DIVERSIDAD GENÉTICA Y MEJORAMIENTO DE PLANTAS MEDICINALES= Medicinal plants and improvement of medicinal herbs:

Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) is a traditional Indian medicinal plant known for its natural nootropic action of saponins present in large amount in its shoots. A collection of 24 B. monnieri accessions from different agro-climatic zones of India and an introduction from Malaysia maintained in the field genebank at CIMAP was analysed for RAPD variation. Among the 40 random primers tested, 29 primers generated one or more polymorphic bands. The number of polymorphic bands generated was primer dependent, ranging from 2 to maximum of 8. Similarity matrices were generated from the RAPD data on the basis of Nei's estimates of similarity indices and dendrograms were constructed based on UPGMA clustering. All the accessions were found to be in the range of 0.8-1.0 of similarity, which is indicative of a narrow genetic base among the various accessions with a medium level of polymorphism. Ir was possible to differentiate individual accessions, showing differences in morphological and growth properties at DNA level. The observed low levels of genetic variation were attributed to interplay of sexual and vegetative modes of reproduction and similarity of local environments in habitats of B. monnieri.

PARTE UTILIZADA= Used part: Planta entera.

ACCION FARMACOLOGICA= Pharmacological action: Diurético, antirreumático.

COMPOSICIÓN QUÍMICA= Chemical composition: Three new triterpene glycosides, bacopasides VI-VIII (1-3), together with three known analogues, bacopaside I (4), bacopaside II (5), and bacopasaponsin C (6), were isolated from the whole plant of Bacopa monnieri. Compounds 4, 5, and 6 showed antidepressant activity when tested on forced swimming and tail suspension in mice, respectively. © 2007 American Chemical Society and American Society of Pharmacognosy.

ZONA GEOGRAFICA= Geografical zone: Argentina, Guyanas

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Parte empleada: todo.
Usos: para mujeres que recién pasaron por el parto.
Preparación: después de la cuarentena se toman baños de agua hervida preparada con esta
hierba, más hierba del espanto y cedro.

Whole plant: Mixed with a little salt into a bitter infusion used for a febrifuge and antimalarial.

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Origin:
Throughout the plains of India in damp marshy areas.

Action:
Adaptogenic, astringent, diuretic, sedative, potent nervine tonic, antianxiety agent (improves mental functions, used in insanity, epilepsy), antispasmodic (used in bronchitis, asthma and diarrhoea).

1) TOURSARKISSIAN, Martín. Plantas medicinales de Argentina : sus nombres botánicos, vulgares, usos y distribución geográfica. Buenos Aires : Hemisferio Sur, 1980, p.119.

2) ZHOU, Y., et al Triterpene saponins from Bacopa monnieri and their antidepressant effects in two mice models. Journal of Natural Products. 2007, vol.70, nº4, p.652-655.
 
3) DAROKAR, M.P., et al. Low levels of genetic diversity detected by RAPD analysis in geographically distinct accessions of Bacopa monnieri. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution. 2001, vol.48, nº6, p.555-558.

4) Robertt, A., et al.. Medicinal Plants of the Guianas (Guyana, Suriname, French Guyana)/Smithsonian NMNH. cited online: 17-08-2017

5) Plantas medicinales de La Matamba y El Piñonal, municipio de Jamapa, Veracruz/ Escamilla Pérez, Blanca Edith; Moreno Casaola, Patricia. INECOL: Mexico, 2015, 99p.

6) Khare, C.P./ Indian Medicinal Plants. -- Nueva Dheli: Springer, 2007 . - p. 836.