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August 2017

In Immune Healthby

Protect Immunity and Even Boost Your Immune Health with Natural Nutraceuticals

Ayurvedic herbs have a long history of enhancing and priming the immune system. A healthy immune system has multiple health benefits, including fighting the entry of pathogens in the body. Once pathogens are in the body, a strong immune system can seek out and destroy these pathogens faster. The immune system is made up of an integrated teamwork of cells, tissues, and organs to keep us healthy. One of the key cells in the bloodstream are white blood cells, special types of leukocytes, which have two basic forms that combine to seek out and destroy disease-causing organisms or foreign substances. Antibodies are produced by the white blood cells, and the job of antibodies is to recognize a unique molecular key on the surface of an invader called ‘antigen’ so the white blood cells can attack and engulf the invader.

The role of Ayurvedic herbs is to help stimulate the immune system to shorten the duration and intensity of infection by foreign invading organisms. Following are the Ayurvedic herbs that have been known to possess the strongest evidence-based immune support.

Andrographis paniculata

Andrographis paniculata, most often called Andrographis, is known as kalmeghor green chiretta in Ayurvedic medicine and called as ChuānXīnLián in traditional Chinese medicine. Andrographis extracts have been traditionally used in these two fields of medicinal practice for reducing the severity and duration of common cold and fever symptoms, such as cough and sore throats, or to aid in recovery from other types of upper respiratory infections.

In 33 randomly controlled trials, where 7175 patients with upper respiratory tract infections were treated with Andrographis extract, the Andrographis-treated groups showed significantly improved cough and sore throat compared to placebo groups. Andrographis extracts had a statistically significant effect in improving overall symptoms of upper respiratory infections when compared to usual care and other herbal therapies. The evidence also suggested that Andrographis, alone or plus usual care, shortened the cough duration, sore throat duration, and sick leave time to recovery when compared to standard care alone. Andrographis appeared to be safe with no major adverse event reported.

Tinospora cordifolia

Certain medicinal plants have the dual-action ability to both increase and decrease immunomodulation—to create an optimal state of immunity. Tinospora cordifolia is one such plant researchers have shown much interest.In Ayurveda, Tinospora cordifolia is called Guduchi, or Amrita.

Tinospora cordifolia has been used in traditional Indian Medicine to boost body’s immune response in fighting malaria, infection, and liver toxicity, and to reduce immune response in cases of inflammation, allergies, arthritis, fever, and diabetes. In short, Tinospora cordifolia can provide the body with balanced immunomodulation, where it recognizes and attacks foreign proteins without attacking self-proteins, which would otherwise cause autoimmune disorders.

In cell culture studies, extracts of Tinospora cordifolia have been shown to activate several key immune cells, including Natural Killer (NK) cells by 331%, B cells by 39%, and T cells by 102%. In animal studies of inflammation, T.cordifolia was found to be more effective than acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) in alleviating acute inflammation.

Seventy-five patients with allergic rhinitis were randomly given either T.cordfolia extract (TC) or a placebo capsule for 8 weeks. 100% relief was reported from sneezing in 83% of patients taking TC, there was a reduction in nasal discharge by 69%, 61% relief from nasal obstruction, and 71% population were relieved of nasal pruritus (itching). In the placebo group, just the opposite was seen – no relief in 79% of those sneezing, no relief in 84.8% of patients with nasal discharge, no relief in 83% from nasal obstruction, and no relief in 88% suffering from nasal pruritus. In the active group taking TC, eosinophil and neutrophil count decreased in nasal samples, while in the placebo group, the change in eosinophil and neutrophil count was marginal in the nasal fluid. The nasal smear analysis count correlated well with the clinical improvements seen in patients taking the extract to treat allergic rhinitis.

Percutaneous Transhepatic Biliary Drainage (PTBD) is performed in surgical jaundice to decompress the biliary tree and improve liver functions has great risk of infection (septicemia, or blood infection) due to immunosuppression. The surgical outcome remains poor. In 4 groups of patients, the first group was (A) those undergoing surgery without PTBD, (B) those undergoing surgery after PTBD. The mortality was 57.14% in Group A as compared to 61.54% in Group B. Group (C) patients received Tinospora cordifolia extract during PTBD, and Group (D) patients took Tinosporia cordifolia without PTBD. A major improvement in PMN (Polymorphonuclear leukocytes – immune cells) functions occurred by 3 weeks in both groups taking the extract. The mortality in Groups C and D was 25% and 14.2%, respectively during the preoperative period. There was no mortality after surgery. Surgery-related mortality was reduced by 56% in those who were given T. cordifolia undergoing surgery without PTBD. In the group given T. cordifolia without PTBD there was a 76% reduction in mortality.

Curcumin

Curcumin is the major curcuminoid found in turmeric that exhibits anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and immunomodulating properties. Curcumin inhibits the activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor kappaB (NF-ĸB) without changing the levels of constitutively expressed NF-ĸB. These results suggest that curcumin most likely inhibits cell proliferation and cytokine production by inhibiting NF-ĸB target genes involved in induction of the immune response.

At the molecular level, the multitargeting Curcumin has been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory activity through the suppression of numerous cell-signaling pathways, including NF-ĸB, STAT3, Nrf2, ROS and COX-2. Numerous studies have indicated that curcumin is a highly potent antimicrobial agent and has been shown to be active at numerous targets at the gene expression level, the epigenomic level and at multiple NFĸB downstream targets.

The dysregulation of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 plays a role in the development of many inflammatory diseases, such as neuropathic pain, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and systemic lupus erythematosus. Curcumin is an anti-inflammatory agent that upregulates the expression and production of IL-10 and enhances its action on several tissues. In in vitro and in animal models, Curcumin is found to modulate the disease pathophysiology of pain, neurodegenerative diseases, and infections through its effect on IL-10 release. At least one part of the positive effects of curcumin on health could be related to its ability to enhance IL-10’s anti-inflammatory effects.

The three natural nutraceuticals discussed here, Andrographis, Tinospora cordifolia and Curcumin act though multiple pathways to strengthen the immune system naturally and are candidates that have the potential to manage several human diseases because of these multiple pathways.

In Weight Managementby

Weight Management: Influence of Modern Lifestyle, Ways to Achieve Weight Loss, and the Historical Context

In order to fully understand weight loss, it is necessary to first understand the underlying causes of weight gain.

Multiple factors in the modern lifestyle appear to play causal roles in weight gain. Generally speaking, populations in developed countries lead sedentary lives and overconsume calorie-dense foods. In particular, refined carbohydrates, which negatively impact metabolism and stimulate brain mechanisms—facilitating weight gain.

As fat tissue mass accumulates, fullness sensors in the brain’s hypothalamus become resistant to insulin and leptin, the ‘satiety hormone,’ which further leads to increased calorie consumption.

Several behavioral issues further contribute to weight gain, such as eating too quickly, insufficient sleep, high stress levels, and lack of exercise. Finally, fat tissue accumulation changes the body weight set point, which leads to metabolic changes that resist weight loss efforts. Each of these factors work together to cause weight gain and promote obesity.

Although more than two-third of US adults are overweight, almost one-third of the population does maintain proper body weight; so, it is obvious that normal weight is an achievable goal well worth pursuing as obesity is known to puts one at high risk for developing diseases and is therefore a major controllable risk factor.

Any weight loss plan should include avoiding refined carbohydrates and high fat foods, and eating large quantities of whole food to achieve and maintain proper weight while still maintaining a sense of fullness.

Weight Gain in the Historical Context

Before the modern era, we had to search for food by hunting, foraging, and farming, which began only about 10,000 years ago. Substantial calories were expended during the laboring process for food as well as building habitats for survival against the elements.

Evolution takes place on a much longer time scale, however. During these early times, calorie-dense foods, such as refined carbohydrates, processed and fast foods were unavailable. Humans subsisted on natural foods, including wild game, fish, fruits, and vegetables that they could harvest growing in the wild. The natural selection process that took place over hundreds of thousands of years caused humans to be genetically adapted to be hunter-gatherers, while pursuing game over great distances.

Hunter-gatherers were lean and obesity was a luxury that was virtually nonexistent. Our modern sedentary lifestyle is a strange and unhealthy experience from the perspective of our inherited genetic physiological needs. Weight gain and obesity then can be viewed as an unavoidable consequence when humans switched over, on a relatively short time scale, from an active to a sedentary lifestyle and went on to consume previously unavailable calorie-dense foods.

This is, in fact, what has happened to modernman and is the best overall hypothesis to explain the overweight and obesity global epidemic we are now experiencing.

There are three ways to achieve weight loss:

  • Cutting down on meal portion size (calorie restriction)
  • Increasing calorie expenditure–exercise and/or thermogenic supplements
  • Appetite suppressing supplements

The best weight loss program would ideally include all of the above—a combination of eating less, a daily exercise program and taking thermogenic supplements that also suppress appetite.

In Cardiovascular Healthby

Curcumin and its Impressive Cardiovascular Health Benefits: Highlights from the Latest Study Findings

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death in developed countries. Aging is the major risk factor for CVD, with an over 70% prevalence of CVD in men and women 60 years or older. This age-related increase in CVD risk is mainly due to deteriorating artery function caused by increased stiffness of arteries and the development of vascular endothelial dysfunction. Endothelial cells are the cells lining the arteries and the capillaries.

One major factor in arterial dysfunction is reduced levels of nitric oxide that occurs during aging. Nitric oxide is needed for healthy artery vasodilation and contraction upon demand. Decreased nitric oxide levels are caused by various factors, such as low-grade inflammation and free radical-driven oxidative stress, an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidant levels.

Curcumin is a major biologically active ingredient found in Turmeric along with other curcuminoids.

As early as 1992, it was reported that 500 mg per day of Curcumin taken for 7 days reduced the blood serum levels of cholesterol and lipid peroxides, along with increases of HDL (good) cholesterol in healthy volunteers. The authors of the study concluded that “the study of curcumin as a chemo-preventive substance against arterial diseases is suggested.”

Since then, Curcumin has been shown to increase nitric oxide production in both healthy and diseased human study populations.

Curcumin has been found to improve endothelial function and reduce arterial stiffness in healthy individuals, persons with metabolic syndrome (MetS), middle-aged and old persons, and those who are diabetic, obese, or in women post-menopause.

Clinical studies suggest that Curcumin increases flow-mediated artery dilation. Other studies have shown that Curcumin improves arterial functioning by lowering oxidative stress, decreasing inflammation, and protecting structural proteins in the arteries.

In a 2016 study, 117 subjects with metabolic syndrome were given either Curcumin or a placebo. In the group given Curcumin, the inflammatory cytokines associated with metabolic syndrome, TNF-a, IL-6, TGF-β, were significantly reduced compared with the control group, suggesting a reduced risk of CVD.

In a 2015 clinical trial, 117 patients with metabolic syndrome were divided into active and placebo groups. The active group was given Curcuminoids plus Piperine, a black pepper extract used to boost the bioavailability of the Curcuminoids.

The activity of the major serum antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase was increased significantly in the group given Curcuminoids plus Piperine. Levels of malondialdehyde, the major toxic compound resulting from cell membrane damage, was lower in the blood serum of the active group. C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, a key inflammatory marker considered a major risk factor for CVD, was also significantly lower in the group given Curcuminoids plus Piperine.

The study authors concluded that “Short-term supplementation with Curcuminoid-Piperine combination significantly improves oxidative and inflammatory status in patients with MetS. Curcuminoids could be regarded as natural, safe, and effective CRP-lowering agents.”

In a study of past-menopausal middle-aged women, Curcumin administration decreased arterial stiffness after a two-month period of supplementation. The study authors suggested that Curcumin may be an alternative to reducing arterial stiffness in women who could not exercise.

Human trials demonstrate that Curcumin is a safe and effective supplement that reduce the risk factors associated with CVD in various age groups. This includes Curcumin’s ability to increase nitric oxide levels, reduce inflammatory cytokines, lower CRP, and as an antioxidant, reduce the levels of toxic cell membrane oxidized components, namely malondialdehyde.

In Brain Healthby

Key to Improve Your Brain Function and Optimize Mental Health Lies in Ayurvedic Herbs

Traditional Ayurvedic medicine has a long history of supporting memory-related issues, cognition, and other disrupted brain activities caused by aging or disease. The ancient Indian Ayurvedic system of medicine describes numerous plants and their extracts to treat a range of mental disorders, which we now recognize today by the symptoms described in Ayurveda as depression, Parkinson’s disease, memory loss, hysteria, anxiety, insomnia, migraine, or Alzheimer’s disease. In Ayurveda, ‘medhyarasayanas’ are herbal drugs that boost memory, improve mental function, and restore cognition. Ancient Ayurvedic prescriptions range from single herbs to decoctions including the whole plant or the seeds, fruits, roots, bark, stems, flowers, or the entire aerial parts of plants.

Today the tendency is to look for natural herbal remedies to support brain health because synthetic prescription drugs have only partial or transient success in their treatment. This is particularly true of drugs used to treat Alzheimer’s disease—they have temporary or minimal success in treating symptoms and no success in slowing the progression of the disease. In patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease, the beneficial effects of L-Dopa therapy usually disappears after four years of treatment.

The following herbs having the long history of promoting mental health have been clinically-validated for their claims.

Bacopa monnieri (Brahmi)

Bacopa monnieri is a perennial, creeping, aquatic herb native to the wetlands of southern India, Australia, Europe, and North and South America. Its therapeutic importance is extensively described in Ayurveda. It is also known as “Brahmi,” named after Brahma, the creator-God of the Hindu pantheon. Ancient Sanskrit texts like Charaka Samhita, Atharva-Veda, and Susrut Samhita term Brahmi as a “Medhya rasayana”–class herb taken to sharpen intellect and attenuate mental deficits. The herb was believed to be used by ancient Indian Vedic scholars to memorize lengthy sacred hymns and scriptures.

A meta-analysis of studies using Bacopa monnieri shows that taking the extracts results in consistent improvements in language behavior and memory improvements in memory-impaired persons. Significant improvements were also seen in hyperactivity and attention-deficit disorders.

Human trials with Alzheimer’s patients suggest that regular consumption of Bacopa monnieri extract might be a good strategy to delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, something that prescription drugs have failed to do. Although clinical testing of Bacopa monnieri is still in its infancy, a review on Bacopa concluded that there is evidence that “Bacopa could potentially be clinically prescribed as a memory enhancer” even in non-demented subjects. Bacopa monnieri improved 9 out of 17 free recall memory tasks in one study. Another study demonstrated improved memory span with Bacopa, while a third analysis supports previous findings that Bacopa monnieri “most effectively reduces the rate of forgetting, but not acquisition or other aspects of cognition.”

Bacopa monnieri extract reduces alpha synuclein aggregation and prevents dopaminergic neurodegeneration in an animal model of Parkinson’s disease, the two primary hallmarks of Parkinson’s disease. In most patients with Parkinson’s, symptoms appear only when 80% of the dopaminergic neurons are gone. Treatment with Bacopa extract also restored the lipid content in C. elegans, a roundworm species, suggesting its potential as a possible anti-Parkinson’s natural extract. In another study, Bacopa monnieri extract showed increased lifespan of ordinary wild-type nematodes, which also demonstrates that long-term administration of the extract is relatively safe and non-toxic.

In a rat model of Alzheimer’s disease, oral Bacopa monnieri extract completely reversed the damaging effects of injected colchicine on the brain.

Centella asiatica (Gotu Kola)

Centella asiatica, also called as Gotu Kola is a perennial herb and a member of the same plant family as parsley and carrots. It grows abundantly in the wetlands of Asia, South Africa, and Australia. Traditionally, Gotu Kola has been used Chinese, Indonesian, and Indian Ayurvedic medicine as a natural remedy for a range of ailments. It is thought to be effective brain health promoter, as it is known to be useful against mental fatigue, anxiety, depression, memory loss, and insomnia. Legend has it that ancient sages used it as a ‘meditation aid’ and it has been thought to restore balance to the left and right hemispheres of the brain.

Several clinical trials have been conducted using Centella asiatica extract for treating disorders involving cognitive impairment or improving cognition in normal subjects. In a study of 28 healthy elderly volunteers, daily administration of Centella asiatica extract at the higher dose of 750 mg daily for two months enhanced working memory and improved self-rated mood following treatment. The authors of the study concluded that Centella asiatica “attenuated the age-related decline in cognitive function and mood in the healthy elderly.”

Beginning in the late 1970s, clinical testing of Centella asiatica showed that the plant extract could improve mental function. In a double-blind study of mentally-deficient children, improvements in mental function were recorded in the 3rd and 6th month of Centella asiatica extract treatment.

On the opposite end of the age spectrum, 60 subjects (average age: 65 years) previously diagnosed with mild cognitive dysfunction were given 500 mg of Centella asiatica extract twice daily for 6 months. Significant improvement in cognitive function using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scoring system at the end of six months was observed.

The question of whether Centella asiatica can improve the cognition of normal subjects was demonstrated when 41 middle-age healthy volunteers (22 women and 19 men) were enrolled in a cognitive performance study using Centella asiatica extract taken once daily for two months. The Woodcock-Johnson Cognitive Abilities Test III demonstrated that the extract had “remarkable positive influence” on all of the subjects’ mental abilities tested.

Emblica officinalis (Amla, Indian Gooseberry)

Amla is an edible fruit used in Ayurvedic traditional medicine and is grown as a food by Indian families in their gardens. Amla is also mentioned as a maharasayana in Ayurvedic writings to promote intelligence and memory. It serves as an essential ingredient in making a mental tonic called ‘chyawanprash’, a delicious nutritive jam-like product that has been used in Ayurveda for thousands of years, which offers a range of health benefits. It also has known digestive and immune support properties. Researchers have studied the effects of the tannins present in Amla fruit on free radical pathology in the brain in animal models. Their results showed that Amla extract given orally to rats normalized reductions in oxidative free radical scavenging enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase) in rat brain frontal cortex and striatum, lowering brain cell membrane damage.

Studies suggest that tannins, but not the vitamin C are responsible for the potent antioxidant activity of Amla extracts. Amla has neuroprotection against aluminum-induced brain toxicity in rodent studies and protects against pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures, an experimental model for epilepsy.

Overall, Bacopa monnieri, Centella asiatica, and Emblica officinalis—all can be considered as most powerful natural supplements for brain health, better thinking, sharper focus, and improved memory retention without any side effects.

In Sports Nutritionby

Sports Nutrition and Ayurvedic Herbs

Ashwagandha and Terminalia arjuna May be Safe and Natural Alternatives to Enhance Athletic Performance and Endurance

Numerous Ayurvedic herbs have been clinically tested regarding performance enhancement, post-workout recovery time, and prevention of muscle damage. Performance enhancement property of Ayurvedic herbal extracts is due in part to their antioxidant potency and their century-long traditional use as effective drugs to treat human ailments across a broad-spectrum of afflictions.

Physical activity and exercise is one of the main wellsprings of health and well-being. Exercise can stimulate our immune system and provide us with vitality, strength, and stimulate the natural healing mechanisms of the body. In society, enormous sums of money are spent on attending athletic events and a great deal of research has been conducted on our athletes regarding performance enhancement using natural compounds.

Ayurvedic herbs provide a wide spectrum of benefits, from potent antioxidant capacity to protecting tissues and muscles against free radical damage provoked by intense exercise. Regular exercise reduces inflammatory signaling molecules, including INF-γ, TNF-α, and IL-6. Exercise also stimulates DNA repair through a hormesis-like mechanism, where a tiny amount of DNA damage produces a massive over-response in DNA repair mechanisms and over-expression of endogenous antioxidant enzymes that include superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. The Antioxidant Response Element (ARE) is exquisitely sensitive to changes in free-radical levels caused by exercise and orders the production of these enzymes when needed to maintain cellular homeostasis. The anti-inflammatory effect of exercise specifically protects the cardiovascular system by reducing adhesion molecules that could otherwise cause blood clots, while also lowering C-reactive protein and homocystine levels, biomarkers associated with lower cardiovascular disease risk.

Following are a few natural ingredients that are considered useful as sports nutrients:

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha, also known as Withania somnifera or Indian winter cherry, has been an important traditional herbal medicine for over 3,000 years. It is an integral part of several formulations meant for a variety of musculoskeletal conditions (e.g., arthritis, rheumatism), and as a general tonic to increase energy, improve overall health and longevity.

In an 8-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 57 young men with no prior experience with resistance training were randomized into a treatment group of 29 persons and a placebo group of 28. Subjects in the treatment group consumed 300 mg of Ashwagandha extract twice daily, while the control group took a starch placebo. Both groups underwent resistance training for 8 weeks and measurements were made at the end of week 8. The primary efficacy measure was muscle strength and secondary measures were muscle size, body composition, serum testosterone, and muscle recovery time. Muscle recovery was evaluated using serum creatine kinase levels as a marker of post-exercise muscle injury.

The Ashwagandha-treated group had greater increase in muscle strength on the bench-press exercise (46. 0 kg vs. control 26.4 kg) and the leg-extension exercise (14.5 kg vs. control 9.8 kg), greater muscle size increase of the arms (8.6 cm vs. control 5.3 cm), and chest (3.3 cm vs control 2.0 cm). The subjects receiving Ashwagandha also experienced a greater reduction of exercise-induced muscle damage as seen byt he higher stabilization of serum creatine kinase levels (higher is better) (i.e. 1,462.6 micromol/ liter vs. the placebo group 1,307.5 micromol/liter).The Ashwagandha-treated group had higher testosterone levels at the end of 8 weeks (Ashwagandha group 96.2 ng/dl vs. placebo group 18.0 ng/dl), along with a greater decrease in body fat percentage.

The most striking observation of the study was increased levels of testosterone in the Ashwagonda-treated group (from 18.0 to 96.2 ng/dl). This level had previously been seen only in the Indian (brown variety) of Fenugreek extract-treated men with 98% testosterone increase compared to a placebo group after six weeks of weight training.

Terminalia arjuna

This Ayurvedic herb is commonly known by the name Arjuna, and is a powerful heart tonic that is commonly used in various Ayurvedic preparations by traditional Ayurvedic practitioners to support cardiovascular health. It is known to increase the energy potential of the body due to the ability to increase the rate of oxygen consumption by cells.

Effects of Ashwagandha and Terminalia arjuna extracts on Exercise Performance

A clinical trial involving 40 normal, healthy young people of both sexes were divided into 4 groups: the first group receiving a standardized extract of Ashwagandha 500 mg, the second group receiving a standardized extract of Terminalia arjuna bark extract 500 mg, and a third group receiving both Ashwagandha and Terminalia arjuna extracts, 500 mg of each. The fourth group received placebo capsules. All the subjects continued the regimen for 8 weeks.

The Ashwagandha-treated group had increased velocity (breathing power) and VO2 max (lung oxygen capacity) increases over the placebo group during exercise. The Terminalia arjuna group had increased VO2 max and lowered resting systolic blood pressure. In the Ashwagandha and Terminalia arjuna-treated group, the improvement was seen in both VO2 and lower post-exercise diastolic and systolic blood pressure. The lowering of post exercise blood pressure signifies better recovery and healthier blood pressure. The study author concluded that “Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) may therefore be useful for generalized weakness and to improve speed and lower limb muscular strength, and neuromuscular coordination. Terminalia arjuna may prove useful to improve cardiovascular endurance and lowering systolic blood pressure. Both drugs appear to be safe for young adults when given for mentioned dosage and duration.”

Ayurvedic herbs have been mostly overlooked regarding their applications in the performance enhancement field. Recent human clinical trials have revealed the potency of Ashwagandha and Terminalia arjuna extracts in increasing weight training results, cardiovascular risk reduction in exercise, increased lung oxygen capacity, and lower resting blood pressure effects. Hence, Ayurvedic herbs should be re-examined by both consumers and supplement formulators as novel ingredients to include in exercise-based products.

In Bacopa monnieraby

Memory At Its Best! With The Use Of Bacopa Monniera

Bacopin is botanically Bacopa monniera (syn. Herpestis monniera) or Brahmi, belonging to family Scrophulariaceae. Brahmi1,2,3,4,5 has been used by Ayurvedic medical practitioners in India since ancient times. The Ayurvedic physician, Charaka, in his treatise the Charaka Samhita, included Brahmi in formulations used in the management of mental conditions. According to Charaka, it acts as an effective brain tonic, boosting ones capabilities to think and reason. In India, it is a popular drug recognized as being effective in the treatment of mental illness and epilepsy. In the ancient Indian texts of Ayurveda, Brahmi has been described as sweet in taste, producing coolness. It also possesses the capacity to increase strength and endurance capabilities in individuals. Traditionally, Brahmi is attributed with detoxifying properties acting as a laxative and astringent. It is also described as “light” in digestion, attenuating brain functions and promoting longevity.

The name Brahmi is derived from the word “Brahma“, the mythical “creator” in the Hindu pantheon. According to Hindu concepts, the brain is the center for creative activity, and therefore the drug that improves this faculty of the brain is called Brahmi. Brahmi is also believed to promote fertility. Other Sanskrit names for this plant are “Bahuphene“, Atiphena” and “Phenavati“. The word “Phena” means “foaming property”. When mixed with water, Bacopa plant parts produce stable froth, as indicated in these synonyms. From the known pharmacological effects of the drug, it is understood that it has an unusual combination of constituents to combat mental inefficiency and illnesses as well as convulsive disorders, like epilepsy. The plant contains bacosides, the active principles responsible for improving memory related functions. These compounds are attributed with the capability to enhance the efficiency of transmission of nerve impulses, thereby strengthening memory and cognition.

BACOPA MONNIERA
 

The mechanism of memory

The hippocampus in the brain is the seat of the memory functions. It is located in the temporal (left and right) sides of the brain. The hippocampus processes signals sent to the brain by the senses into the templates of memory, which are then stored in other parts of the brain, creating a long term memory. Signals are triggered into electrical impulses in the nerve cells due to a rapid change in protein composition. These impulses are then conducted across neurons (nerve cells) and through synapses, which connect nerve cells. This process continues till the bonds between the nerve cells strengthen, and the memory is created.

Normal synaptic activity is a process mediated by neurotransmitters. Each neuron is a single nerve cell. It has one or more arms called axons that send signals (impulses) and one or more other arms called dendrites that receive signals. When a signal is transmitted through an axon terminal, spherical bodies called vesicles fuse with its membrane. Neurotransmitters are released when the vesicles burst open into the synaptic space, (a station to discharge “passengers”, the neurotransmitters) that is, the minute space between the sending and receiving cells. To end the signal, the axons reabsorb some neuro-transmitters and the enzymes in the synapse neutralize the other neurotransmitters 6. It is evident that a disruption in any part of this process would affect memory. This would occur with age and continuous electrical activity, resulting in the synapses getting worn out. New memory creation is thereby impaired and loss of memory occurs.

Chemical substances and plant extracts that are known to restore memory, work in different ways. The bacosides are the memory chemicals in Brahmi. According to scientists at the Central Drug Research Institute based in Lucknow, India, the bacosides help to repair damaged neurons by adding muscle to kinase, the protein involved in the synthesis of new neurons to replace the old ones7. Depleted synaptic activity is thus restored, leading to boosting of memory.

In this context, it is interesting to compare the mechanism of action of the bacosides with those of other plant extracts that possess neuropharmacological activity, (such as Ginkgo biloba), and the well known brain cell nutrient, phosphatidylserine. Ginkgo possesses efficacy in alleviating disturbances of the central nervous system of both the primary degenerative type (early stages of degenerative dementia) as well as those conditions of vascular origin. Several fractions in Ginkgo biloba extract have been proven to be the active components. They function through two major mechanisms8:

  1. a) Improvement of cerebral circulation, a function related to the anti-ischemic activity of the extract. Patients suffering from CNS insufficiency states or peripherial vascular and neurosensory disorders are thereby benefited.
  2. b) Protective effect of the extract on neural tissue (via free radical scavenging, increased energy metabolism or through inhibition of neurotransmitter degrading enzymes). Both these mechanisms indirectly contribute to enhancing alertness, awareness and cognition. However, direct effects on retention and memory are not indicated.

The well known brain cell nutrient, phosphatidylserine is a phospholipid that forms one of the large “lipid” molecules that hold the other large molecules in the cell’s membrane systems together. The cell membrane plays a vital role in the entry of nutrients into the cell, the exit of waste products, inter-cell communications, ion transport and cell movement. Being a vital part of the cell menbrane, phosphatidyl serine helps to attenuate these functions, thereby helping to maintain the cell’s internal environment , enhancing signal transduction mediated through protein kinase C and adenylate cyclase and promoting secretory vesicle release, a process essential for the release of neurotransmitters. All these effects contribute to the protective effect of phosphatidylserine on the hippocampus, the seat of memory. The loss of dendrite connections which normally occurs due to aging is thereby prevented9. Phosphatidylserine thus indirectly affects memory.

Controversy between Bacopa monniera and Centella asiatica.

In India Bacopa monniera is known as “brahmi” and the plant enjoys considerable reputation in the indigenous system of medicine as a nerve tonic. Early literature used the name brahmi to refer to another plant species known as Centella asiatica Linn. which is the Indian penniwort10. However, the name jala-brahmi or water- brahmi assigned to Bacopa monniera in ancient Sanskrit writings provides the differentiation10. The vernacular name “mandukaparni”, often confused with brahmi, in fact refers to Centella asiatica.

A critical study of the comparative phytochemistry, pharmacology and therapeutic properties of these two drugs also support the view that they are distinct:

  1. Charaka3 considers them both to be promoters of mental ability, but suggests that brahmi is superior to mandukaparni. brahmi is used to treat specific mental disorders such as insanity and epilepsy, while mandukaparni is a general rejuvenative tonic which improves mental health.
  2. Brahmi promotes fertility and sustains implantation of the embryo in the uterus, while mandukaparni tends to reject the embryo. This suggests that the plant materials have opposite effects on uterine functions.

 

References

  1. Chopra, R.N., Chopra, I.C. Handa K.K. and Kapur, L.D. (1994). Indigenous Drugs of India. Academic Publishers, Calcutta, India
  2. Kirtikar, K.R. and B.D. Basu, (1993). Indian Medicinal Plants. Periodical Experts Book Agency, New Delhi, India.
  3. 3. Nadkarni, A. K., (1954). Indian Materia Medica, Vol. 1, Popular Book Depot, Bombay.
  4. Chopra, R.N., (1958). Indigenous drugs of India, 2nd Edition, U.N. Dhur and Sons, Calcutta. P.341.
  5. Chopra, I.C., Handa, K.L. and. Sobti, S.N (1956). Indian J. Pharm. 18: 369
  6. Swerdlow, J.L., (1995) Quiet Miracles of the Brain, The National Geographic, June: 2.-21
  7. Chhachhi, V., (1996) Business Today, March 22- April 6 issue, page 18.
  8. DeFeudis, F.V. (1991) Ginkgo biloba Extract (EGb 761): Pharmacological activities and clinical applications. Elsevier. 13(3): 163- 167.
  9. Kidd, P.M. (1995) Phosphatidylserine (PS) a remarkable brain cell nutrient. Lucas Meyer, Inc.
  10. Satyawati, G., Gupta, A.K. and Tandon, N. (1987) in Medicinal plants of India, Vol. 2, (ICMR, New Delhi), 50.
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