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The leaves of bacopa contain saponins, including the bacosides,^{2, 3, 4}  which are thought responsible for the therapeutic properties of the herb. In animal studies, both purified bacosides and extracts of bacopa standardised for bacosides have been found to enhance a few aspects of mental function and learning ability.^{5, 6, 7} Additional brain effects of bacopa demonstrated in animal research include reduction of both anxiety and depression.^{8, 9} Biochemically, these nervous-system effects have been attributed to an enhancement of the effects of the neurotransmitters acetylcholine and,^{10, 11} possibly, serotonin or GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid).^{12, 13}

Bacopa extracts also appear to have significant antioxidant activity in the brain,¹⁴ and other effects that may help protect brain cells.¹⁵

Animal research has also reported that bacopa extracts can relax the muscles that control the blood vessels, the intestine, and the airways of the respiratory system,^{16, 17, 18, 19}  and can help both prevent and heal ulcers in the stomach.²⁰