Brahmi

Biological source: Bacopa monnieri

Family:- Plantaginaceae

Bacopa is a medicinal herb used in Ayurveda, where it is also known as  Brahmi, after Brahma, the creator God of the Hindu pantheon. The leaves of this plant are succulent, oblong and 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) thick. Leaves are oblanceolate and are arranged oppositely on the stem. The flowers are small and white, with four to five petals. Its ability to grow in water makes it a popular aquarium plant. It can even grow in slightly brackish conditions. Bacopa Monnieri contains 55% of total bacoside. It is classified as Aindri due to its neuroactive properties and as Medhya Rasayana due to its rejuvenative properties on the nervous system. As a herb, Bacopa Monnieri contains:

• Bacoside
• Bacosterols
• Bacosine at 0.61% dry weight of leaves
• Brahmine
• Luteolin at 0.26% dry weight of leaves
• Apigenin has been measured at 0.12% of crude leaves by weight
• Quercetin
• Luteolin
• Hersaponin, alkaloids viz. herpestine
• Beta-sitosterol glucoside

Health benefits of Brahmi:-

1. Brahmi is used for Alzheimer's disease, improving memory, anxiety, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), allergic conditions, irritable bowel syndrome, and as a general tonic to fight stress.
2. People also take brahmi to treat backache, hoarseness, mental illness, epilepsy, joint pain
3. Bacopa monnieri has been shown to improve Cognition, by means of reducing Anxiety. It is also reliable for improving Memory formation
4. It is very useful in Neuro pharmacological disorders
5. Bacopa is also useful for Epilepsy and its related disorders