water hyssop

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Indian-pennywort
• bacopa
• coastal water-hyssop
• herb-of-grace

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Moniera monnieri
• Anisocalyx limnanthiflorus
• Alonsoa hirsuta
• Bramia monnieri
• Habershamia cuneifolia
• Herpestis monnieri
• Herpestis africana
• Hydrotrida beccabunga
• Herpestis pedunculosa
• Hemimeris hirsuta
• Calytriplex obovata
• Bramia indica
• Allocalyx microphylla
• Septas repens
• Septilia repens
• Gratiola portulacacea
• Gratiola tetrandra
• Ruellia articulata
• Moniera pedunculosa
• Limosella calycina
• Lysimachia monnieri
• Bacopa monnieri var. cuneifolia
• Capraria monnieria
• Bacopa monnieria var. cuneifolia
• Gratiola monnieri
• Herpestis cuneifolia
• Moniera cuneifolia
• Moniera brownei
• Herpestis moranensis
• Moniera africana
• Herpestis spathulata
• Herpestis brownei
• Herpestis calytriplex
• Thunbergia stolonifera

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Lamiales and the family Plantaginaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Bacopa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution spanning multiple continents and diverse climates. In Southwestern Europe, its presence is documented in both Portugal and Spain. Moving toward the African continent, it can be found across Northern Africa in Egypt. Its range extends further into West Tropical Africa, specifically within Nigeria. Finally, the species is also located in West-Central Tropical Africa, notably in the Congo.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Bacopa monnieri is characterized by an extraordinary degree of environmental plasticity, allowing it to inhabit a vast spectrum of diverse ecosystems. This species exhibits a wide range of habitat preferences, ranging from aquatic environments (Vegetação Aquática) to specialized terrestrial landscapes such as Restingas, Caatinga (strictu sensu), Cerrado (lato sensu), and various field types including Campo de Altitude, Campo de Várzea, Campo Limpo, and Campo Rupestre. Additionally, it can be found in anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica) and Ombrophilous Forests (Floresta Ombrófila). This adaptability extends to its vertical distribution across landscapes, as the plant occupies an expansive elevational range. It can be found at sea level (0 m AMSL) and reaches an impressive maximum elevation of 3500 m AMSL, maintaining a mean elevation of approximately 600 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

3500 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Campo de Altitude, Campo de Várzea, Campo Limpo, Campo Rupestre, Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial), Restinga, Vegetação Aquática

Genetics

The genetics of Bacopa monnieri are characterized by a specific chromosomal configuration that plays a crucial role in its biological complexity and evolutionary adaptation. The plant exhibits a chromosome number that typically ranges between 64 and 68, indicating a significant genomic architecture. Furthermore, studies have identified its ploidy level as 2, signifying a diploid state which influences its genetic stability and the expression of its secondary metabolites. This chromosomal makeup provides the fundamental genetic blueprint that governs the plant's physiological processes and its ability to synthesize bioactive compounds.

Chromosome number :

64,68

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Bacopa monnieri is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its morphological life form, it functions as a therophyte, a strategy often associated with rapid life cycles or specific survival mechanisms in varying environmental conditions. This life history is further defined by its structural classification as a therophyte, emphasizing its specific growth habit and ecological niche within its habitat.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Bacopa monnieri is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. This plant typically exhibits a small stature, with a mean plant height of approximately 0.1 m and a maximum height reaching up to 0.3 m. It is a self-supporting species that does not function as a climber, liana, or vine, and it maintains an ascending shoot orientation. While it can exist in various environments, it is characterized here as a terrestrial plant rather than an aquatic or semiaquatic one, and it functions as an independent organism without parasitic tendencies. Additionally, it is a non-epiphytic, terrestrial species that lacks any woody tissue, maintaining a succulent, herbaceous structure throughout its growth.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.3 m

Plant height mean:

0.1 m

Shoot orientation :

ascending

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Bacopa monnieri is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway and a distinct succulent morphology, which aids in its water management. Its foliage displays significant morphological variation, with leaf lengths typically averaging 1.4 cm, though they can range from a minimum of 0.35 cm to a maximum of 2 cm. The leaf width is similarly variable, maintaining a mean of 0.45 cm with a minimum width of 0.15 cm and reaching a maximum of 1 cm. Additionally, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external soil nutrient availability for its metabolic processes.

Leaf length max:

2 cm

Leaf length mean:

1.4 cm

Leaf length min:

0.35 cm

Leaf width max:

1 cm

Leaf width mean:

0.45 cm

Leaf width min:

0.15 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

yes

Reproduction

The reproduction of Bacopa monnieri is characterized by the production of distinct blue flowers, which typically measure between 0.6 cm and 2 cm in length. Following pollination, the plant develops fruit in the form of a capsule, with dimensions ranging from a minimum of 0.5 cm to a maximum of 0.8 cm in length. Within these fruits, the seeds are produced, which are notably minute, ranging in length from 0.4 mm to 0.5 mm.

Flower colour :

blue

Flower length max:

2 cm

Flower length min:

0.6 cm

Fruit length max:

0.8 cm

Fruit length min:

0.5 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Seed length max:

0.5 mm

Seed length min:

0.4 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Bacopa monnieri has 5 reported plant parts identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, fruit, rhizome, root, stem.

Leaf

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Zhongguo ying yong sheng li xue za zhi = Zhongguo yingyong shenglixue zazhi = Chinese journal of applied physiology
3. Journal of neurodegenerative diseases
4. 3 Biotech
5. SpringerPlus

Fruit

1. Environmental monitoring and assessment

Rhizome

1. Environmental monitoring and assessment

Root

1. BMC genomics

Stem

1. SpringerPlus

Chemicals

Bacopa monnieri has 141 reported phytochemicals identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Bacoside A, Bacopaside I, bacopaside II, Bacopasaponin C, Bacoside A3.

Bacoside A

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
3. Bioprocess and biosystems engineering
4. Archives of biochemistry and biophysics
5. Applied microbiology and biotechnology

Bacopaside I

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. Biotechnologia
4. Analytica chimica acta
5. Phytochemical analysis : PCA

bacopaside II

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
2. Cells
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR
4. Bioprocess and biosystems engineering
5. Applied microbiology and biotechnology

Bacopasaponin C

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
2. Bioprocess and biosystems engineering
3. Plant cell reports
4. Phytochemistry
5. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin

Bacoside A3

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. Bioprocess and biosystems engineering
4. Applied microbiology and biotechnology
5. Plant cell reports

Flavonoids

1. Microbial pathogenesis
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Nutrients
4. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
5. Journal of separation science

Bacopasaponin F

1. Plant cell reports
2. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
3. Molecular biology reports
4. Natural product research

Bacoside B

1. Dr. Duke
2. Archives of biochemistry and biophysics
3. Wiadomosci lekarskie (Warsaw, Poland : 1960)
4. Genome

CD

1. Environmental monitoring and assessment
2. SpringerPlus
3. Physiologia plantarum
4. Planta medica

CR

1. Food additives & contaminants. Part B, Surveillance
2. International journal of phytoremediation
3. Environmental monitoring and assessment
4. SpringerPlus

Activities

Bacopa monnieri has 212 reported activities identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Memory-Enhancer, Nootropic, Neuroprotective, Sedative.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of biological macromolecules
3. Critical reviews in biotechnology
4. Biochemistry and biophysics reports
5. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Memory-Enhancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Analytica chimica acta
3. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
4. Phytotherapy research : PTR
5. Pharmacognosy magazine

Nootropic

1. Archives of biochemistry and biophysics
2. Critical reviews in biotechnology
3. JMIR research protocols
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Neuroprotective

1. Neurochemical research
2. Archives of biochemistry and biophysics
3. International journal of biological macromolecules
4. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Sedative

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in nutrition
3. Complementary therapies in medicine
4. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Antidepressant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Antiepileptic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine

Antinociceptive

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Hypotensive

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Vasodilator

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Bacopa monnieri has 103 reported investigations on conditions identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include memory, oxidative stress, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, anxiety.

Memory

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Wiadomosci lekarskie (Warsaw, Poland : 1960)
5. Analytica chimica acta

Oxidative stress

1. Microbiological research
2. Alternative therapies in health and medicine
3. Fitoterapia
4. Biochemical and biophysical research communications
5. Brain sciences

Alzheimer's disease

1. Archives of biochemistry and biophysics
2. Computational biology and chemistry
3. Life sciences
4. CNS & neurological disorders drug targets
5. Scientific reports

Parkinson's disease

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
2. Biochemistry and biophysics reports
3. Journal of neurodegenerative diseases
4. Journal of medicinal food
5. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Anxiety

1. Wiadomosci lekarskie (Warsaw, Poland : 1960)
2. Alternative medicine review : a journal of clinical therapeutic
3. Children (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Medical oncology (Northwood, London, England)
5. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Dementia

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
2. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. Neurochemical research
5. Archives of biochemistry and biophysics

Cancer

1. Frontiers in nutrition
2. Journal of natural medicines
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR
4. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry
5. Plant signaling & behavior

Epilepsy

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine
3. Life sciences
4. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
5. Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Neurological disorders

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Frontiers in nutrition
4. Archives of biochemistry and biophysics
5. Applied microbiology and biotechnology

Depression

1. Wiadomosci lekarskie (Warsaw, Poland : 1960)
2. Critical reviews in biotechnology
3. Children (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Nepal Medical College journal : NMCJ
5. Nutrients

Preparations

Bacopa monnieri has 70 reported preparations identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extract, extracts, methanol extract, plant extracts, BacoMind.

Extract

1. Cells
2. Journal of medicinal food
3. Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences
4. Journal of investigative surgery : the official journal of the Academy of Surgical Research
5. Laboratory animal research

Extracts

1. Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin
2. Journal of the science of food and agriculture
3. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Frontiers in molecular neuroscience

Methanol extract

1. International journal of biological macromolecules
2. Fitoterapia
3. Natural product research

Plant extracts

1. Fitoterapia
2. Brain sciences
3. Molecular biotechnology

Bacomind

1. Biomedical and environmental sciences : BES
2. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Bacopa monnieri extract

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine
2. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Aqueous extract

1. Journal of natural medicines
2. Molecular neurobiology

Bm extract

1. Cellular and molecular neurobiology

Bm supplementation

1. Neurochemical research

Bacopa monnieri water extract (bmwe)

1. Journal of natural medicines