Brahmi (Bramia monnieri (L.) Pennell)

Brahmi

Botanical name: Bramia monnieri (L.) Pennell

Family: Plantaginaceae

Other name: Brahmi are Neerbrahmi, Bamanevari in Gujarati; Jalnam, Birami, Brahmi in Marathi; Brahmi in Oriya; Bhahmi in Malayalam; Brahmibuti in Punjabi; Sambarenu, Sambrani in Telugu; Brahmi vazhukkai, Nirabrahmi in Tamil; Ondelaga, Mandukaparni, Nirubrahmi in Kannada, Manduka Parni in Hindi; Brahmi in Assamese; Kapotavanka, Sarasvati in Sanskrit; Thyme Leaved Gratiola in English.

Parts used: Whole plant

Propagation through: Shoots cutting

Active compound: bacoside-A and bacoside-B. bacoside A is considered to be the most important active constituent.

The properties of brahmi:

·??????It may have analgesic potential (pain killer)

·??????It may have anti-inflammatory potential

·??????It may have anti-microbial property (may kill microbes and bacteria)

·??????It may have anti-convulsant potential (may be helpful in seizures)

·??????It may have anti-depressant property (may relive depression)

·??????It may have anxiolytic property (reduces anxiety)

·??????It may have anti-neoplastic property (may help in cancer)

·??????It may have antioxidant property

·??????It may have beneficial properties for liver health

·??????It may have an immuno-stimulatory potential (may stimulate the immune system)

·??????It may have sedative potential (may induce sleep and calmness)

·??????It may have anti-ulcer potential

Use of Brahmi (Medicinal purpose):

·??????Brahmi is a reputed intellect promoter, hypotensive, and neuropathic sedative drug.

·??????It is a potent tonic used to improve mental alertness, learning performance, and memory as well as in the treatment of insomnia.

·??????The plant is reported to be useful in treating biliousness, inflammations, tumours, ulcers, flatulence, constipation, asthama, bronchitis, skin diseases, leprosy, leucoderma, sterility, fever and general debility.

·??????It has also been indicated as a cardiotonic and in treatment of snake bites.

·??????As the brain is considered the centre of creative activity, any substance that might boost the brain’s health is known as brahmi. It also means ‘bringing knowledge of the supreme reality”. Brahmi may be recognised as a popular memory booster among locals

?Morphological characteristic:

Bacopa monnieri is a non-aromatic. it is also a creeping herb with rooting at nodes. The leaves of this plant are succulent, oblong, and 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) thick. Leaves are oblanceolate and are arranged oppositely on the stem. The flowers are small, actinomorphic and white, with four to five petals. It can even grow in slightly brackish conditions. (Ref.

Varieties: Those varieties that contain a higher amount of bacoside should be chosen.

Climate condition: A wide range of temperatures (15–40 0C) is suitable for growing brahmi. Nevertheless, we are growing in protected conditions, then maintaining a temperature of 27-30 0C degrees in a house. While relative humidity we should be maintained between 50 and 80%.

Nursery technique: Freshly collected shoot cuttings of 5–8 cm length with internodes and rootlets from best varieties

After cutting, the cutting shoot should be placed in growing media (Oasis Growing cube)

Note: Put one shoot cutting into one cube of oasis

Every day for one week, these cutting shoots should be watered with 0.8 EC (Make 0.8 EC water and use parts A and B fertilizers in equal amounts)

These shoots will be ready for transplantation into hydroponic systems in a week

Then after transplants into hydroponic systems (such as NFT or DWC)

Nutrients:

Prepare stock solution based on crops' needs and dilution into working tank

After making stock solution then after take parts A and B fertilizers in equal amounts add into working take and making your desirable nutrients solution for your plants?

After transplanting a plants into Hydroponic systems then after give 1.5 EC water for 2 weeks

After two-week increase dose and make out a 2.0 EC water into working take.

Disease and Pest: No pests, insects or pathogens have been reported to affect the crop seriously.

Crop maturity and harvesting: A crop can be harvested 75-90 days after transplantation. Plants can also be harvested when they reach a length of 40-60 cm. Remove a whole plant from hydroponic systems, then roots cut just above the oasis cubes with the help of scissors. if you take a ratoon crop, then you should be cut 5-8 cm above the oasis cube.

Post-harvest management: The produce should be dried by spreading it on clean area or sheets in the sun for four to five days, followed by shade drying for next 7-10 days. The dried material should be stored in clean containers. Bacoside content starts reducing after six months of storage. Therefore, long storage should be avoided.

References

1. https://vikaspedia.in/agriculture/crop-production/package-of-practices/medicinal-and-aromatic-plants/bacopa-monnieri
2. https://pharmeasy.in/blog/ayurveda-uses-benefits-side-effects-of-brahmi/