Identity & origin
BOTANICAL IDENTITY
The right name is the first step.
Annual or subshrub in the Plantaginaceae family. Recorded native range: Tropical and subtropical regions. The listed pharmacopoeial material is aerial parts.
Also known as: No synonyms listed.
Check the species, plant part and complete botanical name together. A photograph alone cannot identify a harvest safely for consumption.
An illustration is not enough to identify a plant for consumption. Do not forage for a species based solely on this profile.
Uses & evidence
UNDERSTANDING THE USES
Properties & uses.
Pharmacopoeial material: aerial parts
The Ayurvedic inventory lists aerial parts. Trials of a standardised whole-plant dry extract do not automatically describe a home infusion. This notice infers no therapeutic indication.
The references do not establish a benefit. Lack of evidence is not assurance of safety.
Read the sourceMemory: an exploratory older-adult trial
Some delayed-recall and attention tests improved, while other cognitive tests did not. Small sample and short treatment period; neither dementia prevention nor treatment was demonstrated.
A human study may be positive, negative or inconclusive. Read the findings, preparation and limitations.
Read the sourceThe traditional uses described are not clinical proof of effectiveness. Evidence for one preparation cannot automatically be applied to another.
Precautions before use
BEFORE ANY USE
Precautions & contraindications.
This guidance does not cover every individual situation. Missing information is not a guarantee of safety.
Contraindications & precautions
- Insufficient dataThis targeted audit does not provide a comprehensive contraindication review; this does not mean contraindications are absent.
Medicine interactions
- Insufficient dataThis dossier cannot establish compatibility with medication. A limited study does not replace an interaction review of the exact product.
Other retained warnings · review incomplete
These existing warnings remain relevant to consult. Their exhaustive reassessment is outside this targeted review.
Restrictions and precautions
- This botanical dossier does not establish medicinal-use safety. Anyone with a medical condition or taking medicine needs professional assessment of the specific product.
Medicine interactions
- Interactions have not been sufficiently assessed in the sources retained for this notice; an incomplete assessment guarantees no compatibility.
Pregnancy, breastfeeding and children
No medicinal use is offered during pregnancy or breastfeeding; this dossier cannot establish safety in these situations.
No paediatric preparation or dose is offered in this notice.
“Reported” does not prove causality; “possible” may reflect indirect evidence. “None reported” means none in the cited source, not that all combinations have been studied. Do not stop a prescribed treatment based on this profile.
Adverse effects
- Digestive upset was reported in the trial; this does not describe the complete safety profile of bacopa.
Pregnancy & breastfeeding
No medicinal use is offered during pregnancy or breastfeeding; this dossier cannot establish safety in these situations.
Children & adolescents
No paediatric preparation or dose is offered in this notice.
If symptoms persist, worsen or are unusual, consult a healthcare professional. In an emergency, contact the emergency services.
Forms & how they are used
DOCUMENTED FORMS
One plant, several preparations.
Only forms documented in this profile’s sources are presented.
Studied preparation — documentary referenceWhole plant in the trial, distinct from the inventory’s aerial parts. · Route: not recommended for self-treatment
Standardised whole-plant dry extract, not aerial-part tea.
Please note: Research description only; no self-treatment dose, recipe or duration is offered.
Read the sourceAvailable evidence
EXPLORE THE EVIDENCE
The available evidence.
This reference concerns a defined preparation of Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst.. Findings come from participants studied in a specific setting and do not validate every preparation of the plant.
Memory: an exploratory older-adult trial
Test performance does not capture all everyday memory, and a result does not transfer to every bacopa product.
A human study may be positive, negative or inconclusive. Read the findings, preparation and limitations.
Read the referenceLimitations to keep in mind.
Test performance does not capture all everyday memory, and a result does not transfer to every bacopa product.
Studies, findings & limitations
THE RESEARCH
What the research shows.
A laboratory or animal result alone does not demonstrate a benefit in humans. Each result must be read alongside the preparation studied and its limitations.
Memory: an exploratory older-adult trial — 2008
A human study may be positive, negative or inconclusive. Read the findings, preparation and limitations.
- Type of research
- Randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial in older adults without dementia.
- Preparation concerned
- Standardised whole-plant dry extract, not aerial-part tea.
- Observed results
- Some delayed-recall and attention tests improved, while other cognitive tests did not.
- Limitations to consider
- Small sample and short treatment period; neither dementia prevention nor treatment was demonstrated.
What can we take from this?
Small sample and short treatment period; neither dementia prevention nor treatment was demonstrated. Interactions, pregnancy and long-term use require separate assessment.
Documentary review dated 09/10/2026. The references remain available to check the context.
Sources & last review
CHECKING REFERENCES
Sources for this profile.
- ANSM — French Pharmacopoeia, List A, January 2026, p. 6Accessed on 09/10/2026
- Kew POWO — Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst.Accessed on 09/10/2026
- Calabrese C et al. (2008) — Effects of a standardized Bacopa monnieri extract on cognitive performance, anxiety, and depression in the elderly: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialAccessed on 09/10/2026
Image: Christopher Evans · CC BY 4.0. View the original image and its licence. Image resized and converted to WebP.