BRAHMI Bacopa monnieri
Scrophulariaceae
San: Brahmi, Sarasvati; Hin: Barami, Jalnim; Ben: Boihim-sak; Mal: Brahmi, Nirbrahmi;
Tam: Nirpirami, Piramiyapundu; Kan, Mar: Nirbrahmi
Importance
Brahmi or Thyme leaved gratiola is an important drug in Ayurveda for the
improvement of intelligence and memory and revitalisation of sense organs. It clears voice
and improves digestion. It is suggested against dermatosis, anaemia, diabetes, cough, dropsy,
fever, arthritis, anorexia, dyspepsia, emaciation, and insanity. It dispels poisonous affections,
splenic disorders and impurity of blood. It is useful in vitiated conditions of kapha and vata,
biliousness, neuralgia, ascites, flatulence, leprosy, leucoderma, syphilis, sterility and general
debility. The whole plant is used in a variety of preparations like Brahmighrtam,
Sarasvataristam., Brahmitailam, Misrakasneham, etc. In unani Majun Brahmi is considered
as a brain tonic.
Distribution
The plant grows wild on damp places and marshy lands in the major part of the plains
of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and other tropical countries.
Botany
Bacopa monnieri (Linn.) Pennell. syn. Monniera cuneifolia Michx., Herpestis
monniera (Linn.) H.B. & K. belongs to the family Scrophulariaceae. It is a prostrate, juicy,
succulent, glabrous annual herb rooting at the nodes with numerous ascending branches.
Leaves are simple, opposite, decussate, sessile, obovate-oblong or spatulate, entire, fleshy,
obscurely veined and punctate. Flowers are pale blue or whitish, axillary, solitary, arranged
on long slender pedicels. Fruits are ovoid, acute, 2-celled, 2-valved capsules and tipped with
style base. Seeds are minute and numerous (Warrier et al, 1993).
Agrotechnology
The plant grows throughout the warm humid tropics upto 1200m elevation. Brahmi
gets established well in water logged fields. The plant is propagated vegetatively by stem
cuttings. Land is prepared by ploughing 2 or 3 times. Two to three tonnes/ha of cowdung or
compost is applied and the field is again ploughed and levelled. Stem cuttings, 10cm long are
spread at a spacing of 20cm. Waterlogging to height of 30cm is always required. Rooting may
start within 15-20 days. It will spread over the field within 6 months. Regular application of
organic manure will take care of the manurial requirement. Weeding once in a month is
required. Care should be taken to maintain water level at a height of 30cm during the growth
period. No serious pests or diseases are noted in this crop. Harvesting commences from sixth
months onwards. Brahmi leaves can be collected once a month. After 3 years, the whole crop
is harvested and removed. Fresh cultivation can be carried out in the same field.
Properties and Activity
Earlier workers have reported the isolation of the alkaloids brahmine and hespestine and a
mixture of 3 alkaloids from the leaves. Mannitol and saponins were reported later. Subsequent work
described isolation of some C 27 , C 29 , and C 31 hydrocarbons and betulic acid from this plant material.
A systematic examination has resulted in the isolation and identification of two saponins designated as
bacosides A and B. Bacoside A has chemical structure represented as 3-(α-L-arabinopyranosyl)-O-β-
D-glucopyranoside-10, 20-dihydroxy- 16 - ketodammar- 24 - ene. The mixture of bacosides A and B on
hydrolysis give four sapogenins, glucose and arabinose. The constitution of bacogenin A, has been
established as 3β- 30 - dihydroxy-20(5)- 25 - epoxy- 22 - methyl- 24 - nor-dammar- 22 - en- 16 - one. Bacogenin
A 2 has been shown to be an isomer of bacogenin A, differing in configuration at C-20. Bacogenin A 4
has been identified as ebelin lactone.
The plant is reported to have shown barbiturate hypnosis potentiation effect. The plant is
anticancerous and improves learning ability. It is used as a tranquilliser. The plant is astringent, bitter,
sweet, cooling, laxative, intellect promoting, anodyne, carminative, digestive, antiinflammatory,
anticonvulsant, depurative, cardiotonic, bronchodialator, diuretic, emmenagogue, sudorfic, febrifuge
and tonic (Basu et al, 1947; Rastogi et al 1960).