Bacowize B20H - Bacopa monnieri leaf 20% bacosides [HPLC] powder extract

Bacowize Key Facts

Background

Bacopa Monnieri, (also known as water hyssop, Brahmi, thyme-leaved Gratiola, herb of grace, and Indian pennywort) is a perennial, creeping herb that belongs to the Plantaginaceae family, and is native to the wetlands of southern and Eastern India. Bacopa Monnieri is grown in countries such as India, Nepal, China, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. It is also found in the Mediterranean Basin, southern states of USA, Florida and Hawaii. It has a longstanding reputation as an effective and powerful herb for various health benefits.
Bacopa has been described as brain tonic and recommended for use in the management of anxiety, poor cognition, and lack of concentration (Russo & Borrelli, 2005), with research supporting its use in the treatment of numerous inflammatory conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, dropsy and rheumatism (Channa et al., 2006). Aside from its use as a treatment method, Bacopa Monnieri has also traditionally been used in Ayurveda as a nootropic (Aguiar & Borowski, 2013). Along with its ability to exhibit cardiotonic, nervine and diuretic effects (Nemetchek et al., 2018).
Like many herbal extracts, the industry is littered with imitation ingredients and adulterated products, Bacowize is a premium quality, pure, natural Bacopa Monnieri extract, free from contamination.

At present, we have the following variants of Bacowize

Bacowize B20H - Bacopa [Bacopa monnieri] leaf 20% bacosides [HPLC] powder extract

Bacowize B30H - Bacopa [Bacopa monnieri] leaf 30% bacosides [HPLC] powder extract

Bacowize B50H - Bacopa [Bacopa monnieri] leaf 50% bacosides [HPLC] powder extract

Chemistry

The Bacopa Monnieri plant contains numerous pharmacological compounds such as alkaloids, sterols and triterpene saponins known as bacosides and bacopasaponins, which includes Bacopaside I, Bacopaside II, Bacoside A3, Bacopasaponin C and jujubogenin isomer of Bacopasaponin C (Rajan et al., 2015).

Brief Identification of Bacosides and Other Bacopa Actives

Bacopaside I

CAS – 382148-47-2
Molecular Formula – C46H74O20S
Molecular Weight – 979.1 g/mol
IUPAC - [(2R,3S,4S,5R,6S)-6-[(2S,3R,4S,5S)-3-[(2S,3R,4R,5S)-3,4-dihydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)oxolan-2-yl]oxy-5-hydroxy-2-[[(1S,2R,5R,7S,10R,11R,14R,15S,16S,17R,20R)-16-hydroxy-2,6,6,10,16-pentamethyl-17-(2-methylprop-1-enyl)-19,21-dioxahexacyclo[18.2.1.01,14.02,11.05,10.015,20]tricosan-7-yl]oxy]oxan-4-yl]oxy-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]methyl hydrogen sulfate

Bacopaside II

CAS – 382146-66-9
Molecular Formula – C47H76O18
Molecular Weight – 99.1 g/mol
IUPAC – (2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-2-[(2R,3R,4S,5R,6R)-5-[(2S,3R,4R,5S)-3,4-dihydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)oxolan-2-yl]oxy-3-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-6-[[(1S,2R,5R,7S,10R,11R,14R,15S,16S,17R,20R)-16-hydroxy-2,6,6,10,16-pentamethyl-17-(2-methylprop-1-enyl)-19,21-dioxahexacyclo[18.2.1.01,14.02,11.05,10.015,20]tricosan-7-yl]oxy]oxan-4-yl]oxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-3,4,5-triol

Bacoside A3

CAS – 157408-08-7
Molecular Formula – C47H76O18
Molecular Weight – 929.1 g/mol
IUPAC – (2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-2-[(2R,3R,4S,5R,6R)-5-[(2S,3R,4R,5S)-3,4-dihydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)oxolan-2-yl]oxy-3-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-6-[[(1S,2R,5R,7S,10R,11R,14R,15S,16S,18R,20S)-16-hydroxy-2,6,6,10,16-pentamethyl-18-(2-methylprop-1-enyl)-19,21-dioxahexacyclo[18.2.1.01,14.02,11.05,10.015,20]tricosan-7-yl]oxy]oxan-4-yl]oxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-3,4,5-triol

Bacopasaponin C

CAS – 178064-13-6
Molecular Formula – C46H74O17
Molecular Weight – 899.1 g/mol
IUPAC – (2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-2-[(2S,3R,4S,5S)-3-[(2S,3R,4R,5S)-3,4-dihydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)oxolan-2-yl]oxy-5-hydroxy-2-[[(1S,2R,5R,7S,10R,11R,14R,15S,16S,17R,20R)-16-hydroxy-2,6,6,10,16-pentamethyl-17-(2-methylprop-1-enyl)-19,21-dioxahexacyclo[18.2.1.01,14.02,11.05,10.015,20]tricosan-7-yl]oxy]oxan-4-yl]oxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-3,4,5-triol

Jujubogenin isomer of Bacopasapoinin C (Bacopaside X)

CAS – 94443-88-6
Molecular Formula – C46H74O17
Molecular Weight – 899.1 g/mol
IUPAC – (2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-2-[(2S,3R,4S,5S)-3-[(2S,3R,4R,5S)-3,4-dihydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)oxolan-2-yl]oxy-5-hydroxy-2-[[(1S,2R,5R,7S,10R,11R,14R,15S,16S,18R,20S)-16-hydroxy-2,6,6,10,16-pentamethyl-18-(2-methylprop-1-enyl)-19,21-dioxahexacyclo[18.2.1.01,14.02,11.05,10.015,20]tricosan-7-yl]oxy]oxan-4-yl]oxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-3,4,5-triol

Luteolin

CAS – 491-70-3
Molecular Formula – C15H10O6
Molecular Weight – 286.24 g/mol
IUPAC – 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxychromen-4-one

Apigenin

CAS – 520-36-5
Molecular Formula – C15H10O5
Molecular Weight – 270.24 g/mol
IUPAC – 5,7-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)chromen-4-one

Bacosine

CAS – 198014-94-7
Molecular Formula – C30H48O3
Molecular Weight – 456.7 g/mol
IUPAC – (1R,3aR,5aS,5bR,7aR,9R,11aR,11bR,13aR,13bR)-9-hydroxy-3a,5b,8,8,11a-pentamethyl-1-prop-1-en-2-yl-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,7a,9,10,11,11b,12,13,13a,13b-hexadecahydrocyclopenta[a]chrysene-5a-carboxylic acid

Beta-sitosterol-D-glucoside

CAS – 474-58-8
Molecular Formula – C35H60O6
Molecular Weight – 576.8 g/mol
IUPAC – (2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-2-[[(8S,9S,10R,13R,14S,17R)-17-[(2R,5R)-5-ethyl-6-methylheptan-2-yl]-10,13-dimethyl-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-yl]oxy]-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-3,4,5-triol

Bacopa and Health

Bacopa Monnieri is often marketed as a nootropic. However, it exhibits many other effects that are beneficial for health. Bacopa Monnieri primarily either acts via antioxidant mechanism or alters different neurotransmitters: serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine), dopamine, acetylcholine,Y-aminobutyric acid (GABA), to execute the pharmacological effect.

Nootropic

Bacopa Monnieri widely used as a nootropic ingredient. It’s use in this area is supported by numerous studies that have shown Bacopa Monnieri to exhibit positive effects on both cognition and memory, improving both the learning and free recall of information (Pase et al., 2012). The modulatory effect Bacopa Monnieri has on 5-hydroxytryptamine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine’s ability to fine tune neural plasticity is thought to be responsible for an increase in memory (Rajan et al., 2015).

Adaptogenic Activity

Adaptogens are nutritional ingredients that enable the body to better cope with mental and physical stress. Bacopa Monnieri has been shown to exhibit adaptogenic qualities, modulating neurotransmitter production, release and synaptic concentration (Aguiar & Barowski, 2013; Sheikh et al., 2007).

Antioxidant and Neuroprotective Activity

Oxidative stress caused by free radicals plays a role in many diseases. The brain is especially susceptible to oxidative stress as it is a highly metabolically active organ, possesses high levels of pro-oxidant iron, and is composed of unsaturated lipids meaning it is prone to lipid peroxidation (Aguiar & Borowski, 2013). The blood-brain barrier prevents many exogenous antioxidants from reaching the brain however, due to the structure of bacosides, they are able to cross this blood-brain barrier (Rajan et al., 2015). For this reason, coupled with its antioxidant abilities, Bacopa Monnieri use can be potentially helpful in the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease, as well as being a neuroprotective agent (Aguiar & Barowski, 2013; Liu et al., 2012; Abdul Manap et al., 2019).

Dementia & Cognitive Dysfunction

Dementia is a loss of cognitive ability and includes various different types, such as vascular dementia, frontotemporal degenerative dementia, Lewy body dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia results secondarily from many neurodegenerative disorders and while there are many different factors believed to contribute to dementia, free radical induced oxidative stress has been shown to play a major role in the severity of the illness (Markesbery, 1999; Practico & Delanty, 2000). Therefore, due to its antioxidant and free-radical scavenging abilities Bacopa Monnieri has been shown to be useful to attenuate the effects of dementia (Rajan et al, 2015).

Anti-Inflammatory

Bacopa Monnieri targets inflammatory cytokines that are found both in the periphery and in the central nervous system (CNS), and are links between systemic inflammation such as arthritis and neuroinflammation. Therefore, there is strong evidence that Bacopa Monnieri could be useful in the treatment of neuroinflammation as well as CNS disorders such as depression and schizophrenia (Nemetchek et al., 2018).

Epilepsy

Bacopa extract play an important role in the treatment of Epilepsy by inducing membrane dephosphorylation and a concomitant increase in mRNA turnover and protein synthesis. It can also enhance protein kinase activity in the hippocampus, which is critically involved in learning and memory. Extracts of Bacopa monnieri can be used as a herbal medicine for ameliorating the memory and cognitive impairments during epilepsy (Matthew et al., 2010).

Trademark

Bacowize is a trademark of Vita Actives, EU trademark number 013944558.

References

1. Abdul Manap, A., Vijayabalan, S., Madhavan, P., Chia, Y., Arya, A., Wong, E., Rizwan, F., Bindal, U. and Koshy, S., 2019. Bacopa monnieri, a Neuroprotective Lead in Alzheimer Disease: A Review on Its Properties, Mechanisms of Action, and Preclinical and Clinical Studies. Drug Target Insights, 13, p.117739281986641.


2. Aguiar, S. and Borowski, T., 2013. Neuropharmacological Review of the Nootropic Herb Bacopa monnieri. Rejuvenation Research, 16(4), pp.313-326.


3. Channa, S., Dar, A., Anjum, S., Yaqoob, M. and Atta-ur-Rahman, 2006. Anti-inflammatory activity of Bacopa monniera in rodents. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 104(1-2), pp.286-289.


4. Liu, X., Yue, R., Zhang, J., Shan, L., Wang, R. and Zhang, W., 2013. Neuroprotective effects of bacopaside I in ischemic brain injury. Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience, 31(2), pp.109-123.


5. Markesbery, W., 1999. The Role of Oxidative Stress in Alzheimer Disease. Archives of Neurology, 56(12), p.1449.


6. Mathew, J., Paul, J., Nandhu, M. and Paulose, C., 2010. Bacopa monnieri and Bacoside-A for ameliorating epilepsy associated behavioral deficits. Fitoterapia, 81(5), pp.315-322.


7. Nemetchek, M., Stierle, A., Stierle, D. and Lurie, D., 2017. The Ayurvedic plant Bacopa monnieri inhibits inflammatory pathways in the brain. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 197, pp.92-100.


8. Pase, M., Kean, J., Sarris, J., Neale, C., Scholey, A. and Stough, C., 2012. The Cognitive-Enhancing Effects of Bacopa monnieri: A Systematic Review of Randomized, Controlled Human Clinical Trials. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 18(7), pp.647-652.


9. Praticò, D. and Delanty, N., 2000. Oxidative injury in diseases of the central nervous system: focus on alzheimer’s disease. The American Journal of Medicine, 109(7), pp.577-585.


10. Rajan, K., Preethi, J. and Singh, H., 2015. Molecular and Functional Characterization ofBacopa monniera: A Retrospective Review. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015, pp.1-12.


11. Russo, A. and Borrelli, F., 2005. Bacopa monniera, a reputed nootropic plant: an overview. Phytomedicine, 12(4), pp.305-317.


12. Sheikh, N., Ahmad, A., Siripurapu, K., Kuchibhotla, V., Singh, S. and Palit, G., 2007. Effect of Bacopa monniera on stress induced changes in plasma corticosterone and brain monoamines in rats. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 111(3), pp.671-676.