Bacopa monniera Hayata & Matsum. Bramia monnieri (L.) Pennell Gratiola monnieria L. Herpestes monnieria (L.) Kunth Herpestis fauriei H.Lev. Herpestis monniera Herpestris monnieria Lysimachia monnieri L. Moniera cuneifolia Michx.
Bacopa monnieri is a
perennial, creeping
herb native to the wetlands of southern and Eastern India, Australia, Europe, Africa, Asia, and North and South America.[2] It is known by the common names water hyssop,[1]waterhyssop, brahmi,[2]thyme-leafed gratiola, herb of grace,[2] and Indian pennywort.[2]Bacopa monnieri is used in
Ayurveda. In 2019, the US
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned manufacturers of
dietary supplement products containing Bacopa monnieri against making illegal and unproven claims that the herb can treat various diseases.[3][4][5]
Description
Bacopa monnieri is a non-aromatic herb. The
leaves of this plant are succulent, oblong, and 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) thick. Leaves are
oblanceolate and are arranged oppositely on the stem. The
flowers are small,
actinomorphic and white, with four to five petals. It can even grow in slightly
brackish conditions. Propagation is often achieved through cuttings.[6]
It used to be found growing wild in freshwater swamps of
Singapore and nearby regions known as beremi.[8]
Research and regulation
Bacopa monnieri is used in
Ayurvedic traditional medicine in the belief it may improve memory and various other ailments.[9]Systematic reviews of preliminary research found that Bacopa monnieri may
improve cognition, specifically memory and learning,[9][10] although the effect was measurable only after several weeks of use.[11]
^
abWilliam A Correll, Jr. (5 February 2019).
"FDA Warning Letter: Peak Nootropics LLC aka Advanced Nootropics". Office of Compliance, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Inspections, Compliance, Enforcement, and Criminal Investigations, US Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
^
abWilliam A Correll, Jr. (5 February 2019).
"FDA Warning Letter: TEK Naturals". Office of Compliance, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Inspections, Compliance, Enforcement, and Criminal Investigations, US Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
^Oudhia, Pankaj (2004).
"Bramhi (Bacopa monnieri)". Society for Parthenium Management (SOPAM). Retrieved July 30, 2017.
^Chatterji, N; Rastogi, RP; Dhar, ML (1965). "Chemical examination of Bacopa monniera Wettst: Part II—Isolation of chemical constituents". Ind J Chem. 3: 24–29.