Bacopa

The Bacopa is a genus of 70 - 100 aquatic plants belonging to the family Plantaginaceae. Commonly known as Water Hyssop. They are annual or perennial, decumbent or erect stemmed plants. The leaves are opposite or whorled, sessile. Leaf blade regular, round to linear, venation palmate or pinnate. Stems hairy or smooth. The flowers are produced solitary or in pairs from leaf axil, usually radially symmetrical, sepals 5, petals 5, usually white, blue or purple in color. Dispersal and propagation is by seeds and stem fragments. Crushed leaves have a distinctive 'lemon' scent.

A South African ground cover plant sometimes sold in garden centres as Bacopa ‘Snowflake’ (white flowers) or ’Blue Showers’ (blue flowers) - or other similar names - are actually varieties of Sutera cordata a tender perennial.


Clinical Studies
In two studies, approx. 80 middle-aged and older adults took 300 mg of bacopa per day for four to six weeks. The results of the studies showed that bacopa did little or nothing for their memories.

Anxiety
A 1998 study involving rats who were given a 25% bacoside A dose of Bacopa extract showed that anxiolytic activity was enhanced as much as if the drug Lorazepam were administered. The treatment with Bacopa extract exhibited none of the side effects of Lorazepam, such as amnesia.


USES
Bacopa monnieri syn. Herpestis monniera, is important in ayurvedic medicine and has been used, particularly in India, for several thousand years.It has been identified as brahmi, which is considered medhya rasayan a "brain tonic", supposedly enhancing memory development, learning, and concentration. Earlier, in Ayurvedic literature B. monnieri was identified as jal brahmi or jal neem and Centella asiatica was considered brahmi.


Species
Bacopa monnieri is a perennial, creeping herb whose habitat includes wetlands and muddy shores. Common names include Water Hyssop and brahmi. The leaves of this plant are succulent and relatively thick. Leaves are oblanceolate and are arranged oppositely on the stem. The flowers are small and white, with four or five petals. Its ability to grow in water makes it a popular aquarium plant. It can even grow in slightly brackish conditions. Propagation is often achieved through cuttings.
It commonly grows in marshy areas throughout India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, and is also found in Florida and other southern states of the USA where it can be grown in damp conditions by the pond or bog garden.
 
Bacopa rotundifolia is a species of water hyssop known as the disk water hyssop or round-leafed water hyssop, due to the shape of its leaves. This is an aquatic plant native to water bodies of the central United States and well-known in other areas as an invasive weed of waterways. The round leaves are 1 to 3 centimeters wide and each has six longitudinal veins. The plant produces yellow-throated white flowers.

Bacopa myriophylloides

Bacopa crenata

Bacopa caroliniana

Bacopa australis

Bacopa madagascariensis

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