A Study about Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) Preparation Steps on Its Saponin Quantity

Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) is a medicinal herb containing bioactive compounds (Bacosides) in the saponin group that enhances memory and prevents dementia. Brahmi is not favored for cooking because it is very bitter. Nowadays, most people consume Brahmi as supplementary food, which makes it more expensive than consuming in food form, not getting fibers and other nutrients. Currently, there are only few studies that work to alleviate in Brahmi. Therefore, this study aimed to find out the saponin quantity in Brahmi after some pretreatments and the effect of these treatments on Bacosides and bitterness. Thus, suitable preparation steps for Brahmi have the highest remaining saponin quantity and are consumable. There were various techniques of preparation, depending on the concentration of salt used in crumpling and 1 time boiling of Brahmi to reduce its bitterness. The salt concentrations used in this study were 0, 10, and 20 % (w/w) compared with the fresh herb. The saponin quantity was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results showed that the total amount of saponin in boiled Brahmi that crumpled with 0, 10, and 20 % were significantly lower than fresh Brahmi (p < 0.05). Brahmi was crumpled with 10 % salt before boiling had the highest total saponin quantity of 2.69±0.02 g/kg of fresh weight and the highest tasting scores. Thus, the preparation of crumpling with 10 % salt before cooking, was suitable because consumers gained the highest saponin and accepted the taste of food containing Brahmi. HIGHLIGHTS Brahmi have many health benefits not only memory enhancer but also prevention of dementia People used Brahmi as supplementary food because it is very bitter and not favored for cooking Reduce the bitter with non chemical as crumpling with 10 % salt concentration before cooking was highest saponin and accepted the taste of food containing Brahmi

Effects of Ocimum sanctum Gestational Administration on Physiological and Behavioral Aspects of Mice Offspring

Aims: Prenatal maternal stress and anxiety affect the offspring causing low birth weight, decreased motor activity, and developmental delays. Ocimum sanctum is cherished as the holiest herb in India and possesses strong adaptogenic, memory enhancer, and anti-stress properties. This study aimed to assess the effect of O. sanctum leaf aqueous extract on preventing pregnancy related stress impact on the mice offspring. Methodology: Pregnant female mice were treated with O. sanctum leaf aqueous extract throughout the gestation period at 100 mg/kg, p.o, while exposed to resident–intruder social stress paradigm. Physiological, morphological, and behavioral aspects of offspring were observed for 6 weeks. Results: Pups of O. sanctum treated mothers showed significantly (P < 0.05) improved body weight, body length, and head length. O. sanctum treatment has significantly reduced eye opening and pinna detachment period (P < 0.05-0.01), and duration for gaining surface righting and mid-air righting refluxes (P < 0.05). O. Sanctum has significantly increased (P < 0.05-0.01) number of correct entries in radial arm maze and line crossing in open field performance. Conclusion: The study outcome proves the beneficial role of O. Sanctum in ameliorating prenatal stress and anxiety induced deleterious effect on offspring.

Pharmacological actions and underlying mechanisms of Catechin: A review

Background: Catechin is a phytochemical and is a major component of our daily use beverages, which has shown great potential in improving general health and fighting against several medical conditions. Clinical studies have confirmed its effectiveness in conditions ranging from acute upper respiratory tract infection, neuroprotection, to cardio-protection effects. Though most studies relate their potential to anti-oxidative action and radical scavenging action, still the mechanism of action is not clearly understood. Objective: The present review article is focused on addressing various pharmacological actions and underlying mechanisms of catechin. Additionally, we will try to figure out the major adverse effect and success in trials with catechin and lead to a conclusion for its effectiveness. Methods: This review article is based on the recent/ most cited papers of PubMed and Scopus databases. Description: Catechin can regulate Nrf2 and NFkB pathways in ways that impact oxidative stress and inflammation by influencing gene expression. Other pathways like MAPKs and COMT and receptor tyrosine kinase are also affected by catechin and EGCG that alter their action and barge the cellular activity. This review article explored the structural aspect of catechin and its different isomers and analogs. It also evaluated its various therapeutic and pharmacological arrays . Conclusion: Catechin and its stereo-isomers have shown their effectiveness as anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, anti-neuroprotective, bactericidal, memory enhancer, anti-arthritis, and hepato-protective mainly through its activity to alter the pathway by NF-κB, Nrf-2, TLR4/NF-κB, COMT, and MAPKs.

Pharmacognostic and Nootropic Aspects of Withania Somnifera: A Potential Herbal Drug as Memory Enhancer

Withania somnifera is a well-known herbal drug commonly used in India and Indian subcontinent. It contains a spectrum of diverse phytoconstituents that are responsible for number of significant biological effects. Various parts of plants especially roots are rich in source of active phytoconstituents. In the current COVID-19 situation, various national and international agencies are suggesting the use of plant for increasing immunity as well as memory booster. The drug is mainly used in the management of brain related disorders such as anxiety, depression, stress, etc. The mainly used as memory enhancer as it increases the neurogenesis process in the brain. In present paper, we have covered the pharmacognosy, phytochemistry, and therapeutic applications of the plant related to the brain. Keywords: Withania somnifera; Memory enhancer; Roots; Stress.

An updated review on Shankhpushpi- As Medhya Rasayana

Shankhpushpi is a plant and known as best brain tonic medicine which is classified under four Medhya Rasayana by Acharya Charaka. It is also included as main ingredient in many herbal extractives or decoction-based brain tonics or memory boosting formulations. Various Ayurvedacharya have named it as manglayakusuma, ksheerpushpi, medhya etc. Shankhpushi is also comes under convolvulacea family indicated as Convolvulus pluricaulis. The Charaka Samhita, which is an ancient book of Ayurveda described the use of paste (kalka) as Medhya Rasayana. There are so many experimental, pharmacological, clinical studies done on Convolvulus pluricaulis revealed the promising results as neuroprotective, memory enhancer, and antianxiety properties. The studies analysed its chemical composition like convolidine, convolvine, confoline etc. and may help to stimulate the brain activities. In addition, the studies have shown other properties like diuretic, antioxidant, hypolipidemic, hypotensive, antiulcer, antipyretic which helps to manage the various disorders. The various dosage forms like powder, paste, syrup is prepared by using whole plant or different parts of plant as indicated in classical texts. The present review study on Shankhpushpi basically focused on the experimental or clinical studies done in the management of various ailments.

BRAHMI (BACOPA MONNIERI)– A POTENTIAL AYURVEDIC COGNITIVE ENHANCER AND NEUROPROTECTIVE HERB

In Ayurveda, a wide variety of neuroprotective herbal plants have been reported. Brahmi, Bacopa monnieri, belonging to the family Scrophulariaceae, is one of the foremost nootropic and neuroprotective Ayurvedic herb known from ancient times. It is used in the traditional medicinal system to treat various brain related health problems and as a memory enhancer. In the modern era, it is generally used to upgrade memory, learning and to treat tension, depression and other major problems like cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal, hepatic, neurological and respiratory problems. There are vast reported studies on the Alzheimer's disease also, Brahmi is known to have anticancer, antidiabetic, mitigating, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Bacopa plants contain various phytochemicals which include alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides and saponins. Other important constituents present in this plant are bacosides, bacopasides, and bacopa saponins, which are responsible for its therapeutic properties.

Peripheral CB1 receptor blockade acts as a memory enhancer through an adrenergic-dependent mechanism

Peripheral inputs to the brain continuously shape its function and adjust non-emotional memory, but the mechanisms involved are not fully understood. Cannabinoid type-1 receptors (CB1Rs), widely distributed in the organism, are well recognized players in memory performance and their systemic modulation significantly influence memory function. By assessing non-emotional memory in mice, we found a relevant role of peripheral CB1R in memory persistence. Indeed, peripherally restricted CB1R antagonist AM6545 showed a mnemonic effect occluded in adrenalectomized mice, after peripheral adrenergic blockade, or when vagus nerve was chemogenetically inhibited. Genetic CB1R deletion in dopamine β-hydroxylase-expressing cells enhanced memory persistence, supporting a role of peripheral CB1Rs modulating the adrenergic tone. Notably, while brain connectivity was slightly affected by peripheral CB1R inhibition, locus coeruleus activity and extracellular norepinephrine in the hippocampus, were increased, and intra-hippocampal β-adrenergic blockade prevented AM6545 mnemonic effects. Together, we disclose a novel peripheral mechanism relevant for non-emotional memory persistence modulation.

Prodromal dysfunction of α5GABA-A receptor modulated hippocampal ripples in Alzheimer′s disease

Decades of research attempting to slow the onset of Alzheimer′s disease (AD) indicates that a better understanding of memory will be key to the discovery of effective therapeutic approaches. Here, we ask whether prodromal neural network dysfunction might occur in the hippocampal trisynaptic circuit by using α5IA as a selective negative modulator of extrasynaptic α5GABA-A receptors in TgF344-AD transgenic rats, a model for early onset AD. The results demonstrate that orally bioavailable α5IA, an established memory enhancer, increases CA1 pyramidal cell mean firing rates and peak CA1 ripple amplitude during wakeful immobility in wild type F344 rats resting in a familiar environment. We show that TgF344-AD rats, which express human amyloid-beta precursor protein (with the Swedish mutation) and human presenilin-1 (with a Δ exon 9 mutation), exhibit high serum Aβ42 and Aβ40 levels by 3 months of age. By 9 months of age, CA1 ripples in young adult TgF344-AD rats are nonresponsive to α5IA indicating network dysfunction prior to the onset of AD pathology and memory dysfunction. These results demonstrate, to the best of our knowledge, the first evidence for prodromal α5GABA-A receptor dysfunction in the AD hippocampal trisynaptic circuit. Moreover, as α5GABA-A receptors are located extrasynaptically and subserve the function of tonic inhibition we posit that an early stage of memory dysfunction involves the disruption of tonic inhibition in the hippocampus.

Insulin-Like Growth Factor 2 As a Possible Neuroprotective Agent and Memory Enhancer—Its Comparative Expression, Processing and Signaling in Mammalian CNS

A number of studies performed on rodents suggest that insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF-2) or its analogs may possibly be used for treating some conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, autistic spectrum disorders or aging-related cognitive impairment. Still, for translational research a comparative knowledge about the function of IGF-2 and related molecules in model organisms (rats and mice) and humans is necessary. There is a number of important differences in IGF-2 signaling between species. In the present review we emphasize species-specific patterns of IGF-2 expression in rodents, humans and some other mammals, using, among other sources, publicly available transcriptomic data. We provide a detailed description of Igf2 mRNA expression regulation and pre-pro-IGF-2 protein processing in different species. We also summarize the function of IGF-binding proteins. We describe three different receptors able to bind IGF-2 and discuss the role of IGF-2 signaling in learning and memory, as well as in neuroprotection. We hope that comprehensive understanding of similarities and differences in IGF-2 signaling between model organisms and humans will be useful for development of more effective medicines targeting IGF-2 receptors.