Prof Vikas Sharma, Komal Sudan
The name Brahmi is derived from the word ‘Brahma’ or ‘Brahman’, which is the mythical creator in Hindu mythology. The Sanskrit name ‘brahmi’ itself has religious connotation, as it translates to ‘the energy of Brahma’ or ‘universal consciousness’. It enhances one’s consciousness and facilitates the meditation process.
Bacopa monneri is commonly known as brahmi, water hyssop, herb of grace, thyme-leafed gratiola, and belongs to the Scrophulariaceae family. Brahmi is a small, crawling plant that possesses many branches, small oval leaves and pale purple-colored flowers. It is native to wet soil, shallow water, and marshes and is found commonly in India and the tropical regions. It is also found in Nepal, Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Florida and the southern states of USA. It is abundant in the warm climates of Asia, Australia, America and the Indian subcontinent, mostly in green belt zones. The plant grows in areas of geopolitical regions, from coastal levels to highlands of up to 2,650 meters above sea level.
Traditional Uses
The use of Brahmi dates back over 3,000 years, as documented in ancient Ayurvedic texts. Traditionally, it has been employed not only as a cognitive enhancer, but also for its calming effects on the nervous system. Brahmi has an astringent, bitter taste, cool action on the body, and is said to sharpen the mind. It has been known to be used for the treatment of asthma, loss of voice, skin rashes, anaemia, diabetes and heart diseases. It can delay the onset of age-related cognitive problems like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Brahmi is also taken in case of boils as a blood purgative and in complaints of cataracts as well. It is used in traditional medicinal practices such as the juice of the leaves for bronchitis and diarrhea in children, preparation of paste from the leaves for rheumatism, the leaves along with tender stalks are eaten in West Bengal and the decoction of the leaves is consumed in cough disorders. The leaves of the brahmi plant can be chewed (though ideally, one should chew only two or three leaves) in order to get rid of tension and anxiety. The normal leaves of brahmi taken in the form of tea or chewed, is very beneficial to our respiratory system. It has been applied in Ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of bronchitis, congestion, chest colds, and even blocked sinuses. The leaves have been used to treat neuralgia, bipolar disorder, and epilepsy, in addition to other mental illnesses.
It has anti-cancer, anti-spasmodic, gastroprotective, anxiolytic, cardiovascular and heatoprotective properties. Brahmi being a sedative and soothing herb, also possesses anti-inflammatory properties and can be beneficial for conditions of the abdomen, including ulcers, etc. It also contains antioxidants that helps in promoting a healthy lifestyle by eliminating free radicals, which are harmful byproducts of cellular metabolism. The active ingredients of Brahmi, known as bacosides are responsible for improving memory and related disorders and enhancing the efficiency of the transmission of nerve impulses by strengthening memory and cognition. The primary alkaloids in brahmi are bacosides A and B and brahmin; additional alkaloids include herpestine and nicotine. In addition to this, potassium salts, hersaponin, and D-mannitol are also present
Conservation Strategies
Due to its traditional use all over the world, the plant has been overexploited and is now endangered. For sustainable use, practices like large-scale propagation, tissue culture, seed banking, proper and controlled harvesting methods are used. Further, public awareness campaigns and studies on other natural or equivalent sources are also necessary. These efforts attempt to offer consistent raw materials while protecting Brahmi’s native populations and genetic variety, preventing extinction and ensuring its medical availability.
(The authors are from the Division of Biochemistry, SKUAST-Jammu)
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