Bacopa, memory booster, antioxidant property and detoxifying activity

Description :    It has been traditionally used for improving memory as well as for preventing neurological

Article Details    :

Bacopa is also known as water hyssop or brahmi or herb of grace or Indian pennywort. It is an important herb native to India (Eastern and southern), Africa, Australia, America and Asia. It has been traditionally used for improving memory as well as for preventing neurological disorders.

Nutritional profile

• It contains significant amount of moisture (about 88%)
• It contains very less amounts of carbohydrates and also contains crude fibre
• It contains too some extent of proteins as well
• It contains negligible amount of fats
• It also contains several important micronutrients and especially rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin B3, calcium, iron and phosphorus

Mechanism of action

• Bacopa is well known for its role on improving memory and it performs its action by increasing the production of acetylcholine, GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid) and serotonin within body, which are closely related with promoting cognition, memory and mental health
• It has seen that body essentially requires acetylcholine for cholinergic activity, which helps to counteract fight-or-flight response. Acetylcholine is also accountable for enhancing intellectual capacities and cognition
• On the other hand serotonin improves mood and GABA is responsible for providing a feeling of calmness
• It is also associated with increasing dendrite branching that improves the transportation of nervous impulse and also enhances learning ability as well as memory

Biological property

Antioxidant activity

• Bacosides of bacopa have strong antioxidant activities that help to protect the body from the harmful effects of free radicals
• It plays significant role in preventing lipid peroxidation as well that helps to decrease the generation of reactive oxygen species and reduces oxidative stress
• Its consumption is very effective for reducing the risk of developing chronic diseases

Detoxifying activity

• It plays vital role in eliminating toxins from body
• It helps to protect the entire neural system from the harmful effects of neurotoxins

Anti-inflammatory activity

• It has potent anti-inflammatory activities, which are associated with preventing inflammation by inhibiting the secretion of cytokines
• It plays significant role especially for preventing the inflammation of central nervous system, which helps to decrease the susceptibility of developing CNS disorders
• It has also seen that bacopa plays significant role in inhibiting those enzymes (like lipoxygenases, cyclooxygenases and caspases), which are related with inflammation
• It is an effective natural healer for swelling
• It also helps to reduce pain

Anti-carcinogenic activity

• Bacosides compounds of bacopa are considered as the strong anti-carcinogenic compounds that help to suppress the growth of malignant cells by inducing apoptosis
• It helps to prevent metastasis as well
• It is also associated with killing tumor cells especially brain tumor cells
• It is very effective for reducing the prevalence of skin, colon and breast cancer

Health benefits

Role on nervous system

• Its consumption is very effective for promoting brain functionality
• It is associated with regenerating brain cells as well as tissues and improves the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease
• It helps to improve the general functions of neuron as well
• It plays significant role in improving short term as well as long term memory
• It is associated with improving attention, learning ability and cognitive functions
• It also helps to enhance the ability to process information
• Children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) should consume bacopa for improving their symptoms of ADHD
• It helps to prevent seizures by increasing the concentration of GABA in brain. It also helps to calm the excessive activities of brain, which is related with decreasing seizures

Role on mental health

• Bacosides of bacopa play imperative role in staving off the age related mental degradation
• It helps to enhance mental performance
• It helps to improve alertness as well
• It helps to relax the body as well as the mind, which aids in refreshment

Role on preventing stress

• It has seen that excessive stress or anxiety can affect the physical as well as mental health adversely and is associated with developing various anxiety disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder or panic disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder. Consumption of bacopa is extremely helpful for decreasing stress and anxiety as it acts an effective adaptogen
• It helps to    Read more