) on cognitive function were examined. The study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, independent group design in which 85 healthy subjects were allocated to one of two treatment conditions (placebo or combined Ginkgo biloba and Bacopa monniera extract). Testing was conducted at baseline and 2 and 4 weeks post treatment. The results showed that the combined extract relative to placebo did not demonstrate any significant effects on tests investigating a range of cognitive processes including attention, short-term and working memory, verbal learning, memory consolidation, executive processes, planning and problem solving, information processing speed, motor responsiveness and decision making. These findings suggest that at least within the current treatment duration and doses, an extract containing Ginkgo biloba and Bacopa monniera had no cognitive enhancing effects in healthy subjects.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

The acute effects of an extract of Bacopa monniera (Brahmi) on cognitive function in healthy normal subjects.

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. The study was a double-blind, placebo-controlled independent group design in which subjects were randomly allocated to one of two treatment conditions, Bacopa monniera (300 mg) (n = 18) or placebo (n = 20). Neuropsychological testing was conducted before and 2 h 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. Copyright 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2001

Protective role of Bacopa monniera on morphine induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

The protective effect of Bacopa monniera on morphine induced liver antioxidant levels was studied in rats. Oral administration of alcohol extracts of Bacopa monniera induced a significant hepatoprotective effect. In the morphine treated group, a significant increase of lipid peroxidation and a significant decrease in liver antioxidant enzyme levels were observed. Simultaneous administration of morphine and Bacopa extract prevented these alterations. The results of this study showed that Bacopa monniera alcohol extract exerted a hepatoprotective effect against morphine induced liver toxicity.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Phytochelatin synthesis and response of antioxidants during cadmium stress in Bacopa monnieri L.

The phytotoxicity imposed by cadmium (Cd) and its detoxifying responses of Bacopa monnieri L. have been investigated. Effect on biomass, photosynthetic pigments and protein level were evaluated as gross effect, while lipid peroxidation and electrolyte leakage reflected oxidative stress. Induction of phytochelatins and enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants were monitored as plants primary and secondary metal detoxifying responses, respectively. Plants accumulated substantial amount of Cd in different plant parts (root, stem and leaf), the maximum being in roots (9240.11 microg g(-1) dw after 7 d at 100 microM). Cadmium induced oxidative stress, which was indicated by increase in lipid peroxidation and electrical conductivity with increase in metal concentration and exposure duration. Photosynthetic pigments showed progressive decline while protein showed slight increase at lower concentrations. Enzymes viz., superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX, EC 1.11.1.7) ascorbate peroxidase (APX, EC 1.11.1.11) and glutathione reductase (GR, EC 1.6.4.2) showed stimulation except catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6) which showed declining trend. Initially, an enhanced level of cysteine, glutathione and non-protein thiols was observed, which depleted with increase in exposure concentration and duration. Phytochelatins induced significantly at 10 microM Cd in roots and at 50 microM Cd in leaves. The phytochelatins decreased in roots at 50 microM Cd, which may be correlated with reduced level of GSH, probably due to reduced GR activity, which exerted increased oxidative stress as also evident by the phenotypic changes in the plant like browning of roots and slight yellowing of leaves. Thus, besides synthesis of phytochelatins, availability of GSH and concerted activity of GR seem to play a central role for Bacopa plants to combat oxidative stress caused by metal and to detoxify it. Plants ability to accumulate and tolerate high amount of Cd through enhanced level of PCs and various antioxidants suggest it to be a suitable candidate for phytoremediation.

Antioxidants↗

PubMed2002

Antidepressant activity of standardized extract of Bacopa monniera in experimental models of depression in rats.

Bacopa monniera Wettst. (syn. Herpestis monniera L.; Scrophulariaceae) is a commonly used Ayurvedic drug for mental disorders. The standardized 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 - 38.0+/-0.9) was investigated for potential antidepressant activity in rodent models of depression. The effect was compared with the standard antidepressant drug imipramine (15 mg/kg, ip). The 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.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed2003

In vitro evaluation of Bacopa monniera on anti-Helicobacter pylori activity and accumulation of prostaglandins.

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 (BME) 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 BME (bacoside A content--35.5 +/- 0.9) on other contributing factors towards ulcerogenesis. BME in the dose of 1000 microg/ml showed anti-Helicobacter pylori activity in vitrol and in the dose of 10 microg/ml 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 BME.

Anti-Infective Agents↗

PubMed2006

Bacopa monniera extract reduces amyloid levels in PSAPP mice.

PSAPP mice expressing the "Swedish" amyloid precursor protein and M146L presenilin-1 mutations are a well-characterized model for spontaneous amyloid plaque formation. Bacopa monniera has a long history of use in India as an anti-aging and memory-enhancing ethnobotanical therapy. To evaluate the effect of Bacopa monniera extract (BME) on amyloid (Abeta) pathology in PSAPP mice, two doses of BME (40 or 160 mg/kg/day) were administered starting at 2 months of age for either 2 or 8 months. Our present data suggests that BME lowers Abeta 1-40 and 1-42 levels in cortex by as much as 60%, and reverses Y-maze performance and open field hyperlocomotion behavioral changes present in PSAPP mice. The areas encompassed by Congo Red-positive fibrillar amyloid deposits, however, were not altered by BME treatment. The data suggest that BME has potential application in Alzheimer's disease therapeutics.

Amyloid↗

PubMed2000

Antioxidant activity of Bacopa monniera in rat frontal cortex, striatum and hippocampus.

The effect of a standardized extract of Bacopa monniera Linn. was assessed on rat brain frontal cortical, striatal and hippocampal superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities, following administration for 7, 14 or 21 days. The effects induced by this extract (bacoside A content 82% +/- 0.5%), administered in doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg, orally, were compared with the effects induced by (-) deprenyl (2 mg/kg, p. o.) administered for the same time periods. Bacopa monniera (BM) induced a dose-related increase in SOD, CAT and GPX activities, in all the brain regions investigated, after 14 and 21 days of drug administration. On the contrary, deprenyl induced an increase in SOD, CAT and GPX activities in the frontal cortex and striatum, but not in the hippocampus, after treatment for 14 or 21 days. The results suggest that BM, like deprenyl, exhibits a significant antioxidant effect after subchronic administration which, unlike the latter, extends to the hippocampus as well. The results suggest that the increase in oxidative free radical scavenging activity by BM may explain, at least in part, the cognition- facilitating action of BM, recorded in Ayurvedic texts, and demonstrated experimentally and clinically.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Brine shrimp lethality assay of Bacopa monnieri.

Successive petroleum ether, chloroform, ethanol and water extracts, a saponin rich fraction (SRF) and bacoside A isolated from Bacopa monnieri were tested for brine shrimp lethality. Successive ethanol extracts and SRF showed potent activity. Bacoside A showed the maximum activity with a LC(50) of 38.3 microg/mL. The results confirmed the previous reports of an anticancer effect of Bacopa monnieri and suggest bacoside A as the active constituent.

Animals↗

PubMed1982

Effect of Bacopa monniera Linn. (brahmi) extract on avoidance responses in rat.

Brahmi (Bacopa monniera Linn.) is a reputed nerve tonic in Ayurvedic literature. Hence its effects on the learning performance of rats have been studied in different conditioning schedules by administering an aqueous suspension of an alcoholic extract (40 mg/kg, p.o.) for three or more days. The first schedule induced a labile behaviour using a shock-motivated brightness-discrimination reaction. The brahmi-treated group showed better acquisition, improved retention and delayed extinction (p is less than 0.01-0.05). Similarly, in an active conditioned flight reaction, the drug-treated animals showed a shorter reaction time than the controls (p less than 0.01). Also in the continuous avoidance response the drug-treated group performed better than the controls (p less than 0.01-0.05). Our findings are in conformity with the Ayurvedic claims and indicate that Bacopa monniera can improve the performance of rats in various learning situations.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Protective role of Bacopa monniera on morphine-induced brain mitochondrial enzyme activity in rats.

Alcoholic extract of Bacopa monniera was tested for its protective role on morphine-induced brain mitochondrial enzyme status in rats. The level of the brain mitochondrial enzymes was significantly lower in the morphine-treated group when compared with control animals. These enzymes were maintained at normal level when Bacopa extract was administered orally at a dose of 40 mg/kg, 2 h before the administration of morphine.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Evaluation of the alkaline Comet assay conducted with the wetlands plant Bacopa monnieri L. as a model for ecogenotoxicity assessment.

Wetlands play a key role in maintaining environmental quality, and wetlands plants could serve as model organisms for determining the genotoxic effects of pollutants contaminating these areas. In the present study, DNA damage was evaluated in a wetlands plant, Bacopa monnieri L., as a potential tool for the assessment of ecogenotoxicity. The Comet assay was used for detecting DNA damage in B. monnieri exposed to two model mutagens, ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) and methyl methanesulfonate (MMS). Significant (P < 0.05) dose-dependent increases in DNA damage were observed following treatments conducted by exposing both isolated nuclei (acellular or in vitro exposure) and whole plants (in vivo exposure) to 0.01-5 mM EMS and 0.05-100 microM MMS for 2 hr at (26 +/- 2) degrees C. The assay was then used to evaluate the genotoxic potential of cadmium (Cd), a wetlands contaminant. In vitro exposure of nuclei from untreated leaves to 0.001-200 microM Cd for 2 hr resulted in significant (P < 0.05) levels of DNA damage. Cd concentrations >or=0.01 microM induced DNA damage as evidenced by increases in the Olive tail moment. In vivo exposure of plants to 0.01-500 microM Cd for 2, 4, and 18 hr resulted in dose- and time-dependent increases in DNA damage in the nuclei isolated from roots and leaves. Cd-induced DNA damage was greater in roots than leaves. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the use of a wetlands plant for genotoxicity assessment, using the Comet assay.

Bacopa↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Quantitative determination of the major saponin mixture bacoside A in Bacopa monnieri by HPLC.

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. Concentration ranges of the analytes in samples of B. monnieri collected from different regions of India were 0.14-0.85% (w/w) (1), 0.12-0.69% (2), 0.05-0.72% (3) and 0.05-0.44% (4). The importance of using bacoside A, with known concentrations of 1-4, as a reference standard for the routine analysis of B. monnieri is highlighted. Two common flavonoids, luteolin and apigenin, were present in all samples of B. monnieri.

Bacopa↗

PubMed2002

Antistress effects of bacosides of Bacopa monnieri: modulation of Hsp70 expression, superoxide dismutase and cytochrome P450 activity in rat brain.

The antistress effect of bacosides of Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri, BBM), dissolved in distilled water, 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 BBM, stress was given 2 h after the last dose. Stress was also administered to the animals treated with distilled water alone. BBM, 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 BBM 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 BBM. 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 BBM although the magnitude of induction of P450 expression was less with a higher dose of BBM. Interestingly, stress when given to the animals pretreated with BBM 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 BBM followed by stress. However, when stress was given to the animals pretreated with the higher dose of BBM, 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 BBM, while a lesser degree of induction, compared with animals treated with BBM or stress alone, was observed in the animals pretreated with the lower dose of BBM and given stress. The data indicate that BBM 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.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed2003

Free radical scavenging capacity and protective effect of Bacopa monniera L. on DNA damage.

Bacopa monniera L. (family Scrophulariaceae) (BM) 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 BM and the effect on DNA cleavage induced by H2O2 UV-photolysis was investigated. In addition, we examined whether this plant extract is capable of reducing the hydrogen peroxide-induced cytotoxicity and DNA damage in human non-immortalized fibroblasts. It showed a dose-dependent free radical scavenging capacity and a protective effect on DNA cleavage. These results were confirmed by a significant protective effect on H2O2-induced cytoxicity and DNA damage in human non-immortalized fibroblasts. The antioxidant capacity of BM 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, this Ayurvedic drug may be useful in the treatment of human pathologies in which free radical production plays a key role.

Bacopa↗