Chronic effects of Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) on human memory

Neuropsychopharmacology. 2002 Aug;27(2):279-81. doi: 10.1016/S0893-133X(01)00419-5.

Abstract

A study is reported on the effects of Brahmi (Bacopa monniera) on human memory. Seventy-six adults aged between 40 and 65 years took part in a double-blind randomized, placebo control study in which various memory functions were tested and levels of anxiety measured. There were three testing sessions: one prior to the trial, one after three months on the trial, and one six weeks after the completion of the trial. The results show a significant effect of the Brahmi on a test for the retention of new information. Follow-up tests showed that the rate of learning was unaffected, suggesting that Brahmi decreases the rate of forgetting of newly acquired information. Tasks assessing attention, verbal and visual short-term memory and the retrieval of pre-experimental knowledge were unaffected. Questionnaire measures of everyday memory function and anxiety levels were also unaffected.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Hippocampus / drug effects
  • Hippocampus / physiology
  • Humans
  • Learning / drug effects*
  • Learning / physiology
  • Male
  • Medicine, Ayurvedic*
  • Memory / drug effects*
  • Memory / physiology
  • Memory Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Memory Disorders / psychology
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Phytotherapy*
  • Plant Preparations / pharmacology*
  • Plant Preparations / therapeutic use
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Verbal Behavior / drug effects
  • Verbal Behavior / physiology

Substances

  • Plant Preparations