Humans are increasingly struggling with and reporting poor sleep and associated symptoms. Pharmacological treatments for insomnia include controlled release melatonin, benzodiazepines, antihistamines, among others that may have associated side effects. Botanicals are an area of interest for supporting healthy sleep patterns. Bacopa monnieri is often referred to as a nootropic agent that improves memory and mental acuity, and has been used traditionally in Ayuvedic medicine (Brimson et al., 2021, Sukumaran et al., 2019). In India, it has been used as a component in drinks, biscuits, syrups, jellies, and breakfast cereals. The main bioactive constituents of Bacopa monnieri believed to be associated with its cognitive effects are saponins called bacosides, with bacosides A and B the most studied constituents.
In this 28-day, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 100 adults with self-reported poor sleep received either a placebo or a standardised Bacopa monnieri extract (150 mg twice daily). Outcome measures included the Bergen Insomnia Scale (primary outcome measure), Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Diary, Short Form-36 Health Survey, and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale. Changes in salivary concentrations of cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, immunoglobulin A (sIgA), α-amylase (sAA), C-reactive protein, melatonin, and the fatigue biomarker index were also assessed.
Bacopa monnieri increased self-reported emotional wellbeing and general health. The authors suggest future clinical trials using varying doses, treatment periods, and objective outcome measures will be important to validate these findings.
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October 2021
Journal of Functional Foods
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Abstract
In this 28-day, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 100 adults with self-reported poor sleep received either a placebo or a standardised Bacopa monnieri extract (150 mg twice daily). Outcome measures included the Bergen Insomnia Scale (primary outcome measure), Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Diary, Short Form-36 Health Survey, and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale. Changes in salivary concentrations of cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, immunoglobulin A (sIgA), α-amylase (sAA), C-reactive protein, melatonin, and the fatigue biomarker index were also assessed. Based on the Bergen Insomnia Scale, Bacopa monnieri did not improve sleep patterns more than the placebo; however, it was associated with greater improvements in emotional wellbeing, general health, and pain-related symptoms. Bacopa monnieri was also associated with greater reductions in sIgA and sAA compared to the placebo. Future clinical trials using varying doses, treatment periods, and objective outcome measures will be important to validate these findings.
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