Linn.
Family: Umbelliferae; Apiaceae.
Habitat: East Bengal, Bhutan and Assam.
Folk: Muraa (var.).
Action: Fruits—extracts used for osteoporosis, gynaecological problems and stress-related disorders. Seeds—prescribed in rheumatism and renal diseases.
In Japan, the plant is mainly used for the treatment of swelling of women's genitals.The aerial parts contain the chromo- nes, cnidimol and karenin. The fruits contain the benzofurans, cnidioside A, B and C, cnidiol b and C; besides fura- nocoumarins, imperatorin, bergapten, xanthotoxin, osthol and several ter- penoids. The seeds and volatile oil from the fruits also contain osthol and other coumarins.The coumarins prevented glucocor- ticoid-induced osteoporosis in rats; they also reversed bone loss at early menopausal stage. Osthol showed antiallergic activity. Cnidioside A and B and cnidiol b alleviate physiological disorders caused by physical and mental stress; enhancement of sexual activity has also been observed.
(Linn.) Penn.
Synonym: Herpestis monnieria (Linn.) H. B. & K. Moniera cuneifolia Michx.
Family: Scrophulariaceae.
Habitat: Throughout the plains of India in damp marshy areas.
English: Thyme-leaved Gratiola.
Ayurvedic: Braahmi, Aindri, Nir- braahmi, Kapotavankaa, Bhaarati, Darduradalaa, Matsyaakshaka, Shaaluraparni, Mandukaparni (also equated with Centella asiatica Linn., synonym Hydrocotyle asiatica Linn. Umbelliferae, Apiaceae).
Unani: Brahmi.
Siddha/Tamil: Piramivazhukkai, Neerbrami.
Folk: Jalaneem, Safed-Chammi.
Action: Adaptogenic, astringent, diuretic, sedative, potent nervine tonic, anti-anxiety agent (improves mental functions, used in insanity, epilepsy), antispasmodic (used in bronchitis, asthma and diarrhoea).
Key application: In psychic disorders and as a brain tonic. (The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India; Indian Herbal Pharmacopoeia.)B. monnieri has been shown to cause prolonged elevated level of cerebral glutamic acid and a transient increase in GABA level. It is assumed that endogenous increase in brain glutamine maybe helpful in the process oflearn- ing.The herb contains the alkaloids brahmine, herpestine, and a mixture of three bases. Brahmine is highly toxic; in therapeutic doses it resembles strychnine. The herb also contains the saponins, monnierin, hersaponin, bacosides A and B. Bacosides A and B possess haemolytic activity. Her- saponin is reported to possess car- diotonic and sedative properties. It was found, as in case of reserpene, to deplete nor-adrenaline and 5-HT content of the rat brain.An alcoholic extract of the plant in a dose of 50 mg/kg produced tranquil- izing effect on albino rats and dogs, but the action was weaker than that produced by chlorpromazine.
Dosage: Whole plant—1-3 g powder. (API Vol. II.)... bacopa monnieri
Health Encyclopedia