Evidence supporting the use of: Bacoside
For the health condition: Anxiety Disorders

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Bacoside is the primary active constituent of Bacopa monnieri, a traditional Ayurvedic herb also known as Brahmi. While Bacopa has a long history of use in traditional medicine for cognitive enhancement and stress adaptation, its specific effects on anxiety disorders have been increasingly investigated in recent years. Several preclinical studies (animal models) have demonstrated that bacosides have anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) effects, likely mediated through modulation of neurotransmitter systems such as serotonin and GABA, and through antioxidant mechanisms that protect neural tissue from stress-induced damage.

Human evidence for Bacopa’s anxiolytic effects is limited but growing. A handful of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have evaluated standardized Bacopa extracts and reported reductions in self-reported anxiety and improvements in mood, though most studies were conducted in healthy adults or those with mild cognitive impairment rather than individuals diagnosed with clinical anxiety disorders. Meta-analyses suggest small but statistically significant decreases in anxiety scores with Bacopa supplementation; however, methodological limitations (small sample sizes, varying dosages and extract standardizations, lack of clinical anxiety populations) prevent strong conclusions.

Overall, while there is preliminary scientific validation for bacoside-containing Bacopa extracts as supportive agents for anxiety reduction, the evidence base remains modest (rated 2/5) and further well-designed clinical trials are needed to confirm efficacy in anxiety disorders specifically.

More about bacoside
More about Anxiety Disorders

Products containing bacoside

We currently have no products on Vitabase that contain this ingredient.