What Are The Health Benefits of Bacopa Extract?

Bacopa extract is an herbal remedy that is sold as a single ingredient and is also included in some of the better multi-nutritional supplements. The health benefits of taking the extract on a regular basis may be numerous, but there are some things that the consumer should know before buying the product.
There are some 80 different species of bacopa. The first thing that the consumer needs to know is that only bacopa monnieri leaves have proven health benefits. Only that plant has been scientifically evaluated.
Only that one has a history of medical use, although some native healers may have used some of the other plants from time to time. It is only the monnieri that is mentioned in the writings of ancient Indians, who were medically advanced for their time. The herbal remedy is also called Brahmi.
The plant was used traditionally for treating ulcers, tumors, asthma, indigestion, inflammation, anemia and other health problems. Modern research has shown that the leaves contain a number of medicinally active components. Other parts of the plant do not contain the medicinally active compounds.
So, the second thing the consumer must do is to check that the manufacturer is using the leaf, not the roots or the flowers. This should be listed on the label of ingredients.
Like many other plants, monnieri contains antioxidant flavonoids. Antioxidants help to prevent free radical damage that can lead to cellular aging, cancer and heart disease. The leaves are also a source of beta-sitosterol, a less common plant compound that helps to limit the amount of cholesterol that is absorbed into the bloodstream through the digestive track.
The right kind of bacopa extract also contains unique compounds called bacopasaponins and bacopasides. It is these unique compounds that have been studied the most. It appears they increase the activity of antioxidants normally found in the cells of our body, including superoxide dismutase and glutathione.
Studies indicate that the extracts may improve memory capacity, memory retention and learning. They may also be beneficial in Alzheimer's disease, as bacopasides have been shown to reduce the beta-amyloid deposits that play a role in the disease. Healthy older people without Alzheimer's have also found their memory improved after 12 weeks of supplementation with bacopa extract. Improved immune system function is another potential benefit of Brahmi.
At the low doses normally found in multi-ingredient supplements, no toxicity or adverse effects have been seen in scientific studies. But at higher doses, there may be some negative effects on fertility, according to animal studies, and stomach irritation. People taking anti-hypertensive drugs should consult their doctor about taking bacopa, because decreasing the dosage may be necessary.
It makes sense for the consumer who wants these kinds of health benefits to purchase a multi-nutritional supplement. A single-ingredient supplement can never provide the same kind of benefits. In addition, the dosage found in single ingredient supplements is often high enough to cause digestive complaints and other side effects.