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Brahmi ( Bacopa monneiri) Part 2

                                                             Brahmi   ( Bacopa monneiri)      Part 2                                Phytochemistry The phytochemistry of Brahmi ( Bacopa monnieri ) has been extensively studied. The phytochemicals present in the plant are:   Saponins called “bacosides” Bacosides are a complex mixture of structurally closely related compounds, glycosides of either jujubogenin or pseudojujubogenin. Bacosides comprise a family of 12 known analogues. They are grouped as major bacopasaponins and minor bacopasaponins. Major bacopasaponins are: bacosides A3, bacopaside II, bacopaside I, bacopaside X,   bacopaside N2, bacopasaponin C. Minor components are: bacopasaponin E, bacopasaponin F, bacopaside N1, bacopaside III,   bacopaside IV and bacopaside V.      Hersaponin   Five cucurbitacins: bacitracin A to E. Three phenylethanoid glycosides: monnieraside I-III. They are isolated from aerial parts of Brahmi ( Bacopa monnieri ). Plantioside B T

Phytopharmacology of Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) Part 1

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Phytopharmacology of Brahmi ( Bacopa monnieri )   Part 1 Introduction The search for effective and safe medicines for neurological disorders is always on. Brahmi is one such medicine used in the Ayurvedic system of medicine.   Brahmi corresponds to two plants, Bacopa monnieri and Centella asiatica . Both the plants are used in Ayurvedic system as medhya (beneficial for intellect, enhancing intellect, nootropic) and rasaayana (adaptogen). In Indian system both plants were valued for the treatment of nervine disorders; hence there is confusion regarding morphological identification of Brahmi. Botanists and many researchers have now accepted Bacopa monnieri as Brahmi and Centella asiatica as Mandukaparni, the plant whose leaf resembles the feet of a frog. In Western medicine, certain neurological disorders have limited therapeutic options. As Brahmi ( Bacopa monnieri ) has proven beneficial effects in neurological and psychiatric disorders, it is imported from Ayurveda and inco