One study investigated the effectiveness of standardized Bacopa monnieri extract (SBME) in ameliorating the severity of ADHD symptoms in children. Thirty-one children, age 6-12 y participated in the trial. Participants received 225 mg/d SBME for 6 mo. Subsequent to participant screening the research team administered the Parent Rating Scale to assess baseline ADHD scores, and the team administered it again after 6 mo of treatment. SBME significantly reduced ADHD symptom scores, except for social problems. Symptom scores for restlessness were reduced in 93% of children, whereas self-control improvement was observed in 89% of the children. Attention-deficit symptoms were reduced in 85% of children. Similarly, symptom scores for learning problems, impulsivity, and psychiatric problems were reduced for 78%, 67%, and 52% of children, respectively. Standardized extract of B monnieri was found to be effective in alleviating ADHD symptoms and was well-tolerated by the children 1.
Another double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study assessed the acute effects of a specific extract of Bacopa monnieri (BM) in normal, healthy participants during completion of a multitasking framework (MTF). Seventeen healthy volunteers completed the MTF, at baseline, then 1 h and 2 h after consuming a placebo, 320 mg BM or 640 mg of BM. Treatments were separated by a 7-day washout. Outcome measures included cognitive outcomes from the MTF, with mood and salivary cortisol measured before and after each MTF completion. Change from baseline scores indicated positive cognitive effects, notably at both 1 h and 2 h after BM consumption on Letter Search and Stroop tasks, suggesting an earlier nootropic BM effect than previously investigated. There were also positive mood effects and reduced cortisol levels, indicating a physiological stress reduction mechanism for BM consumption. The researchers concluded that acute BM supplementation produced some adaptogenic and nootropic effects 2.
Another study aimed to assess the acute effects of a specific extract of Bacopa monnieri (BM) in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study in normal, healthy participants who completed a cognitively- demanding series of tests. Twenty-four healthy volunteers completed six repetitions of the Cognitive Demand Battery (CDB) after consuming a placebo, 320 mg BM or 640 mg of BM in a cross-over design. The researchers found that the change from baseline scores indicated the 320 mg dose of BM improved performance at the first, second, and fourth repetition post-dosing on the CDB 3.
Other researchers evaluated effects of Bacopa monnieri on cognitive function in healthy, elderly participants. The study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial with a placebo run-in of 6 weeks and a treatment period of 12 weeks. Fifty-four (54) participants, 65 or older (mean 73.5 years), without clinical signs of dementia, were randomized to Bacopa or placebo. Forty-eight (48) completed the study, with 24 in each group. Participants were given B. monnieri 300 mg/day or placebo orally for 12 weeks. The primary outcome variable was the delayed recall score from the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT). Other cognitive measures were the Stroop Task assessing the ability to ignore irrelevant information, the Divided Attention Task (DAT), and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) letter-digit test of immediate working memory. The researchers concluded that B. monnieri has potential for safely enhancing cognitive performance in the aging 4.
A meta-analysis included nine randomized, placebo controlled human intervention trials with ≥ 12 weeks of Bacopa monnieri and no co-medication. The analysis totaled 437 human subjects. Participants showed improved cognition by shortened Trail Making Test, part B test and decreased choice reaction time. The authors concluded that their meta-analysis suggests Bacopa monnieri has the potential to improve cognition, particularly speed of attention 5.
Another randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigated the effectiveness of Bacopa monnieri for memory performance improvement in healthy, older persons. Ninety-eight healthy participants >55 yr were included. Subjects received Bacopa monnieri, 300 mg/day, or placebo. Neuropsychologic and subjective memory assessments were performed at baseline and at 12 weeks. The study concluded that Bacopa significantly improved memory acquisition and retention in the healthy, older participants 6.
A separate study investigated the effects of Bacopa monnieri on human memory. Seventy-six adults age 40-65 years took part in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-control study in which various memory functions were tested and levels of anxiety measured. There were three testing sessions: one prior to the trial, one after three months on the trial, and one six weeks after co
pletion of the trial. The results show a significant effect of Bacopa on a test for new information retention 7.
Other researchers tested Bacopa for cognitive-enhancing effects. Sixty-two participants completed the study with 80% treatment compliance. Neuropsychological testing using the Cognitive Drug Research cognitive assessment system was conducted at baseline and after 90 days of treatment with Bacopa monnieri or placebo. The Bacopa monnieri product significantly improved performance on the 'Working Memory' factor, more specifically spatial working memory accuracy. The number of false-positives recorded in the Rapid visual information processing task was also reduced for the Bacopa monnieri group. The researchers conclude that their study provides support for cognitive enhancing effects in healthy humans after a 90 day administration of the Bacopa monnieri extract 8.
Another clinical trial meta-analysis aimed to calculate positive cognitive effect of the pharmaceutical Modafinil as a benchmark for two nutraceuticals, Ginseng and Bacopa. Researchers searched for clinical studies on neurocognitive effects of Modafinil, Ginseng and Bacopa. Studies undertaken on healthy human subjects using a double-blind, placebo-controlled-design were included. For each study, effect sizes (Cohen's d) were calculated for measures showing significant effects of treatment over placebo. The highest effect sizes for cognitive outcomes were 0.77 for Modafinil (visuospatial memory accuracy), 0.86 for Ginseng (simple reaction time) and 0.95 for Bacopa (delayed word recall). The researchers concluded that neurocognitive enhancement from well-characterized nutraceuticals, such as Bacopa, can produce cognition-enhancing effects of similar magnitude to pharmaceutical interventions 9.
A review of Bacopa monnieri (BM) studies combines behavioral research with neuromolecular mechanisms of the cognitive-enhancing action of BM. The authors find that several randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials substantiate BM's nootropic utility in humans. They also find evidence for attenuation of dementia, Parkinson's disease, and epilepsy. Studies reviewed indicate BM acts via the following mechanisms: anti-oxidant neuroprotection (via redox and enzyme induction), acetylcholinesterase inhibition and/or choline acetyltransferase activation, β-amyloid reduction, increased cerebral blood flow, and neurotransmitter modulation (acetylcholine [ACh], 5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT], dopamine [DA]). The authors conclude that BM appears to exhibit low toxicity in humans 10.
Scientific References:
1. Dave, UP et al. 2014. An open-label study to elucidate the effects of standardized Bacopa monnieri extract in the management of symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children. Adv Mind Body Med. Spring;28(2):10-5.
2. Benson, S et al. 2014. An acute, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study of 320 mg and 640 mg doses of Bacopa monnieri (CDRI 08) on multitasking stress reactivity and mood. Phytother Res. Apr;28(4):551-9.
3. Downey, LA et al. 2013. An acute, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study of 320 mg and 640 mg doses of a special extract of Bacopa monnieri (CDRI 08) on sustained cognitive performance. Phytother Res. Sep;27(9):1407-13.
4. Calabrese, C et al. 2008. Effects of a standardized Bacopa monnieri extract on cognitive performance, anxiety, and depression in the elderly: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Altern Complement Med. 2008 Jul;14(6):707-13.
5. Kongkeaw, C et al. 2014. Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on cognitive effects of Bacopa monnieri extract. J Ethnopharmacol. 151(1):528-35.
6. Morgan, A. 2010. Does Bacopa monnieri improve memory performance in older personsResults of a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial. J Altern Complement Med. Jul;16(7):753-9.
7. Roodenrys, S et al. 2002. Chronic effects of Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) on human memory. Neuropsychopharmacology. Aug;27(2):279-81.
8. Stough, C et al. 2008. Examining the nootropic effects of a special extract Bacopa monnieri on human cognitive functioning: 90 day double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial. Phytother Res. Dec;22(123):1629-34.
9. Neale, C et al. 2013. Cognitive effects of two nutraceuticals Ginseng and Bacopa benchmarked against Modafinil: a review and comparison of effect sizes. Br J Clin Pharmacol. Mar;75(3):728-37.
10. Aguiar, S et al. 2013. Neuropharmacological review of the nootropic herb Bacopa monnieri. Rejuvenation Res. Aug;16(4):313-26.
