Bacoside health benefit and role in mental health and memory enhancement, use for neurological disorders
Bacoside A, a triterpenoid saponin, is a major constituent isolated from the plant Bacopa monniera Linn. used a a memory herb and for mental enhancement. This substance appears to have antioxidant and liver protective potential. Bacoside A is thought to be the active ingredient in bacopa herb along with bacoside B. There are various standardized extracts of bacopa containing different percentages of bacosides. Two common bacopa extracts include bacosides at 20 percent and 40 percent.
Bacopa extract supplement with bacosides
Bacopa
monnieri has been revered for
centuries in the Ayurvedic herbal tradition of India to enhance clear thinking
and support memory function. Studies have shown that Bacopa supports learning
and memory in humans. Bacoside A is a triterpenoid saponin isolated from the plant Bacopa monniera.
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Bacopa Monnieri Supplement Facts
Bacopa whole plant extract - 450 mg* (20% bacosides A and B)
Bacosides for high altitude
oxygen deprivation?
Bacopa monniera leaf extract ameliorates hypobaric hypoxia induced spatial
memory
impairment.
Neurobiol Dis. 2008 December. Hota SK, Barhwal K, Baitharu I, Prasad D, Singh
SB, Ilavazhagan G. Hota SK, Barhwal K, Baitharu I, Prasad D, Singh SB,
Ilavazhagan G. Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Lucknow
Road, Timarpur, Delhi-110054, India.
Hypobaric hypoxia induced memory impairment has been attributed to several
factors including increased oxidative stress, depleted mitochondrial
bioenergetics, altered neurotransmission and apoptosis. This multifactorial
response of the brain to hypobaric hypoxia limits the use of therapeutic agents
that target individual pathways for ameliorating hypobaric hypoxia induced
memory impairment. The present study aimed at exploring the therapeutic
potential of a bacoside rich leaf extract of Bacopa monniera in improving the
memory functions in hypobaric conditions. The learning ability was evaluated in
male Sprague Dawley rats along with memory retrieval following exposure to
hypobaric conditions simulating an altitude of 25,000 ft for different
durations. The effect of bacoside administration on apoptosis, cytochrome c
oxidase activity, ATP levels, and oxidative stress markers and on plasma
corticosterone levels was investigated. Bacoside administration was seen to
enhance learning ability in rats along with augmentation in memory retrieval and
prevention of dendritic atrophy following hypoxic exposure. In addition, it
decreased oxidative stress, plasma corticosterone levels and neuronal
degeneration. Bacoside administration also increased cytochrome c oxidase
activity along with a concomitant increase in ATP levels. Hence, administration
of bacosides could be a useful therapeutic strategy in ameliorating hypobaric
hypoxia induced cognitive dysfunctions and other related neurological disorders.
Bacosides are found in a memory formula called
mind power rx,
formulated by a medical doctor.
Bacoside for liver health and
antioxidant
Hepatoprotective activity of bacoside A
against N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced liver toxicity in adult rats.
Cell Biol Toxicol. 2008 August. Janani P, Sivakumari K, Parthasarathy C. Janani
P, Sivakumari K, Parthasarathy C. Department of Zoology, Presidency College,
Chennai, 600 005, Tamil Nadu, India.
N-Nitrosodiethylamine (DEN) is a notorious carcinogen, present in many
environmental factors. DEN induces oxidative stress and cellular injury due to
enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species; free radical scavengers protect
the membranes from DEN-induced damage. The present study was designed to
evaluate the protective effect of bacoside A (the active principle isolated from
Bacopa monniera Linn.) on carcinogen-induced damage in rat liver. Adult male
albino rats were pretreated with 15 mg/kg body weight/day of bacoside A orally
(for 14 days) and then intoxicated with single necrogenic dose of N-nitrosodiethylamine
(200 mg/kg bodyweight, intraperitonially) and maintained for 7 days. The liver
weight, lipid peroxidation (LPO), and activity of serum marker enzymes (aspartate
transaminases, alanine transaminases, lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline
phosphatase, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase) were markedly increased in
carcinogen-administered rats, whereas the activities of marker enzymes were near
normal in bacoside A-pretreated rats. Activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide
dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase,
glutatione-S-transferase, and reduced glutathione) in liver also decreased in
carcinogen-administered rats, which were significantly elevated in bacoside
A-pretreated rats. It is concluded that pretreatment of bacoside A prevents the
elevation of LPO and activity of serum marker enzymes and maintains the
antioxidant system and thus protects the rats from DEN-induced hepatotoxicity.
Hepatoprotective effect of Bacoside-A, a major constituent of Bacopa monniera
Linn.
Phytomedicine. 2008 Jan 25.
Sumathi T, Nongbri A.
Department of Medical Biochemistry, Dr. ALM Post Graduate Institute of Basic
Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Chennai 600113, Tamil
Nadu, India.
Bacoside-A was evaluated for its hepatoprotective activity against d-GalN
induced liver injury in rats. B-A (10mg/kg of body weight) was administered orally once
daily for 21 days and then d-GalN (300mg/kg of body weight) was injected on 21st
day after final administration of
Bacoside A.
Bacoside A reduced the elevated levels of serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase
(ALP), gamma-glutamyl transferase (gamma-GT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH),
5'nucleotidase (5'ND). In addition
Bacoside A also significantly restored towards
normalization of the decreased levels of Vit-C, and Vit-E induced by d-GalN both
in liver and plasma. These results suggest that
Bacoside A has hepatoprotective effect
against d-GalN induced hepatotxicity in rats.
Bacoside protects brain tissue from cigarette harm
Chronic cigarette smoke exposure enhances oxidative stress, thereby disturbing
the tissue defense system and bacoside A protects the brain from the oxidative
damage through its antioxidant potential.
Cigarette smoking induces heat shock protein 70 kDa expression and apoptosis in
rat brain: Modulation by bacoside A.
Neuroscience. 2006;138(4):1127-35. Anbarasi K, Kathirvel G, Vani G, Jayaraman G,
Shyamala Devi CS. Department of Biochemistry, University of Madras, Guindy
Campus, Chennai 600 025, India.
Apoptosis is suggested as a possible contributing factor in the pathogenesis of
smoking-induced toxicity. Therefore the present study was designed to
investigate the influence of chronic cigarette smoke exposure on apoptosis and
the modulatory effect of bacoside A on smoking-induced apoptosis in rat brain.
Adult male albino rats of Wistar strain were exposed to cigarette smoke and
simultaneously administered with bacoside A for a period of 12 weeks.
Administration of bacoside A prevented expression of hsp70 and neuronal
apoptosis during cigarette smoking. We speculate that apoptosis may be
responsible for the smoking-induced brain damage and bacoside A can protect the
brain from the toxic effects of cigarette smoking.
Memory
Bacopa monnieri and Bacoside - A for ameliorating epilepsy associated behavioral
deficits.
Fitoterapia.. Mathew J, Paul J, Nandhu MS, Paulose CS. Molecular Neurobiology
and Cell Biology Unit, Centre for Neuroscience, Department of Biotechnology,
Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin-682 022, Kerala, India.
Bacopa monnieri is an outstanding nervine tonic used for raising the mental
performance. It helps in concentration, comprehension, recall and alertness,
Brahmi is particularly beneficial as it aids in categorizing information in
brain and its subsequent expression. Bacopa is also called as a natural
antioxidant which may give details its neuroprotective role seen in the memory
centers of the brain. Epilepsy is neuronal disorder characterized by learning,
cognitive and memory impairments. The present review summarizes information
concerning botany, chemistry and beneficial effect of Bacopamonnieri on epilepsy
associated behavioral deficits.
Q. I take a supplement with bacosides in the morning and I have not had any problems taking a 50 mg 5-htp supplement in the evening before dinner.