Brahmi - The Herb that Never Cease to Surprise

With advancements in neuroscience, the confusion associated with memory is being resolved. According to contemporary assumptions, one of the bases of memory formation, retention, and strengthening is synaptic plasticity (a process by which neuronal activity changes the strength of connections between neurons and is vital for memory and learning). In Alzheimer's disease, which is generally characterized by memory dysfunction, connections amongst the cells in the brain are weakened or lost, leading to a degeneration of neural networks. Unaccountable attempts have been made to find new therapies to correct memory dysfunction, with increasing attention and focus on herbal drugs. Many herbal plants have already proved beneficial when tested for anti-amnesic effects. Brahmi is one such herbal drug, which has been used for a long time in Indian and Chinese herbal medicine to treat several brain disorders. Previous studies have shown that Brahmi exerts many pharmacological effects, including memory-boosting capacity in treating Schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease, exhibiting antiparkinsonian, antistroke, and anticonvulsant potentials. The efficacy of Brahmi in treating various disorders has evoked sufficient research and multiple clinical trials in recent years.

Active components of Brahmi

The therapeutic effects of Brahmi are believed to be exerted through triterpenoid saponins in the plant extract. Bacosides are triterpenoid saponins of significant importance as they enhance nerve impulse transmission. The nerve impulse transmission promotes healthy cognitive functions like focus, concentration, attention span, learning, and memory. Some evidence proves that Brahmi helps to maintain neurotransmitter balance, and it influences the synthesis and availability of the neurotransmitter Serotonin due to the presence of bacosides. By upregulating kinase activity and neuronal synthesis, bacosides promote the repair of damaged neurons. They also aid in restoring synaptic activity, ultimately leading to nerve impulse transmission.

Clinical Trials of Brahmi

Brahmi as a Memory Booster

Traditionally, Brahmi enhances cognitive functions involving conscious intellectual activity such as thinking, reasoning, or remembering. It has been scientifically proved that Brahmi improves memory, concentration, and nervousness. The herb enhances learning skills, perception, and reaction times without side effects. Studies show that Brahmi is highly beneficial in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as it greatly improves logical memory. Brahmi supplementation also enhances learning and controls abnormal behaviour in mentally disabled children. A significant enhancement in verbal learning and concentration is noticed in Brahmi extract-treated group. In the brain nerve cells, which are responsible for learning and memory, Brahmi helps to improve dendritic length and branching. Brahmi also helps to treat learning disabilities like dyslexia.

Similarly, in the elderly above 55 years, Brahmi helps to acquire, store and retain their memory over time. Another study examining the effect of Brahmi in older adults reveals a significant improvement in their memory, cognitive, biochemical, and cardiovascular function, which suggests the effectiveness of Brahmi as a memory booster. Studies show that Brahmi ameliorates cognitive processing, working memory, and attention partly due to Acetylcholinesterase AChE activity.

Brahmi Helps in the Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease

Brahmi has a healing effect on the brain and is a memory-enhancing herb. Regular use of Brahmi helps prevent conditions that can affect memory later in life, such as Alzheimer's disease. Studies show that in the elderly and others suffering from senile dementia of Alzheimer's type (SDAT), Brahmi improves memory and reduces inflammatory markers like homocysteine, C-reactive protein, and tumour necrosis factor-alpha. The oxidative stress markers like glutathione peroxidase, glutathione, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) show a marked decline in Brahmi-treated SDAT patients. This suggests the significance of Brahmi in managing cognitive decline associated with the ageing process. Another clinical trial involving patients with mild cognitive impairment used similar criteria and obtained favourable results establishing the role of Brahmi in improving cognitive function. In another study, Brahmi consumers had enhanced Auditory verbal learning test (AVLT), which included short-term auditory-verbal memory, learning rate, learning strategies, retention of information, and differences between learning and retrieval. In Brahmi consumers, there is significant improvement in Stroop (a neuropsychological test) results compared with the placebo group. Studies show that in Brahmi consumers CESD-10 (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale), depression scores, trait anxiety scores, and heart rate decrease over time.

Brahmi Reduces Anxiety and Stress

Brahmi is an adaptogenic herb as it helps to reduce stress and anxiety by altering the activity of certain enzymes involved in stress response. Brahmi supplementation alleviates mood and acts as a stress-buster, as is observed by a reduction in cortisol levels and an increase in the level of serotonin. Brahmi exerts various age-related effects on cytokine generation, antioxidant status, and intracellular targets. These studies prove the therapeutic efficacy of Brahmi in alleviating various abnormalities and hence can be considered a promising frontier to treat multiple brain disorders.

Brahmi is a Powerful Antioxidant

The free radical formation in the body is linked to chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and many more health conditions. Antioxidants mainly help protect the body against cell damage caused due to free radicals. Fewer antioxidants mean less immunity. Studies show that Brahmi and its main active ingredients, Bacosides, neutralise free radicals and prevent lipid peroxidation, which is linked to many neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

Brahmi Reduces Inflammation

Brahmi helps inhibit enzymes like cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase, and caspase, which play a crucial role in inflammation and pain. Thus Brahmi is the perfect solution for inflammatory diseases like arthritis. Brahmi lowers the production of prostaglandins, which are the precursors of inflammation and pain. Studies prove that Brahmi's anti-inflammatory and pain killer role is comparable to diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.

Brahmi Promotes Hair Growth

Brahmi consumption stimulates circulation in the scalp, which helps to regrow hair. Studies have shown that applying Brahmi paste on the scalp nourishes the hair and helps grow long and lustrous hair. Brahmi provides nourishment to the hair follicles and helps reverse hair loss.