Review Article International Ayurvedic Medical Journal ISSN:2320 5091

A CRITICAL REVIEW ON BRAHMI Ashalatha M1, L.N.Shenoy.2* 1 Professor and HOD; Department of Dravyaguna, Government Ayurveda Medical College, Bengaluru, 2* Ph.D Scholar, Department of Dravyaguna, Government Ayurveda medical college, Bengaluru, Karna- taka,

ABSTRACT and monnieri widely known as Brahmi are considered as ‘Medhya rasayanas’ (brain tonic). However, these are distinctly different. The name Brahmi, is assigned to Bacopa monnieri whereas "Mandukaparni", often confused with Brahmi, refers to Centella asiatica. Brahmi is largely treasured as a revitalizing used by Ayurvedic medical practitioners for almost 3000 years. The herb has been mentioned in several Ayurvedic treatises including Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita. In addition to being a well-known herb for centuries, it has also been used as an antispasmodic, astringent, cardio tonic, diuretic, anti-convulsant, anti-inflam- matory, analgesic, antipyretic and antiepileptic agent. Brahmi is a well-known nootropic herb and its uses in neurological and psychiatric disorders are well recognized. Its efficacy and safety is supported by research and thousands of years of knowledge and experience. Despite being such an old medicine, its new benefits are constantly being studied. Brahmi is one of the most sattvic known in Ayurvedic pharmacopeia since vedic times. Hence here is an attempt to compile all the classical references of Brahmi a wonder drug. Keywords: Brahmi, Bacopa monnieri, nootropic, medhya rasayana

INTRODUCTION almost 3000 years. The herb has been men- In recent times, the use of herbal products tioned in several Ayurvedic treatises in- has increased significantly. Brahmi is an cluding Charaka Samhita and Sushruta important medicinal that has been Samhita. In addition to being a well-known widely used therapeutically in the orient and nootropic herb for centuries, it has also been is becoming increasingly popular in the de- used as an antispasmodic, astringent, cardio veloping countries as well as in the west. tonic, diuretic, anticonvulsant, anti-inflam- Brahmi is a Sanskrit word derived from matory, analgesic, antipyretic and antiepi- “Lord Brahma” or “Brahman”. Lord Brahma leptic agent. The ancient Ayurvedic sages, is the divinity responsible for all of the crea- who were also great physicians, revealed tive forces in the world and Brahman is the Brahmi’s role in promoting Medhya (intel- Hindu name given to the universal con- lect), Ayushya (longevity), Rasayana (reju- sciousness. Brahmi literally means the en- venation), Hrdhya (Heart), Balya (strength, ergy (“Shakti”) of Brahma. In India, Brahmi especially mind), Jivaniya (life energy), is largely treasured as a revitalizing herb Nidrajanana (sleep) etc. Over the centuries, used by Ayurvedic medical practitioners for the role of Brahmi in the treatment of Ashalatha M & L.N.Shenoy: A Critical Review On Brahmi Kustha (leprosy/skin disorder), Pandu Aindriya Rasayana, Apasmara Chikitsa, (anemia), Meha (diabetes), Asra Vikara Kushtha Chikitsa. (blood disorders), Kasa (cough), Visa (poi-  Sushruta mentioned preparations of son), Sopha (edema), Jwara (fever), Un- Brahmi ghrita and Brahmi rasayana. mada (insanity), and Manasavikara (mental  Acharya vagbhata in uttara sthana disorders) has been well described. Bacopa quoted Brahmi as the best remedy for monnieri of Scrophulariaceae is the accepted Apasmara. source of Brahmi. It is a weak, creeping her- NIGHANTU KALA5,9,10,11,17 baceous plant common in marshes and is  According to Shodhala Nighantu Brahmi called Brahmi or Nirbarhmi in vernacular lan- is superior to Mandukaparni guages. The whole plant is used in a variety of  According to Bhavaprakasha Nighantu preparations like Brahmighritam, Mish- Brahmi and Mandukaparni have the rakasneham etc. It commonly grows same properties. throughout India, , , Paki-  Priya nighantu mentions Brahmi in stan, , , & USA. Due Shatapusphadi varga. to Brahmi’s widespread availability across the  Nighantu adarsha mentions Brahmi in globe, it is often recognized by different names Tiktalonika varga in different regions and languages .Thus,  Botanically it is identified as Bacopa Brahmi has a lot to offer to the medical monnieri Linn./Herpestis monniera world. Linn. CLASSICAL REVIEW OF BRAHMI : PARYAYA PADAANI:  A reference is found in Yajurveda about Brahmi : MEDHYA JANAKATWATH Brahmi,it has been described as Santha- BRAHMI HITA. nothpadaka. The one which is intellect prom oting is  Atharva parisista and other texts quote called as Brahmi . Brahmi as Medhya (A.P. 1/44/10) Jalasaya - available in water sources  Mentioned in Kausika Sutra (82.26) Toyavalli - grows abundantly in an around 1-3 SAMHITA KALA: water  In Charaka Samhita it is explained under Tiktalonika - it is bitter type of lonika Prajastapana maha- Vayastha - rejuvenates individual kashaya,Garbhasthapana dravya, Somavalli - A creeper prefers marshy areas for its growth Table 1: Showing Synonyms of Brahmi 4, 7, 8,6,5,9,10,11,24 Synonyms B.N P.N S.N K.N M.N R.N D.N A.N H.D L.N

Brahmi + _ _ _ + _ + + _ + Kapotavanka + ______Somavalli + ______Saraswathi + _ _ _ + _ _ _ _ + Satyavathi + ______+ Satyahva _ _ _ _ + _ _ _ _ _

www.iamj.in IAMJ: Volume 4; Issue 02; January - 2016 Ashalatha M & L.N.Shenoy: A Critical Review On Brahmi Divyateja _ _ + _ _ _ + _ _ _ Tiktalonika ______+ _ _ Twastra _ _ + _ _ _ + _ _ _ Mahashoudhi _ _ + _ _ _ + _ _ _ Brahmacharini _ _ _ _ + _ _ _ + + Toyavalli ______+ _ _ Jalashaya ______+ _ _ Vaami ______+ _ _ Brahmasuvarchala _ _ + _ _ _ + _ _ _ Mastyakshi _ _ + ______+ Sustara _ _ + ______Soma _ _ + _ + _ _ _ _ _ Medhya _ _ + ______Sowmya ______+ _ _ _ Vinirdista ______+ _ _ _ Lavani _ _ + ______Vayastha ______+ Brahmani ______+ Somavallari ______+ Bharathi _ _ + ______Sharadhi _ _ + ______Smarani _ _ + ______Aindri _ + ______Suswara ______+ Indravalli _ + ______Kathitendrapatni _ + ______Chendranishaka _ + ______Munibhi _ + ______Kupodaka _ + ______Lonidala _ + ______Ambunimba _ + ______VERNACULAR NAMES17 Table 2: Showing Vernacular names of Brahmi Arabic Zarazab Bengali Brahmi sak, Jalanimba, Vdhabini, Birmi Bombay Bama Chinese Pa-Chi-Tlien English Water Hyssop, Thyme leaved gratiola Hindi Brahmi, Jalnim, Barambhi Kannada Nirubrahmi, Kiru brahmi, Neeruppi gida

www.iamj.in IAMJ: Volume 4; Issue 02; January - 2016 Ashalatha M & L.N.Shenoy: A Critical Review On Brahmi Konkan Brahmi Malay Bremi Malayalam Brami, Nirbrahmi Marathi Nirbrahmi Persian Jaranab Sanskrit Aindri, Brahmi, Gundala, Indravalli, Jalasaya, Matyaksi, Tamil Nir pirami, Piramiye pundu, Vivitam campirani Telugu Sambrani Chettu, Neeri Sambraani mokka sambraani aaku Urdu Jalanim,nirabrahmi GANA/VARGA: 1,2,4,5,6,7,8,9,24,26 Table 3: Showing the classification according to various authors. Classical Text Gana /Varga Charaka samhita prajasthapana gana, Sushruta samhita Veeratharvadi gana Astanga sangraha - Nighantu Varga Bhavaprakasha Nighantu Guduchyadi varga Dhanwantari Nighantu karaveeradi varga Kaiyadeva Nighantu Oshadi varga Raja Nighantu Parpatadi varga Priya Nighantu shatapushpa varga Madanapala Nighantu Abhayadi varga Nighantu adarsha Tikta lonikavarga Shodala Nighantu karaveeradi varga Hrudaya deepika Nighantu Dweepada varga Saligrama nighantu Guduchyadi varga Dravyaguna vignana(P.V.sharma) Medhyadi varga RASAPANCHAKA 9,8,4,7,10,5,6,11 Table 4: Showing Rasa panchaka of Brahmi according to different authors Rasapanchaka B.N K.N D.N R.N P.N M.N S.N N.A Rasa Tikta + _ + + + _ + + Kashaya + _ _ + _ _ _ + Madhura + _ _ _ _ + _ _ Guna Laghu + + _ _ + + _ _ Sara + + _ _ + + + _ Hima + _ _ + _ + _ _

Picchila ______+ _ Soumya _ _ + _ _ _ _ _

www.iamj.in IAMJ: Volume 4; Issue 02; January - 2016 Ashalatha M & L.N.Shenoy: A Critical Review On Brahmi Sheeta _ _ _ _ + _ _ _ Veerya Sheeta + + + _ + _ _ _ Vipaka Madhura + + + _ + + + _ Doshaghnata Pittahara + + + + _ + + _ Kaphahara + + _ _ _ + + _ KARMAS 9,8,4,7,10,6,11 Table 5: Showing Karmas of Brahmi karmas B.N K.N D.N R.N P.N M.N S.N N.A Medya + _ _ _ + + + _ Shothahara + _ + _ + + _ _ Rasayani + _ _ _ + + _ _ Vishagna + _ _ _ _ + _ + Balya ______+ Hrudya _ _ _ _ + _ _ + Kushtagna + _ + _ + + _ _ Kandugna _ _ + _ _ _ _ _ Swarya + _ _ _ _ + _ + Mehagna + _ _ _ + + _ _ Smritiprada + _ _ _ _ + _ _ Jwaragna + _ + _ _ + _ + Ayushyavardaka + _ _ _ _ _ + _ Deepana _ _ + _ _ _ _ _ Pandugna _ _ + _ + + _ _ Pleehagna _ _ + _ _ _ _ _ Vayasthapani ______+ _ ROGAGHNATA 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,810,9,11 Table 6: Showing Rogaghnata of Brahmi according to various authors Roghagnata C.S S.S A.H D.N S.N R.N K.N M.P P.N N.A B.N Unmada _ _ _ _ + ______Ajeerna ______+ _ Kushta _ + _ + _ _ _ + + _ + Kandu _ _ _ + ______Jwara _ + _ + _ _ _ + + + + Shopha _ _ _ + _ _ _ + + _ + Aruchi _ + ______Shwasa _ + _ _ + ______Kasa _ + _ _ _ _ _ + _ + +

www.iamj.in IAMJ: Volume 4; Issue 02; January - 2016 Ashalatha M & L.N.Shenoy: A Critical Review On Brahmi Pandu _ _ _ + _ _ _ + + _ + Meha _ + _ _ _ _ _ + + _ + Visha ______+ _ _ + Moha ______Shleshmavikara _ _ _ _ + ______Raktpitta _ + ______THERAUPEUTIC USES MENTAL FUNCTIONS  Brahmi swarasa mixed with kustha and honey removes insanity (VM 20.3; also SG 2.1.18)  Old ghee processed with brahmi swarasa, vacha, kustha and sankhapuspi relieves insanity, epilepsy and sinful condition (CS.ci10.25)  Panchagavya ghrita mixed with brahmi swarasa removes epilepsy (CS.ci 10/62)  Brahmi given with honey for prolonged duration,to attain longevity, improve memory and intelligence. PEDIATRIC MANAGEMENT  Brahmi swarasa should be taken with honey and ghee for promoting intellect (KS P.5) OTHERS  Fresh juice of brahmi massaged on rheumatic joints relieves pain and swelling.  Medicated milk of brahmi is used in dysuria and urinary calculi.  In hoarseness of voice, brahmi with pippali, vasa and haritaki is chewed.  Hot poultice of plant applied in acute bronchitis, cough, chest complaints. IMPORTANT YOGAS OF BRAHMI1,27,31 Table 7: Showing some of the Yogas of Brahmi Yoga Adhikara References Aindri /andri rasayana Rasayana Cha.chi Indrokta rasayana Rasayana Cha.chi Matulungadi kwatha Jwara Chakradatta Dvatrishanga kwatha Jwara Br.ni.ra Kshudradi kwatha Jwara Bhavaprakasha Brahmi vati Jwara B.R Saraswatha gritha Swarabheda B.R Brahmyadi yoga Unmada Chakradatta Saraswatha churna Unmada Bhavaprakasha Unmadagajakeshari rasa Unmada B.R Mahapaishachaka gritha Unmada Chakradatta Brahmi gritha Apasmara Bhavaprakasha Saraswatharista Rasayana B.R Smritisagara rasa AS/ U/10/37 Saraswatha Ghrta AS/ U/ 1/92 Astamangala Ghrta Bp/ MK/ 8/37

www.iamj.in IAMJ: Volume 4; Issue 02; January - 2016 Ashalatha M & L.N.Shenoy: A Critical Review On Brahmi TAXONOMICAL POSITION22 CAPSULE –5mm long, ovoid,acute,poined Kingdom - Plantae with the style-base,glabrous. SEED – Ob- Division - Magnoliophyta long, striate, pale, 0.85mm long. Class - Magnoliopsida DISTRIBUTION: It commonly grows in Order - marshy areas throughout India, Nepal, Family - Scrophulariaceae Srilanka, China and is also found in Florida, Genus - Bacopa and other southern states of Species - Monnieri the USA. Latin Name - Bacopa Monnieri CULTIVATION AND PROPAGA- BACOPA MONNIERI MORPHOL- TION15 OGY17 It can easily be grown in damp areas on a Bacopa monnieri Linn.22 variety of soils.The plant can be propagated Synonyms for Bacopa monniera Wettst. by seeds and also vegetatively by cuttings,It 1. Bacopa monniera (L.) Pennell.yes requires wet and marshy soil. 2. Lysimachia monnieri L. Cent. Micropropagation 3. Gratiola monnieri (L.) L. It can also be propagated in vitro through 4. Monniera cuneifolia Michaux tissue culture technique by using node, in- 5. Herpestis monniera (L.) Kunth ternode and explants on MS medium ETYMOLOGY supplemented with BAP(1.5-2.0 mg/I) Herpestis-creeping, monniera- necklace Rooting is achieved on full or half strength HABIT: It is small, glabrous succulent, MS medium with or without 0.5-1.0mg/1 creeping herb.with ascending branches 20 NAA or 0.5-1.0mg/1IBA callic derived from cm or more long. It spreads on ground. nodal explant cultured on MS medium +0.5 STEM -10-30 cm long, rooting at the nodes, mg/1 2,4-D,when subcultured on MS+0.1 or branches numerous, ascending. 0.5 mg/1BAP or 0.2 mg/1 2,4 –D+0.1 or o.5 : Sessile, decussate, 6-25 by 2.5- mg/1 kn,develop somatic embryos. 10 mm, Obovate- Oblong or Spathulate, ra- IDENTITY, PURITY AND ther fleshy , dotted with black specks,very STRENGTH14 obtuse, quite entire; nerves obscure. Foreign matter: Not more than 2 per cent, : Solitary, Axillary, Bracteoles 5 Total Ash: Not more than 18 per cent,. mm long, linear; pedicles 0.6-3.2 cm Acid-insoluble ash: Not more than 6 per long,slender. cent, CALYX:Glabrous, divided to base; upper Alcohol-soluble extractive: Not less than 6 sepals 6 by 3-4mm, ovate,acute;the other 4 per cent, sepals slightly shorter than upper; the 2 in- Water-soluble extractive: Not less than 15 ner lateral ones 1.5 mm wide, lanceolate, per cent acute. CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS15,20 COROLLA:Pale blue or white, 8 mm long The herb contains the alkaloids brah- lobes nearly equal, rounded , strangled when mine,herpestine(c34H46N2 O6)and a mixture fresh with shining dots. of three bases. ANTHERS – Bluish Purple; POLLEN – The herb also contains the , mon-

White nierin (C51H82O21.3H2O); hersaponin . And www.iamj.in IAMJ: Volume 4; Issue 02; January - 2016 Ashalatha M & L.N.Shenoy: A Critical Review On Brahmi bacoside A [C41H68 O 13.4 H2O] and baco- side B [C41H68 O 13.5 H2O] other constituents present in the plant are D- against carcinosarcoma in rat. (Bhakuni mannitol,betulic acid,β—sitosterol et.al.,1969) ,stigmasterol and 4. analysis and in vitro itsesters,heptacosane,octacosane,nonacosane antioxidant activity from the extract ,triacontane,hentriacontane,dotriacontane,nic of Bacopa monnieri pennel – a multi- otine,3-formyl-4-hydroxy -2H-pyran purpose medicinal plant. B.Subashri

(C6H6O3),luteolin,and its 7-glucoside. and Y. Justin koilpilla Department of The presence of α-alanine,aspartic Biotechnology, Sathyabama University, acid,glutamic acid and serine is also re- Chennai, India. Bacopa monnieri, an ported. important medicinal plant belonging to

The leaves contain sterol( C26H46 O . H2O ) the family of Scrophulariaceae, which 15: TOXICOLOGY LD50 of total alkaloidal has been valued for centuries in Ayurve- fraction was 8.5mg/100gm i.p in mice. dic medicine, was extracted with ethyl THERAPEUTIC EVALUATION15: acetate and methanol solvents for the Clinical reports showed that this drug is an purpose of preliminary screening .The antianxiety agent having adaptogenic ef- different qualitative chemical tests were fect.it is a brain tonic,sedation is associated performed on the extracts to detect the with therapeutic doses of the drug. various phyto constituents or antioxi- SUBSTITUTES AND ADULTERA- dants present in them. The photochemi- TION15 cal screening reveals the presence of Brahmi is often substituted and confused many therapeutically important com- with centella asiatica as both the plants pounds such as glycosides, alkaloids, BRAHMI. saponins, phenols, proteins and carbohy- PHENOLOGY22 Flowering : April –june drates. Since the phenolic compounds Fruiting : June-december have remarkable antioxidant activities. PART USED16 Whole plant,leaves 5. Phytochemical analysis of leaf callus of POSOLOGY16> Svarasa - 10-20ml Bacopa MonnieriL Sunil Kumar Singh Churna - 500mg-1gm Dept. of Biotechnology, Sathyabama University, RESEARCH WORKS: 12, 22 Chennai - 600119, TN, India commonly known 1. The crude alcoholic extract had sedative as “brahmi”. Used for different diseases effect on frogs and dogs.the extract also such as- nervous disorder, respiratory possess cardiotonic ,vaso constrictor and problem, leprosy, splenomegaly, skin neuro-muscular blocking actions in frogs disease etc. In the present study, the eth- . anolic and aqueous extract of the leaf 2. Hersaponin showed a sedative effect in callus of mice.It did not protect rats against elec- Bacopa tric shock and mice against metrozol sei- monnieri zures (Malhotra et al.,1961) was 3. The alcoholic extract of the whole plant investi- was found to have anti-cancer activity gated for its

www.iamj.in IAMJ: Volume 4; Issue 02; January - 2016 Ashalatha M & L.N.Shenoy: A Critical Review On Brahmi phytochemical analysis by modified mentioned in the Bruhattrayis. Acharya Kirby-Bauer diffusion method.The Charaka mentioned the drug Brahmi in the finding of this study revealedthat the prajasthapana gana and Mandukaparni in extract of the leaf callus of Bacopa vayasthapana gana. In rasayana pada , monnieri revealed the presence of Brahmi is mentioned as one of the Tannins,flavonoids, glycosides, ingredients of aindri rasayana and terpenoids, saponins, and steroids and Mandukaparni as one among the medhya absence of Anthroquione,Phenolic etc. rasayana. When we analyses classical refer- 6. Annual variations in Bacoside content of ences of Brahmi and Mandukaparni we can Bacopa monnieri (L) plants.MUNISH infer that most of the acharyas are of the SHARMA1, RAVI KANT KHAJURIA2 AND opinion that both drugs are same because SHARADA MALLUBHOTLA School of Bio- they have not been mentioned in the same technology, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, instance. Hence conclude that they both are Katra-182320, J&K, India CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu-180001, India same with respect to their action. But the ABSTRACT A study was conducted to evalu- synonyms of the drugs, usage of Brahmi and ate bacoside (expressed as sum of bacoside Mandukaparni are seen extensively in many A3 and A2) production on a monthly basis classical preparations. However taxanomy, in net house grown plants of Bacopa mon- chemical constituents are different hence nieri (accession BM001) collected from both drugs were taken for the study. Jammu region. Bacoside content differed Botanically identified Brahmi as Bacopa during the course of the whole year. The monnieri Linn, family scrophularaceae and whole herb is used commercially for ex- Mandukaparni as Centella asiatica , family tracting the memory enhancing molecule - Apiaceae. bacosides from the plant. The study signifi- CONCLUSION cantly points out that the maximum bacoside There is a huge surge in Ayurvedic plants and yield was obtained during August to October world over it has become a subject of intensive (monsoon period) which also coincides with research for various aspects. There have also been substantial efforts to standardize the Ayur- the favourable period for plant growth and vedic crude drugs as well as finished Ayurvedic would be suitable for plant harvest. medicines. However, these initiatives would Amongst the various individual plant parts, imperatively need establishing correct identity of the highest content was recorded in the the plant drug. The long history of safe usage of leaves (6.06 mg g-1 DW) followed by stem Ayurvedic medicines can be extrapolated only (5.13 mg g-1 DW) and least in the roots when the botanical identity of the plant going (3.19 mg g-1 DW). into those medicines is established and stand- DISCUSSION ardized. Hence proper nomenclature and estab- The words Brahmi and lishing their exact botanical origin is a must. Mandukaparni are available in the literatures Thus further study to explore the traditionally of vedic period like Atharva veda parishad claimed unexplored activities of Brahmi has to be carried out. etc.where they are indicated as medhya rasayana. Brahmi and Mandukaparni are

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Brahmi plant

Brahmi leaves Brahmi flowers

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Vanga Sena with Hindi commentary, 25. Vaidya Bapalal.G., Nighantu commentator Hariharaprasad Tripati, Adarsha, Volume I, Re-print 2007, Reprint 2009, Chaukhambha San- Varanasi, Choukhambha Bharati skrit Series Office, Varanasi. Academy, Tpg-919. 34. William Charles Evans, Trease & 26. Sharma Priya Vrat, Dravyaguna Evans Pharmacognosy, 15th Edition, Vijnana,Volume II, Re-print 2011, Publisher : Elsevier, 9th chapter, Pg Varanasi, Chaukhambha Bharati No : 61-65. Academy, Tpg-832. 35. Bhavamishra, Bhavapra- 27. Kaviraj Sen Govindas, Bhaishajya kasha,Vidhyotini Hindi Vyakya,Shri Ratnavali, by Prof.Siddhi Nandan Bhramashankar Shas- Mishra, Edited by Siddhiprada hindi tri(Purvardha),4th edition commentary, First edition 2005, ,Sirija,Varanasi,Chaukhamba Sam- Varanasi, Chaukhambha Surbharati skritha,1961Tpg:941 Prakashan, Tpg-1196. 28. Chakradatta, Edited and Translated CORRESPONDING AUTHOR by Priya Vrat Sharma, Second Edi- Dr. L.N. Shenoy tion 1998, Varanasi, Chukhambha Ph.D. Scholar, Department of Dravyaguna, publications, Tpg-731. Government Ayurveda medical college, 29. Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of In- Bengaluru, Karnataka, India dia, Vol-111, Ministry of Health Email: [email protected] and Family Welfare, Govt of India, Source of support: Nil st 1 Edition, Reprint 2001, Dept of In- Conflict of interest: None Declared dian Science of Medicine and Ho- meopathy, New Delhi,Controller of Publication Civil Lines. www.iamj.in IAMJ: Volume 4; Issue 02; January - 2016