Also known as water hyssop, Bacopa monnieri is a perennial, creeping herb which grows predominantly in Southeastern regions of Asia. In ayurvedic medicine, it is traditionally used to improve memory and aid sleep, with a number of clinical trials demonstrating its potential benefits.
However, EFSA has not approved any specific health claims for the herbal extract. While Bacopa monnieri is legally permitted as a dietary supplements in both Europe and the United States, the FDA issued a 2019 warning advising manufacturers against making any therapeutic claims regarding this herb.
The review by researchers at Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland, therefore aimed to evaluate the current evidence, including safety aspects, to guide future research in this area.
Bacopa monnieri: a nootropic aid?
Bacopa monnieri contains 52 bioactive compounds including bacosides A and B, polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenoids and proteins. Bacosides are the main active compound in the plant and are thought to be largely responsible for the purported effects.
Research suggests these active compounds have a wide variety of antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Its antioxidant effects are thought to preserve brain function by neutralizing reactive oxidant species and reducing oxidative stress.
This impact on cognitive function has been demonstrated in numerous clinical trials. For example, a recent placebo-controlled trial published in the Journal of Psychiatry and Cognitive Behaviour showed that Bacopa monnieri supplementation improved memory and various cognitive functions. The 12-week study also showed a reduction in anxiety and serum cortisol levels, as well as an improvement in sleep quality.
The researchers therefore suggest that the plant extract may be of benefit in the context on cognitive decline, pointing to rodent study which demonstrated that Bacopa monnieri restored cognitive performance to near-normal levels in an Alzheimer’s mouse model. In a separate study, Parkinson’s mice exhibited improved motor performance following supplementation.
However, this latest review emphasized the need for more clinical trials to confirm the benefits of Bacopa monnieri in the presence of neurological diseases, as currently, much of the research relies on in silico (computer modeled), in vivo or ex vivo studies.
They also highlighted that differences in extraction methods, the source of the plant material, culture conditions and type of standardized active compounds used affect the reproducibility and comparability of the results.
“This wide spectrum of properties makes Bacopa monnieri a compelling subject for further investigation into its systemic health benefits,” the researchers wrote. “[However], there are a number of important limitations that need to be taken into account when interpreting [study] results.”
Safety and bioavailability in practice
The review found that Bacopa monnieri is safe and generally well-tolerated, with no reports of serious adverse effects. The most common side effects are related to gastrointestinal discomfort, such as nausea, excessive abdominal cramps and frequent bowel movements after prolonged use.
However, Verdure Sciences, a supplier of Bacopa monnieri extract, says it has not observed any side effects with its own ingredient, Bacognize.
“Bacognize has demonstrated an excellent safety profile and has been well tolerated in the clinical studies that have been conducted to date,” Kristen Marshall, digital marketing manager at Verdure Sciences, told NutraIngredients. “We have not received any reports of these effects associated with Bacognize.”
The researchers also highlighted bioavailability challenges, since Bacoside A, one of the main active compounds, is insoluble in water. However, Teresita Ruda, head of marketing and brand positioning at Lehvoss Nutrition, which distributes the ingredient in Europe, says Bacognize overcomes this by including a full range of active compounds.
“Bacoside A is certainly a key bioactive in Bacopa monnieri and forms an important part of the standardized profile of Bacognize, but it is just one component of a broad spectrum,” she explained. “We have conducted extensive preclinical work to ensure Bacognize is standardized to a full profile of bacopa glycosides, including compounds shown to support serotonergic activity.”
Addressing research gaps
Based on the available evidence, the researchers concluded that Bacopa monnieri has a ‘wide range’ of neuroprotective effects, which may help support both cognitive and emotional functions.
The findings largely align with Verdure Sciences’ own research, according to Marshall, who said she was ‘pleasantly surprised’ to see the continued breadth of work in this area.
“It is encouraging to see continued validation of bacopa’s neuropharmacological activity, especially the consistent evidence supporting areas like cognitive function, mood and neural resilience,” she said.
However, to move forward, the researchers say well-designed clinical trials are needed, particularly those which explore how Bacopa monnieri works in the human body.
“More human clinical research is essential,” Ruda agreed. “The preclinical data on Bacopa monnieri is rich and diverse, opening up several exciting new directions.”
Source: Nutrients. doi: 10.3390/nu17111939. "Bacopa monnieri: Preclinical and Clinical Evidence of Neuroactive Effects, Safety of Use and the Search for Improved Bioavailability". Authors: A. Gościniak, et al.
