Department of Botany, Ravenshaw University, Cuttack
This study is reported on the medicinal values of Brahmi to enhance the conservation practice and educate to people about its importance. Brahmi is a common and popular herb among populace of tribal, rural and urban community of Odisha. It belongs to family Scrophulariaceae and found throughout the state in wet areas. Traditionally, it is used as a brain tonic to enhance memory development, learning, and concentration, and to provide relief to patients with anxiety or epileptic disorders. Recent research has focused primarily on Brahmi’s cognitive-enhancing effects, specifically memory, learning, and concentration and results support the traditional ayurvedic claims. The study documented the pharmacological activity and also highlighted the traditional values among the populace of Odisha.
Introduction
For centuries plants have been an important source of drugs. Many plants extracts are well established in clinical practice and are likely to remain so for some time until better, cheaper and less toxic or more efficacious alternatives become available. Many plants are used with medicinal properties and they cover a broad spectrum of pharmacological effects. It is especially meaningful in tropical countries due to the great variety of plants belonging to their eco-system. Throughout the world, plants have been in continuous use in one or the other for the treatment of various ailments. The medicinal uses of plants are very old plant parts are an age old practice. The ancient literature indicates that therapeutic use of plants is being practiced since as old as 5000-4000B.C. and the Chinese were the first to use natural herbal preparations as medicines. The sacred Vedas, which date back between 3500 B.C. and 800 B.C., give many references of many medicinal plants. The indigenous traditional knowledge of medicinal plants of various ethnic communities, where it has been transmitted orally for centuries is fast disappearing from the face of the earth due to the advent of modern technology and transformation of traditional culture. The collection of information about natural flora,classifation,management and use of plants by the people holds importance among the ethonobotanists. Globally,about 85% of the traditional medicines used for primary health care are derived from plants. herbal drugs obtained from plants are believed to be much safer; this has been proved in the treatment of various ailments(Mitalaya et al,2003).traditional medicine and ethno-botanical information play an important role in scientific research particularly when the literature and field work data have properly evaluated(Awadh,et al.,2004).the local people and researchers face the challenging task of not only documenting knowledge on plants, but also applying the results of their studies to biodiversity conservation and community developments, with a deep concern and reverence for the vast diversity of flora that our country enjoys, and with sense of realization about the invaluable therapeutic properties of this phytodiversity. In India medicinal plants have long been used treat different kinds diseases. Today there is an increasing desire to unravel the role of ethon-obotanical studies in trapping the centuries old traditional folk knowledge as well as searching new plant resources of food, drug etc.(jain,1987,1991).people living in the developing countries rely quite effectively on traditional medicine for primary health care(Sullivan and Shealy 1997;singh,2002).Indian traditional medicine is based on different systems such as ayurveda,siddha and Unani used by various communities(Gadgil,1996).Herbal preparation are effectively and extensively used for their medicinal properties and have become increasingly popular worldwide(Fisher et al,1994 and Astinet al,1998).Herbal medicines generally have fewer side effects than synthetic compounds and their effectiveness can be improved by modern pharmacological methods(Wilasrusmee et al,2002).Medicinal plants have been used as an exemplary source for centuries as an alternative remedy for treating human diseases because they contain different bioactive ingredients, which have great therapeutic values. Odisha is the rich of medicinal plants and their therapeutic uses as medicines. In India the native people used to exploit a variety of herbals for effective curing of various elements. The medicinal values of these plants lie in some chemical active substances that produce a definite physiological effect in the human body. The most important of these bioactive constituents of plants are alkaloid,tannin,flavnoid,phenolic compounds etc. interestingly it is estimated that more than 25% of the modern medicines are directly or indirectly derived from plants. Therefore over the last few years, researchers have aimed at identifying and validating plant-derived substances e for the treatment of various diseases commonly observed among rural and tribal community. It is worth mentioning that Indian medicinal plants are considered as a vast source of several pharmacological principle and compounds that are commonly used as home remedies against multiple ailments. The plant parts used,preparation, and administration of drugs vary from one place to another.However,the knowledge of herbal medicines is gradually perishing, although some of the traditional herbal men are still practicing the art of herbal healing effectively. These plants are frequently used by the local inhabitants of the area for treatment of various diseases. Ethno-medicinal studies have offered immense scope and opportunities for the development of new drugs.some modern drugs have been deducted from folklore traditional medicines. Living close to nature, traditional societies have acquired unique knowledge about the use of wild flora and fauna,most of which are unknown to the people who live away from such natural ecosystem such as forests. The value and importance of traditional knowledge are now being increasingly acknowledged all over the world. The pharmaceutical industry tries to investigate and confirm the efficacy of many medicines and toxins used by traditional communities1.the forest have been the source of invaluable medicinal plants since the time man realized the importance of preventive and curative properties of plants and started using them for human health care. The old traditional Indian systems of medicines, is one of the most ancient medicines practices known to the world, and derives maximum formulation from plants and plant extract that exist in the forest. Therefore an attempt was made to study the most common herb Bacopa Monnieri L., locally known as “Brahmi”. It is a herbaceous plant found throughout the State, particularly in shady and moist area belongs to family Scrophulariaceae family, is a small, creeping herb with numerous branches, small oblong leaves, and light purple flowers. In India and the tropics it grows naturally in wet soil, shallow water, and marshes. The herb can be found at elevations from sea level to altitudes of 4,400 feet, and is easily cultivated if adequate water is available. Flowers and fruit appear in summer and the entire plant is used medicinally. Bacopa monniera, also referred to as Bacopa monnieri, Herpestis monniera, water hyssop, and“Brahmi,” has been used in the Ayurvedic system of medicine for centuries. Traditionally, it was used as a brain tonic to enhance memory development, learning, and concentration, and to provide relief to patients with anxiety or epileptic disorders. The plant has also been used in India and Pakistan as a cardiac tonic, digestive aid, and to improve respiratory function in cases of bronchoconstriction. Recent research has focused primarily on Brahmi’s cognitive-enhancing effects, specifically memory, learning, and concentration and results support the traditional Ayurvedic claims. Research on anxiety, epilepsy, bronchitis and asthma, irritable bowel syndrome, and gastric ulcers also supports the Ayurvedic uses of Brahmi. Brahmi’s antioxidant properties may offer protection from free radical damage in cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer.
Pharmacological Values
Chakarvarti et al., 2003 and Hou et al., 2002 reported that compounds responsible for the pharmacological effects of Brahmi include alkaloids, saponins, and sterols. Many active constituents – the alkaloids Brahmine and herpestine, saponins d-mannitol and hersaponin, acid A, and monnierin – were isolated in India over 40 years ago. Other active constituents have since been identified, including betulic acid, stigmastarol, beta-sitosterol, as well as numerous bacosides and bacopasaponins. The constituents responsible for Brahmi’s cognitive effects are bacosides A and B. Brahmi’s primary therapeutic use is to enhance cognitive function, most research has focused on the mechanism behind these properties. The triterpenoid saponins and their bacosides are responsible for Brahmi’s ability to enhance nerve impulse transmission. The bacosides aid in repair of damaged neurons by enhancing kinase activity, neuronal synthesis, and restoration of synaptic activity, and ultimately nerve impulse transmission.Loss of cholinergic neuronal activity in the hippocampus is the primary feature of Alzheimer’s disease. Based on animal study results, bacosides appear to have antioxidant activity in the hippocampus, frontal cortex, and striatum. Animal research has shown Brahmi extracts modulate the expression of certain enzymes involved in generation and scavenging of reactive oxygen species in the brain. In vitro research has shown Brahmi exerts a protective effect against DNA damage in astrocytes14 and human fibroblasts. In animals Brahmi has a relaxant effect on pulmonary arteries, aorta, trachea, and ileal and bronchial tissue, possibly mediated by inhibition of calcium- ion influx into cell membranes. Brahmi appears to stabilize mast cells in vitro, and possesses anti-inflammatory activity via inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis and lysosomal membrane stabilization. In vitro research suggests an anticancer effect for Brahmi extracts, possibly due to inhibition of DNA replication in cancer cell lines. Brahmi has been indicated as a remedy for epilepsy in Ayurvedic medicine, research in animals shows anticonvulsant activity only at high doses over extended periods of time. Early research in India demonstrated that hersaponin (an active constituent) exhibited protection against seizures in mice. A more recent Indian study also examined the anticonvulsant properties of Brahmi extracts in mice and rats. Researchers determined that intraperitoneal injections of high doses of Brahmi extract (close to 50 percent of LD50) given for 15 days demonstrated anticonvulsant activity. When administered acutely at lower doses (approaching 25 percent of LD50), anticonvulsant activity was not observed. Brahmi’s traditional use as an anti-anxiety remedy in Ayurvedic medicine is supported by both animal and clinical research. Research using a rat model of clinical anxiety demonstrated a Brahmi extract of 25-percent bacoside an exerted anxiolytic activity comparable to Lorazepam, a common benzodiazapene anxiolytic drug. In vitro, animal, and human studies have investigated the effects of Brahmi extracts on the gastrointestinal tract. In vitro studies have demonstrated direct spasmolytic activity on intestinal smooth muscle, via inhibition of calcium influx across cell membrane channels. This property suggests Brahmi extracts may be of benefit in conditions characterized by intestinal spasm such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). A double-blind, randomized, placebocontrolled trial of 169 patients with IBS compared the effects of an Ayurvedic preparation containing Bacopa monniera and Aegle marmelos to standard therapy (clidinium bromide, chlordiazepoxide, and psyllium). Subjects were divided into five subgroups based on type of IBS, and randomly assigned to standard drug treatment, botanical treatment, or placebo for six weeks. Treatment was administered orally as 5 g drug, botanical, or placebo three times daily. Data analysis revealed standard drug therapy to be superior to the Ayurvedic preparation, except in patients with IBS characterized by diarrhea. This result was attributed to the Aegle marmelos, a commonly known anti-diarrheal in India, although the two botanicals were not given separately, so individual effects cannot be confirmed. Ayurvedic therapy was superior to placebo in all parameters examined, but no benefit could be linked specifically to the Brahmi portion of the Ayurvedic preparation. In vitro research demonstrated Brahmi, saponin fractions have cyto-toxic activity for sarcoma-180 cells. It is thought this might be due to Brahmi’s inhibition of DNA replication in the cancerous cell line. Research in humans may be indicated.
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