Bacopa and Epilepsy

Research was conducted in India in the 1960’s to investigate the historical claims that bacopa had curative effects in relation to epilepsy. In 1967, Ganguly and Malhotra showed that an active constituent of Bacopa called hersaponin acted to prevent mice from having seizures (Ganguly DK, Malhotra CL. Some behavioural effects of an active fraction from Herpestis monniera, Linn. (Brahmi). Ind J Med Res 1967;55:473-482).

In 1992, a similar study was conducted to examinew the anticonvulsant properties of Bacopa in mice and rats. Injjections of high doses of Bacopa extract for 15 days did exhibit anticonvulsant properties. When the dose was halfed, however, no significant anticonvulsive properties were demonstrated (Martis G, Rao A. Neuropharmacological activity of Herpestis monniera. Fitoterapia 1992;63:399-404).