Synonym: Jalbrahmi

Biological source: It consists of the fresh leaves and the stems of the plant known as Bacopa moniera

Family : Scrophulariaceae.

Geographical source: It is found to be in India.

Macroscopic characters:

Colour: Green

Taste: Bitter

Size: About 2 cm

Shape: The leaves are

• • • • • Fleshy obovate,

        • Entire margin,

        • With broad apex, sessile and their lower surface is dotted.

• Flowers are

  • • • • Solitary, stalked, corolla bluish white colour and about 1 cm in size.

        • One of the 5 sepals is larger than the others.

        • Flowers arise in the axes of the leaves.

• Capsules are ovoid seeds are minute and numerous.

Chemical constituents:

Brahmi is found to contain the alkaloids

• • • • Brahmine,

      • Herpestine and the mixture of 3 other alkaloids.

• It contains saponins, namely

  • • • Bacosides A and B.

• Additionally it also contains

  • • • Betulic acid, stigmasterol, and hersaponin.

• Bacosides A and B on acid hydrolysis yield triterpenoid aglycone bacogenins A and B respectively

Uses:

• It is used as nervine tonic,

• In the treatment of asthma, epilepsy and insanity.

• It is aperients and also diuretic.

• The alcoholic extract of the entire plant is found to have anti-cancer activity.

• It has been reported that bacosides A and B enhance protein kinase activity and new protein synthesis especially in those parte of cerebrum associated with long term memory and consequently enhancement of recall levels, learning and treatment of dementia.

References:

1. Trease D. & Evans W.C.: Text Book of Pharmacognosy: W.B. Saunders.

2. Tyler V. E. Brady L. R. & Robbers J. E.: Pharmacognosy; Lea Feibger, USA.

3. Wallis T. E.; Text Book of Pharmacognosy; CBS Publishers, Delhi.

4. Kokate C. K., Purohit A. P. & Gokhale S. B.: Pharmacognosy; Nirali Publications, Pune.

5. Harbone J. B.: Phytochemical Methods: A guide to modern techniques Analysis: Chapman & Hall, London.

6. Bruneton J.: Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants: Intercept Limited.