Bacopa (Brahmi)
Bacopa monnieri
(Also known as Bacopa monniera, Brahmi, Water hyssop)
‘In adults, B monnieri has been reported to be effective in reducing anxiety, thereby allowing improved brain functioning in terms of memory enhancement and elevated mental performance. Concentration and immediate memory span were both significantly improved. On-the-job mental fatigue, measured as total work output, and errors committed per unit time, also were statistically improved.’
Bacopa monnieri. Global information hub on integrated medicine; 2018. Internationally recognised government monograph.
‘BM [BacoMind®] exerts its effects on cholinergic, dopaminergic, and serotonergic pathways by affecting at least five different molecular targets of memory. The memory enhancing effects of BM can be linked to its cumulative effects on these enzyme and receptor based targets.’
Elucidation of molecular mechanism(s) of cognition enhancing activity of Bacomind® : A standardized extract of Bacopa monnieri. Pharmacognosy Magazine; 2016.
‘Study findings suggested that BacoMind® improved the cognitive functions such as attention and verbal memory in elderly individuals and was also found to be well tolerated.’
Efficacy and Tolerability of BacoMind® on Memory Improvement in Elderly Participants – A Double Blind Placebo Controlled Study. J Pharmacology and Toxicology; 2008.
‘These findings suggest that B. monnieri may improve higher order cognitive processes that are critically dependent on the input of information from our environment such as learning and memory.’
The chronic effects of an extract of Bacopa monnieri (Brahmi) on cognitive function in healthy human subjects.; J Psychopharmacology, 2001.
‘The Bacopa monnieri product significantly improved performance on the ‘Working Memory’ factor, more specifically spatial working memory accuracy. The number of false-positives recorded in the Rapid visual information processing task was also reduced for the Bacopa monnieri group following the treatment period. The current study provides support for the two other published studies reporting cognitive enhancing effects in healthy humans after a 90-day administration of the Bacopa monnieri extract.’
Examining the Nootropic Effects of a special extract of Bacopa monniera on Human Cognitive Functioning: 90 day Double-Blind PlaceboControlled Randomized Trial. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18683852; 2008.
‘Current evidence suggests BM acts via the following mechanisms – anti-oxidant neuroprotection (via redox and enzyme induction), acetylcholinesterase inhibition and/or choline acetyltransferase activation, β-amyloid reduction, increased cerebral blood flow, and neurotransmitter modulation.’
Neuropharmacological Review of the Nootropic Herb Bacopa monnieri.; Rejuvenation Research; 2013.
Pine Bark Extract
Pinus radiata
‘The speed of response for the spatial working memory and immediate recognition tasks improved after supplementation’.
Improved cognitive performance after dietary supplementation with a Pinus radiata bark extract formulation. J Phytotherapy Research; 2008.
‘The majority of studies did find significant improvements on measures of executive function and memory, and some also found increases in general cognition and processing speed.’
Flavonoids and cognitive function: a review of human randomized controlled trial studies and recommendations for future studies. J Genes and Nutrition; 2009.
‘In summary, PBEs [pine bark extracts] are rich in proanthocyanidins… these extracts have been widely tested in animal and clinical studies as dietary supplements due to their potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective activities.’
Pine Bark Extracts: Nutraceutical, Pharmacological, and Toxicological Evaluation. J Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics; 2015.
‘Results showed that P. radiata bark was richer in total phenols and also in procyanidins, catechin always being the main unit’…‘P. radiata showed a mDP of 2.9 vs. 2.3 of P. pinaster. It was also found that the higher the mDP the higher was the specific antiradical activity’.
A comparison between bark extracts from Pinus pinaster and Pinus radiata: Antioxidant activity and procyanidin composition. J Food chemistry; 2007.
Grape Vine Extract
Vitis vinifera
‘The results show that 12 weeks of Cognigrape® supplementation is safe, can improve physiological cognitive profiles, and can concurrently ameliorate negative neuropsychological status in healthy older adults.’
A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Clinical Trial on Effects of a Vitis vinifera Extract on Cognitive Function in Healthy Older Adults. J Frontiers in Pharmacology; 2017.
‘Brain-targeting grape-derived polyphenols showed promising anti-neurodegenerative properties. In the brain, most grape polyphenols or at least their metabolites, such as resveratrol, can cross the blood-brain barrier in sufficient concentrations, to evoke neuroprotective effects and memory-enhancing potential through inhibiting acetylcholinesterase activities and enhancing Aβ-clearance. Grape polyphenols, mainly catechin, epicatechin, procyanidins, suppressed Aβ-oligomerization, and synaptic dysfunction in the brain.’
Possible neuromodulating role of different grape (Vitis vinifera L.) derived polyphenols against Alzheimer’s dementia: treatment and mechanisms. Bulletin of the National Research Centre; 2019.
‘Consumption of flavonoid-rich grape products may have a significant beneficial effect on brain function and central nervous system. Grape flavonoids, specifically anthocyanins, can prevent neurodegenerative processes both by inhibition of neuro-inflammation and by reducing oxidative stress.’
Recent Advances and Uses of Grape Flavonoids as Nutraceuticals. J Nutrients; 2014.
‘Metabolism in right superior parietal cortex and left inferior anterior temporal cortex was correlated with improvements in attention/working memory, as measured with WAIS-III Digital Span within the active formulation group.’
Examining the impact of grape consumption on brain metabolism and cognitive function in patients with mild decline in cognition: A double-blinded placebo controlled pilot study. J Experimental Gerontology; 2017.
‘The dietary polyphenol preparations that we studied are able to modulate AD [Alzheimer’s disease] through the activities of their brain-penetrating polyphenol preparations, which modulate multiple pathogenic processes such as Aβ and tau neuropathogenic mechanisms, neuroplasticity, and inflammation.’
Roles of resveratrol and other grape-derived polyphenols in Alzheimer’s disease prevention and treatment. J Molecular Basis of Disease; 2015.
Panax Ginseng
‘Radix Ginseng is used as a prophylactic and restorative agent for enhancement of mental and physical capacities, in cases of weakness, exhaustion, tiredness, and loss of concentration, and during convalescence.’
‘The suggested mode of action of Radix Ginseng is twofold. First, the drug has an “adaptogenic” effect, which produces a nonspecific increase in the body’s own defences against exogenous stress factors and noxious chemicals. Secondly, the drug promotes an overall improvement in physical and mental performance.’
Radix Ginseng. WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants – Volume 1. Radix Ginseng; 2018. Internationally recognised monograph.
‘The World Health Organization (WHO) monograph section on ‘uses supported by clinical data’ re-affirms the Commission E approved uses: ‘ used as a prophylactic and restorative agent for enhancement of mental and physical capacities, in cases of weakness, exhaustion, tiredness, and loss of concentration, and during convalescence’ (WHO, 1999).’
Ginseng root (Panax ginseng). Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs; Ginseng Root. American Botanical Council. USA: Integrative Medicine Communications; 2000. Internationally recognised monograph.
‘Ginseng extract had significant effects on neurological and psychiatric symptoms in aged humans and psychomotor functions in healthy subjects respectively. This positive effect of ginseng on cognition derives from the direct action of ginseng on the hippocampus.’
Neuroprotective Effects of Ginsenosides. J Acta Neurobiologiae Experimentalis; 2006.
‘Stress can decrease the levels of a brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and make changes to heat shock protein-70 which are valuable as anti-stress agents to induce dysfunction in the hippocampus. Rb1 administration increases the levels of heat shock protein-70 and BDNF, eliminates the effects of stress, and avoids any damage to the hippocampus. Ginsenosides have been recognized as neuroprotective agents, including playing a role as antistress ingredients.’
Neuroprotective Effects of Ginseng Phytochemicals: Recent Perspectives. J Molecules; 2019. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31416121
‘These results suggest that ginsenoside Rb1 exhibits significant antidepressant-like effect in behavioural tests, chronic animal model and drug interactions, its mechanisms mainly mediated by central neurotransmitters of serotonergic, noradrenergic and dopaminergic systems.’
Involvement of serotonergic, noradrenergic and dopaminergic systems in
the antidepressant-like effect of ginsenoside Rb1, a major active ingredient of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer. J Ethnopharmacology; 2017.
Blueberry
- ‘The nootropic and neuroprotective properties of blueberry polyphenols are documented; they not only act through purely antioxidant mechanisms, but they also affect various levels of the regulation of cell homeostasis comprising gene expression, as underlined by the improvement of intercellular communication, signalling pathways, synaptic plasticity and its correlation with the improvement of motor and cognitive performance’.
Giacalone M et al. Antioxidant and neuroprotective properties of blueberry polyphenols: a critical review. J Nutr Neurosci; 2011. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21756533/
- ‘Acute blueberry supplementation led to improvement in some cognitive abilities, possibly due to the impact of flavonoids on cell signalling pathways (e.g. those involving BDNF), in addition to vasodilatory properties and subsequent CBF [cerebral blood flow] increases.
Dodd, Georgina F. The acute effects of flavonoid-rich blueberries on cognitive function in healthy younger and older adults. University of Reading; 2012. https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.607157
- ‘Supplementation with an anthocyanin-rich blueberry concentrate improved brain perfusion and activation in brain areas associated with cognitive function in healthy older adults.’
Bowtell JL et al. Enhanced task-related brain activation and resting perfusion in healthy older adults after chronic blueberry supplementation. J Appl Physiol Nutr Metab’ 2017. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28249119/
- ‘A single dose of flavonoid-rich blueberry could have a potentially protective effect on cognitive function in healthy older adults, possibly due to improved cerebrovascular function and positive interactions with cell signalling pathways involved in cognitive processes.’
Dodd, Georgina F. et al. Acute effects of flavonoid-rich blueberry on cognitive and vascular function in healthy older adults. J Nutr and Health Aging; 2019. https://content.iospress.com/articles/nutrition-and-healthy-aging/nha180056
B vitamins
- ‘The B vitamins represent a group of eight essential dietary micronutrients that work closely in concert at a cellular level and which are absolutely essential for every aspect of brain function.’
David O. Kennedy. B Vitamins and the Brain: Mechanisms, Dose and Efficacy–A Review. Nutrients; Front Nutr; 2016. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4772032/
- ‘B1 modulates cognitive performance, especially in the elderly… Vitamins B6 and B12, among others, are directly involved in the synthesis of neurotransmitters… Vitamin B9 preserves brain during its development and memory during ageing.’
J M Bourre . Effects of nutrients (in food) on the structure and function of the nervous system: update on dietary requirements for brain. Part 1: micronutrients. J Nutr Health Aging; 2006. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17066209/
- ‘Because of their metabolic interdependence, the B complex vitamins have to be regarded as a functional unit whose individual members act like links in a chain of biochemical reactions… Recent studies had confirmed an association between B vitamins and many aspects of cognitive performance and that even subclinical differences in nutritional status could have subtle effects on cognition.’
E Huskisson et al. The influence of micronutrients on cognitive function and performance. J International Medical Research; 2007. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/147323000703500101
Cacao
- ‘Cocoa flavanols administration can be effective at sustaining cognitive performance, leading to improvements in measures of general cognition, attention, processing speed and memory.’
Valentina Socci et al. Enhancing Human Cognition with Cocoa Flavonoids. J Front Nutr; 2017. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5432604/
- ‘Cocoa powder and chocolate contain a large percentage of flavonoids that display several beneficial actions on the brain. In addition to their beneficial effects on the vascular system and on cerebral blood flow, flavonoids interact with signalization cascades involving protein and lipid kinases that lead to the inhibition of neuronal death by apoptosis induced by neurotoxicants such as oxygen radicals, and promote neuronal survival and synaptic plasticity.’ ‘They [antioxidant molecules] also provoke angiogenesis, neurogenesis, and changes in neuron morphology, mainly in regions involved in learning and memory. Epicatechin improves various aspects of cognition in animals and humans.’
Astrid Nehlig. The neuroprotective effects of cocoa flavanol and its influence on cognitive performance. Br J Clin Pharmacol; 2013. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3575938/
Zinc
- ‘Zinc plays an important role in axonal and synaptic transmission and is necessary for nucleic acid metabolism and brain tubulin growth and phosphorylation.’
Zinc, the brain and behavior. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7082716/#:~:text=Zinc%20plays%20an%20important%20role,protein%20synthesis%20during%20brain%20development.
- ‘The trace metal zinc is a biofactor that plays essential roles in the central nervous system across the lifespan from early neonatal brain development through the maintenance of brain function in adults… Zinc is a modulator of synaptic activity and neuronal plasticity in both development and adulthood.’
Shannon Gower-Winter et al. Zinc in the central nervous system: From molecules to behavior. Biofactors; 2012. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/223986282_Zinc_in_the_central_nervous_system_From_molecules_to_behavior
Iodine
- ‘Many brain structures and systems appear to be affected with iodine deficiency, including areas such as the hippocampus, microstructure such as myelin, and neurotransmitters.’
Kahla Redman, Ted Ruffman et al. Iodine Deficiency and the Brain: Effects and Mechanisms. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition; 2015. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/275052017_Iodine_Deficiency_and_the_Brain_Effects_and_Mechanisms
- ‘Iodine provided by the thyroid hormone [obtained through diet] ensures the energy metabolism of the cerebral cells.’
J M Bourre . Effects of nutrients (in food) on the structure and function of the nervous system: update on dietary requirements for brain. Part 1: micronutrients. J Nutr Health Aging; 2006. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17066209/
DISCLAIMER: If symptoms persist, seek the advice of a healthcare professional. This supplement is intended to compliment a healthy diet and lifestyle and is not intended to treat any specific illness, for which reason we make no claims for cures.
