Bacopa monnieri, also known as brahmi in Sanskrit and brain tonic in English, is a commonly used Ayurvedic herb. A new scientific review states that the Indian Ayurvedic herb Bacopa monnieri has been shown to help prevent Alzheimer's disease (AD). The review, published in the journal Science Drug Target Insights, was conducted by a team of Malaysian researchers from Taylor University in the United States and evaluated the health effects of bacosides, a bioactive component of the plant.
Citing two studies conducted in 2011, the researchers stated that bacosides may protect the brain from oxidative damage and age-related cognitive decline through multiple mechanisms. As a non-polar glycoside, bacosides can cross the blood-brain barrier through simple lipid-mediated passive diffusion. Based on previous studies, the researchers said that bacosides may also improve cognitive function due to its free radical scavenging properties.
Other health benefits of bacosides include protecting neurons from Aβ-induced toxicity, a peptide that plays a key role in the pathogenesis of AD because it can assemble into insoluble amyloid fibrils. This review reveals the effective applications of Bacopa monnieri in cognitive and neuroprotective applications, and its phytoconstituents can be used for the development of new drugs.Many traditional plants contain complex mixtures of compounds with diverse pharmacological and biological activities, especially Bacopa monnieri, which are used as traditional medicines and in the development of anti-aging products.
● Six Benefits Of Bacopa Monnieri
1.Enhances Memory and Cognition
Bacopa has many alluring benefits, but it’s probably best known for its ability to improve memory and cognition. The primary mechanism by which Bacopa enhances memory and cognition is through improved synaptic communication. Specifically, the herb promotes the growth and proliferation of dendrites, which enhances nerve signaling.
Note: Dendrites are branch-like nerve cell extensions that receive incoming signals, so strengthening these “wires” of nervous system communication ultimately enhances cognitive function.
Studies have found that Bacoside-A stimulates nerve cells, making synapses more receptive to incoming nerve impulses. Bacopa has also been shown to enhance memory and cognition by stimulating hippocampal activity by increasing protein kinase activity in the body, which modulates various cellular pathways.
Since the hippocampus is critical to nearly all cognitive activities, researchers believe this is one of the primary ways that Bacopa enhances brainpower.
Other studies have shown that daily supplementation with Bacopa monnieri (at doses of 300-640 mg per day) can improve:
Working memory
Spatial memory
Unconscious memory
Attention
Learning rate
Memory consolidation
Delayed recall task
Word recall
Visual memory
2.Reduces Stress and Anxiety
Whether it’s financial, social, physical, mental, or emotional, stress is a top issue in many people’s lives. Now more than ever, people are looking to escape by any means necessary, including drugs and alcohol. However, substances like drugs and alcohol can have adverse effects on a person’s mental and physical health.
You may be interested to know that Bacopa has a long history of use as a nervous system tonic to relieve feelings of anxiety, worry, and stress.This is due to Bacopa’s adaptogenic properties, which enhance our body’s ability to cope with, interact with, and recover from stress (mental, physical, and emotional). Bacopa exerts these adaptive characteristics in part due to its regulation of neurotransmitters, but this ancient herb also affects cortisol levels.
As you may know, cortisol is the body’s primary stress hormone. Chronic stress and elevated cortisol levels can damage your brain.In fact, neuroscientists have found that chronic stress can cause long-term changes in brain structure and function, leading to the overexpression of certain proteins that damage neurons.
Chronic stress also leads to oxidative damage to neurons, which can have a variety of negative consequences, including:
Memory loss
Neuron cell death
Impaired decision-making
Atrophy of brain mass.
Bacopa monnieri has powerful stress-relieving, neuroprotective properties. Human studies have documented the adaptogenic effects of Bacopa monnieri, including reducing cortisol. Lower cortisol leads to reduced feelings of stress, which can not only improve mood, but also increase focus and productivity. Furthermore, because Bacopa monnieri regulates dopamine and serotonin, it can attenuate stress-induced changes in dopamine and serotonin in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, further emphasizing the adaptogenic qualities of this herb.
Bacopa monnieri also increases the production of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH2), an enzyme that is essential for a variety of central nervous system activities, including serotonin synthesis. Most importantly, bacoside-A, one of the main active ingredients in Bacopa monnieri, has been shown to boost GABA activity. GABA is a calming, inhibitory neurotransmitter. Bacopa monnieri can upregulate GABA activity and decrease glutamate activity, which may help reduce feelings of anxiety by reducing the activation of neurons that may be overstimulated.The end result is reduced feelings of stress and anxiety, improved cognitive function, and more of a “feel-good” vibe.
Post time: Oct-08-2024
