Bacopa and Bronchitis

A 1997 study by Channa and Dar showed that Bacopa extract has a relaxant effect on the trachea, pulmonary artery and aorta of rabbits and guinea-pigs (Dar A, Channa S. Relaxant effect of ethanol extract of Bacopa monniera on trachea, pulmonary artery and aorta from rabbit and guinea-pig. Phytother Res 1997;11:323-325).

Channa and Dar conducted a follow-up study in 2003. This time Bacopa extracts were given to anesthetized rats prior to induction of bronchoconstriction with carbachol, an acetylcholine analogue. Nearly all of the Bacopa extract subfractions inhibited carbachol-induced bronchoconstriction, hypotension, and bradycardia in this animal model (Channa S, Dar A, Yaqoob M, et al. Broncho-vasodilatory activity of fractions and pure constituents isolated from Bacopa monniera. J Ethnopharmacol 2003;86:27–35).