The effectiveness of Bacopa monnieri (Linn.) Wettst. as a nootropic, neuroprotective, or antidepressant supplement: analysis of the available clinical data

Abstract

Bacopamonnieri (Linn.) Wettst. has been used in traditional medicine as a drug to enhance and improve memory. In this regard, this study aims to provide B. monnieri's efficacy as a neuroprotective drug and as a nootropic against various neurological diseases. Literatures were collected, following Prisma guidelines, from databases, including Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct and were scrutinized using a quality scoring system. Means, standard deviations and ‘n’ numbers were extracted from the metrics and analyzed. Jamovi computer software for Mac was used to carry out the meta-analysis. The selected studies suggested that the plant extracts were able to show some improvements in healthy subjects which were determined in Auditory Verbal Learning Task, digit span-reverse test, inspection time task and working memory, even though it was not significant, as no two studies found statistically significant changes in the same two tests. B. monnieri was able to express modest improvements in subjects with memory loss, wherein only a few of the neuropsychological tests showed statistical significance. B. monnieri in a cocktail with other plant extracts were able to significantly reduce the effects of Alzheimer’s disease, and depression which cannot be solely credited as the effect of B. monnieri. Although in one study B. monnieri was able to potentiate the beneficial effects of citalopram; on the whole, currently, there are only limited studies to establish the memory-enhancing and neuroprotective effects of B. monnieri. More studies have to be done in the future by comparing the effect with standard drugs, in order to establish these effects clinically in the plant and corroborate the preclinical data.

Use of Bacopa monnieri in the Treatment of Dementia Due to Alzheimer Disease: Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

“…Another systematic review [ 18 ] on the effectiveness of B. monnieri as a nootropic, neuroprotective, or antidepressant supplement included studies involving healthy volunteers and those with dementia and depression. Three studies evaluated B. monnieri in Alzheimer disease or mild cognitive impairment [ 33 , 34 , 38 ], of which Goswami et al [ 38 ] was a nonrandomized study.…”

“…Many studies (eg, [ 16 ]) from the Ayurveda stream have been anecdotal, and many others (eg, [ 17 ]) have methodologically weak designs. Systematic reviews [ 13 , 18 - 20 ] on B. monnieri have included studies on healthy individuals and have not included studies conducted in the last 5 years.…”

Effects of Bacopa monnieri (CDRI 08®) in a population of males exhibiting inattention and hyperactivity aged 6 to 14 years: A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial

“…Participants consumed 1 × 160 mg capsule of either BM or placebo (if between 20 and 35 kg; taken with breakfast) or 2 × 160 mg capsules of either BM or placebo per day (if over 35 kg; 1 taken with breakfast, 1 taken with dinner) for 14 weeks. This daily dose is considered safe and clinically appropriate based on past intervention research and tolerability studies (Brimson et al, 2021). There was a one‐week placebo run‐in and one‐week placebo run‐out extending the study to a total of 16 weeks.…”

“…Findings in child and adolescent populations have reported similar findings with improvements against placebo in language behaviour (Asthana et al, 2001; Dave et al, 2008; Negi et al, 2000), visual memory (Asthana et al, 2001; Dave et al, 2008), memory span (Asthana et al, 2001; Dave et al, 2008; Sharma, Chaturvedi, & Tewari, 1987), mental speed (Asthana et al, 2001; Dave et al, 2008), and attention (Asthana et al, 2001; Dave et al, 2014) as well as behavioural improvements in hyperactivity (Asthana et al, 2001; Dave et al, 2014). Conversely, one recent meta‐analysis noted a lack of consistent positive outcomes for BM in clinical samples (Brimson et al, 2021). This highlights an intriguing gap in the literature between clinical and non‐clinical samples.…”

Novel Pharmacological Approaches to the Treatment of Depression

“…These include: Woodfordia fruticose leaf extract [323], myrsinoic acid B from Myrsine coriacea [324], parsley [325], Bacopa monnieri (Linn.) Wettst [326], Salvia officinalis, and Lippi triphylla [327].…”