World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

IMPORTANCE & CRITICAL REVIEW OF BRAMHI (BACOPA MONNIERA)

Dr. Deepak Thakur*

ABSTRACT

Centella asiatica and Bacopa monnieri widely known as Brahmi are considered as „Medhya rasayanas? (brain tonic). However, these plants are distinctly different. The name Brahmi, is assigned to Bacopa monnieri whereas "Mandukaparni", often confused with Brahmi, refers to Centella asiatica. Brahmi is largely treasured as a revitalizing herb used by Ayurvedic medical practitioners for almost 3000 years. The herb has been mentioned in several Ayurvedic treatises including Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita. Bacopa moniera, a traditional Ayurvedic plant, used for centuries as a memory enhancing, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, sedative and antiepileptic agent. The plant, extract and isolated bacosides (the major active principles) have been extensively investigated in several laboratories for their different biological activities. In addition researchers have evaluated the anti-inflammatory, cardio tonic and other pharmacological effects of Bacopa monniera preparations/exracts. It is observed that panchanga of Brahmi is used as an ingredient in many formulations, which are effective in disease conditions like unmada (insanity), apasmara (epilepsy), jwara (fever), pandu (anemia), amlapitta (acidity), kustha (skin disease) etc. Different parts of Brahmi are used in many dosage forms; such as swarasa (juice), kwatha (decoction), lepa (paste), varti (suppository), avleha (semi-solid preparations) and many more.

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