Systematic Overview of Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst. Dominant Poly-Herbal Formulas in Children and Adolescents

Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Obesity Potential of Extracts Containing Phenols, Chlorophyll and Carotenoids from Mexican Wild Populations of Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst

Some of the species of the genus Bacopa have been used in Pharmacopoeia worldwide. However, in Mexico, Bacopa monnieri has neither been extensively cultivated nor studied, nor has their use in traditional medicine been reported. The aim of this work was to assess the taxonomic verification of the four wild populations of B. monnieri, the chemical content of their pigments and phenols and to provide an analysis of their potential bioactivity. B. monnieri wild populations from Mexico were validated using molecular markers. Chromatographic profiling using HPLC-PDA revealed 21 compounds comprising 12 chlorophylls and nine carotenoids; of the latter, the major ones were lutein (0.921 ± 0.031 μg/mg of dry extract) and β-carotene (0.095 ± 0.003 μg/mg of dry extract). The total phenolic content, determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu assay, ranged from 54.8 ± 5.8 to 70.3 ± 2.2 µg of gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/mg. Plant extracts scavenged from the free radical DPPH in IC₅₀ ranged from 130.6 ± 3.0 to 249.9 ± 12.1 µg dry extract/mL. In terms of the anti-inflammatory potential, the most effective extract was from a soil-based plant from Jalisco (BS), reduced from nitric oxide in a RAW 264.7 culture medium, with an IC₅₀ value of 134 µg of dry extract/mL. The BS extract showed a significant neutral lipid-reducing activity in the zebrafish model, ranging from 3.13 μg/mL p < 0.05 to 100 μg/mL p < 0.0001. Overall, the extracts analyzed here for the first time seem promising for future use because of their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-obesity potential.

Importance of high-quality evidence regarding the use of Bacopa monnieri in dementia

Background

Bacopa monnieri (BM), a commonly used herb, has shown neuroprotective effects in animal and in vitro studies; but human studies on patients with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) have been inconclusive. Further high-quality trials are required to conclusively state the utility of BM in AD and other neurodegenerative dementias.

Methods

In the present study, we did a narrative review of the current challenges in designing clinical trials of BM in dementia and their evidence-based recommendations.

Results

Many facets of the BM trials need improvement, especially effect size and sample size estimation. Current assessment and outcomes measures need a more holistic approach and newer scales for diagnosing and monitoring prodromal AD. The stringent guidelines in CONSORT and STROBE are often considered difficult to implement for clinical trials in ayurvedic medications like BM. However, adherence to these guidelines will undoubtedly improve the quality of evidence and go a long way in assessing whether BM is efficacious in treating AD/prodromal AD patients and other neurodegenerative dementias.

Conclusion

Future studies on BM should implement more randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with an appropriate sample size of accurately diagnosed AD/prodromal AD patients, administering a recommended dosage of BM and for a pre-specified time calculated to achieve adequate power for the study. Researchers should also develop and validate more sensitive cognitive scales, especially for prodromal AD. BM should be evaluated in accordance with the same rigorous standards as conventional drugs to generate the best quality evidence.

Biotechnology for propagation and secondary metabolite production in Bacopa monnieri

Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst. or water hyssop commonly known as "Brahmi" is a small, creeping, succulent herb from the Plantaginaceae family. It is popularly employed in Ayurvedic medicine as a nerve tonic to improve memory and cognition. Of late, this plant has been reported extensively for its pharmacologically active phyto-constituents. The main phytochemicals are brahmine, alkaloids, herpestine, and saponins. The saponins include bacoside A, bacoside B, and betulic acid. Investigation into the pharmacological effect of this plant has thrived lately, encouraging its neuroprotective and memory supporting capacity among others. Besides, it possesses many other therapeutic activities like antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective properties, etc. Because of its multipurpose therapeutic potential, it is overexploited owing to the prioritization of natural remedies over conventional ones, which compels us to conserve them. B. monnieri is confronting the danger of extinction from its natural habitat as it is a major cultivated medico-botanical and seed propagation is restricted due to less seed availability and viability. The ever-increasing demand for the plant can be dealt with mass propagation through plant tissue culture strategy. Micropropagation utilizing axillary meristems as well as de novo organogenesis have been widely investigated in this plant which has also been explored for its conservation and production of different types of secondary metabolites. Diverse in vitro methods such as organogenesis, cell suspension, and callus cultures have been accounted for with the aim of production and/or enhancement of bacosides. Direct shoot-organogenesis was initiated in excised leaf and internodal explants without any exogenous plant growth regulator(s) (PGRs), and the induction rate was improved when exogenous cytokinins and other supplements were used. Moreover, biotechnological toolkits like Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and the use of mutagens have been reported. Besides, the molecular marker-based studies demonstrated the clonal fidelity among the natural and in vitro generated plantlets also elucidating the inherent diversity among the natural populations. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system was mostly employed to optimize bacoside biosynthesis and heterologous expression of other genes. The present review aims at depicting the recent research outcomes of in vitro studies performed on B. monnieri which include root and shoot organogenesis, callus induction, somatic embryogenesis, production of secondary metabolites by in vitro propagation, acclimatization of the in vitro raised plantlets, genetic transformation, and molecular marker-based studies of clonal fidelity. KEY POINTS: • Critical and up to date records on in vitro propagation of Bacopa monnieri • In vitro propagation and elicitation of secondary metabolites from B. monnieri • Molecular markers and transgenic studies in B. monnieri.

Bacopa monnieri (L.) wettst. Extract protects against glutamate toxicity and increases the longevity of Caenorhabditis elegans

Background

Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, cause a great deal of suffering for both patients and carers. Bacopa monnieri (L.) wettst. Is known for its memory-enhancing properties, and is of great interest in treating neurodegenerative disease.

Aims

This study aimed to evaluate B.monnieri against glutamate toxicity, and identify whether B.monnieri reduces mitochondrial and ER stress, as well as to measure B.monnieri’s effect on the life span and aging of Caenorhabditis elegans. We hypothesized that B.monnieri would prevent cellular oxidative stress, prevent mitochondrial/ER stress, and increase the life span while reducing signs of aging in C.elegans.

Experimental procedures

Glutamate toxicity was measured using viable cell staining assays and the MTT assay. ROS and mitochondrial stress were assessed by H₂DCFDA and Rodamine123 staining, with fluorescence/confocal microscopy. C.elegans’ median and maximum life span were measured, in response to B.monnieri treatment, along with lipofuscin imaging to measure the health of the C.elegans population.

Results

B.monnieri hexane extract (but not ethanol extract) prevented the toxicity of 5 mM glutamate in HT-22 cells. We found that the mechanism involves the reduction of ROS production and the prevention of mitochondrial and ER stress. Furthermore, we showed that B.monnieri could increase the median and maximal lifespan of wild type C.elegans, maintain a younger appearing phenotype in the aged C.elegans.

Conclusions

In conclusion, B.monnieri prevents mitochondrial, and oxidative stress in the cultured cells. Furthermore, it can prolong the healthy lifespan of C.elegans, indicating that B.monnieri the potential for therapeutic and preventative use in neurodegenerative disease.

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First B.monnieri study to investigate the HT-22 cell glutamate toxicity model.

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B.monnieri protects HT-22 cells from oxidative stress caused by glutamate toxicity.

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B.monnieri prevents ER stress, changing the expression s of ER Stress proteins CHOP and ERP57.

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B.monnieri prevents mitochondrial stress, preventing mitochondrial leakage.

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B.monnieri increases the median and maximal life span, and reduces aging in wild type C.elegans.

Effect of a Fibroin Enzymatic Hydrolysate on Memory Improvement: A Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Study

The consumption of a specifically prepared silk fibroin protein enzymatic hydrolysate (FPEH) has been reported to improve cognitive function in healthy humans. The objective of the current study is to evaluate the dose-dependent effects of the FPEH on memory. Healthy adults with an average age of approximately 55 years were administered doses of 0, 280, 400 and 600 mg of FPEH per day in two divided doses for 3 weeks. The Rey-Kim Auditory Verbal Learning Test and the Rey-Kim Complex Figure Test of the Rey-Kim Memory Test were used to evaluate memory at baseline and after 3 weeks. The scores for each test were combined into the memory quotient score (MQ). Learning gradient, memory maintenance, retrieval efficacy, and drawing/recall scores were also compared. After 3 weeks of FPEH, dose-dependent increases were observed for the MQ, the learning gradient, the numbers of words remembered, the retrieval efficiency, and drawing/recall. The optimal dose for FPEH was 400 or 600 mg, depending on the end point measured. No adverse effects were reported. FPEH significantly improved measurements of memory in healthy adults by 3 weeks at doses over 280 mg daily, with an apparent plateau effect at 400-600 mg daily.