meta analysis of plants used as nootropic agents. nootropic agents means the chemical which increases the memory and brain energy and balance the conditions of neurochemicals.

1. RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION DESIGN © 2015
www.PosterPresentations.com
Abstract: Nootropics are the chemical substances or drug molecules that may improve cognitive function,
executive functions of brain, memory, creativity.
In this meta-analysis we reviewed the potential sources of nootropic agents from plant sources used in
conventional or ayurvedic and traditional system of medicine using PubMed and Google Scholar Search
Engine. We observed that the research on this particular topic is increasing in last ten years. It has been
observed that most of the nootropic agents from herbs act on the mechanisms including cerebral blood flow,
brain energy, brain chemicals, brain waves, neuroprotection and brain regeneration to enhance memories. Plants
act as nootropic agents includes: Bacopa monnieri (Scrophulariaceae), Nicotiana mutabilis (Solanaceae),
Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgoaceae), Panax ginseng (Araliaceae), Rhodiola rosea (Crassulaceae), Nicotiana tabacum
(Solanaceae) etc. The phytochemicals which responsible for the nootropic substance that are alkaloid (5-
isobutoxy-2-phenyl-3-(3-pyridyl)-isoxazolidine, 2,5-diphenyl-3-(3-pyridyl)-isoxazolidine), glycosides (3-(α-l-
arabinopyranosyl)-O-𝛽-dglucopyranoside-10, 20-dihydroxy-16-keto-dammar-24-ene) etc. These chemicals are
responsible for enhancing metabolic activities of mitochondria in brain, maintains the balance dopamine,
serotonin, epinephrine, etc. it also optimizes neurotransmitter by supplying brain chemical precursor, enhancing
receptor sensitivity. This review will be helpful to further study on nootropics from plants and for the research
purpose.
Keywords: - Nootropics, memory enhancer, neuroprotection, neurochemical balance, Bacopa monnieri,
Nicotiana mutabilis, Ginkgo biloba, Panax ginseng, Rhodiola rosea, Scrophulariaceae, Crassulaceae,
Solanaceae, Ginkgoaceae, Araliaceae.
Introduction: Nootropic sometimes called smart drugs, brain boosters, or memory enhancer drugs.
Nootropics are the chemical substances or drug molecules that may improve cognitive function, executive
functions of brain, memory, creativity. These chemicals are responsible for enhancing metabolic activities of
mitochondria in brain, maintains the balance dopamine, serotonin, epinephrine, etc. It also optimizes
neurotransmitter by supplying brain chemical precursor, enhancing receptor sensitivity and obtains from natural
plants.
ABSTRACT AND INTRODUCTION
PLANTS SHOWS THE NOOTROPIC ACTIVITY AND THEIR MECHANISMS
REFERENCES
CONCLUSION
• Nootropic agents are now days are very popular one, the reason behind its function is highly applicable
because different chemicals are acts by different mechanisms.
• The mechanisms which is seen that are cerebral blood flow, brain energy booster, brain chemicals balancing,
brain waves maintaining , neuroprotection and brain regeneration to enhance memories.
• Nootropic also enhances the power of concentration and reflex.
• Nootropic agents are responsible for enhancing metabolic activities of mitochondria in brain, maintains the
balance dopamine, serotonin, epinephrine, etc.
• Nootropics optimizes neurotransmitter by supplying brain chemical precursor, enhancing receptor
sensitivity.
METHODOLOGY
Guru Nanak Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology
157/F Nilgunj Road, Panihati, Sodepur, Kolkata-700114, West Bengal
*Email id: soumya.bhattacharya@gnipst.ac.in
SRIDEBESH GHORUI, BISWADIP NAG, SOUMYA BHATTACHARYA*
META-ANALYSIS OF PLANTS USED AS NOOTROPIC AGENTS
Plants Chemicals responsible for
the activity
Mechanisms behind nootropics activity
Rhodiola rosea
(Crassulaceae)
Root
Salidroside
(Glycoside)
• R. rosea is considered to be an “adaptogen” that
enhances endurance, resistance, and protest against
stressful situation. Salidroside, an active component
which has neuroprotective and antioxidative effects. It
also causes the upregulation of DA and ACh in the
limbic system pathways, responsible for human
emotions
Withania sominifera
(Solanaceae)
Root
Withanolides
(Steroidal compound)
• Mechanisms of withanolides is the modulation of
circulating levels monoamine oxidase and GABA in
the brain. GABA is an amino acid that acts as an
inhibitory neurotransmitter, countering to some extent
the effects of the stimulatory neurotransmitter
glutamate and thus serving as a natural tranquilizer.
The withanolides are also believed helps promote the
formation of dendrites. Dendrites are extensions of
nerve cells that receive signals from other neurons
which helps to increases memory.
Hericium erinaceus
(Hericiaceae)
Mushroom
Erinacine A
Erinacine B
Triterpenoid
Hericenone A
Hericenone B
(Phenolic compound)
• The chemicals are enhance synthesis of nerve growth
factor which is a highly conserved protein critical for
survival that is involved in preventing neuronal death
and promoting neuritis outgrowth, supporting synapse
formation, and enhancing memory function, and is
also essential in maintaining and organizing neuron
function.
Pinus pinaster
(Pinaceae)
Bark
Pycnogenol
Enzogenol
(Polyphenolic compound)
• Enogenol improved the response speed of spatial
working memory and immediate recognition tasks.
Chemical are displays a positive influence on
cognitive performance, specifically on working
memory, a type of short-term memory.
• Pycnogenol shows action on memory, focus, decision
making and mood , it improves memory and cognitive
abilities by improving synaptic communication.
Curcuma longa
(Zingiberaceae)
Root
Diferulolmethane,
Desmethoxycucurmin
(Alkaloids)
• Turmeric has been shown to increase Brain-Derived
Neurotrophic Factor, fight depression, improve
cognition, focus and libido, and protect the brain from
inflammation.
Convolvulus
pluricaulis
(Convolvulaceae)
Plants
Coumarin
Scopoletin
(Alkaloids)
• Chemicals that are mentioned used as memory
retention and the extract of this plant are use to
preparation of brain tonic
• Kamila S., Madhav N.V. S., “Original Article Nootropic Medicinal Plants; Evaluating Potent Formulation By Novelestic High throughput
Pharmacological Screening (HTPS) Method”, Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2017: 13 (1): 57-72.
• Rawat A., Mali R.R., “Phytochemical Properties and Pharmacological Activities of Nicotiana Tabacum: A Review”, INDIAN JOURNAL
OF PHARMACEUTICAL & BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH (IJPBR)., ISSN:2320-9267, Vol. 1 (1), June., 2013, Received: 20-05-2013;
Revised 30-5-2013; Accepted 31-05-2013.
• Kaustubh S. Chaudhari, Nishant R. Tiwari, Rakesh R. Tiwari, Rohan S. Sharma et al, “Neurocognitive Effect of Nootropic Drug Brahmi
(Bacopa monnieri) in Alzheimer’s Disease”, Ann Neurosci 2017;24:111–122, DOI: 10.1159/000475900, Received: May 19, 2016,
Accepted: March 28, 2017, Published online: May 12, 2017.
• Srikanth N., Tewari D., Haripriya N., Khanduri S., Rath C., Mangal A.K., Gaidhani S.N. et al., “Botanical Nootropics in Ayurveda:
Potential Leads for Pharmacological Neurocognitive Enhancement and Drug Development”, 10.5005/jp-journals-10059-0010.
• Deo Y. K., Reddy KRC, “Critical review on pharmacological properties of Brahmi”, International Journal of Ayurvedic Medicine, 2013,
4(2), 92-99, ISSN: 0976-5921
• Thongbai B., Rapior S., Hyde K. D., Wittstein K. Stadler M., “Hericium erinaceus, an amazing medicinal mushroom” Mycol Progress
(2015) 14:91, Received: 29 June 2015 /Revised: 17 August 2015 /Accepted: 20 August 2015, # German Mycological Society and
Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2015, DOI 10.1007/s11557-015-1105-4.
• Ueda K, Tsujimori M, Kodani S, Chiba A, Kubo M, Masuno K, Sekiya A, Nagai K, Kawagishi H (2008) “An endoplasmic reticulum (ER)
stress-suppressive compound and its analogues from the mushroom Hericium erinaceum”. Bioorg Med Chem 16:9467–9470
Plants Chemicals responsible for
the activity
Mechanisms behind nootropics activity
Bacopa monnieri
(Scrophulariaceae)
Leaf
3-(α-l-arabinopyranosyl) -O-𝛽
-dglucopyranoside-
10 (Bacoside A)
20-dihydroxy-16-keto-
dammar-24-ene (Bacoside B)
(Glycoside)
• The mechanism of these chemicals are tested in
laboratories and the pharmacological actions
remains conjectural. It has been suggested that
bacosides induce membrane dephosphorylation,
modulate the activity of specific neurotransmitter
receptor including those that regulate the uptake of
serotonin, which is associated with mood and
anxiety.
Nicotiana tabacum
(Solanaceae)
Leaf
Nicotine analogues:
5-isobutoxy-2-phenyl-3-(3-
pyridyl)-isoxazolidine
(compound A)
2,5-diphenyl-3-(3-pyridyl)-
isoxazolidine
(compound B)
(Alkaloid )
• Due to the prohibition of the use of nicotine, novel
nicotine analogue is synthesised and compounds A
and B produces and they are postulated to stimulate
the release of acetylcholine through the activation
of presynaptic nicotine acetylcholine receptors.
These receptors are responsible for modulating the
release of neurotransmitter which improves
memory.
Panax ginseng
(Araliaceae)
Root
Panaxadiol
Panaxatriol
Oleanolic Acid
(Steroidal compound)
• Chemicals are acts as an anti-inflammatory by
reducing cytokines and as antioxidant boosting
ATP production in mitochondria in brain as well as
Ginseng seems to effect memory and learning by
boosting NGF in the brain.
Ginkgo biloba
(Ginkgoaceae)
Leaf
Ginkgolides,
Bilobalide
(Terpenoid)
• Ginkgo has also been found to modulate the release
of several important neurotransmitter. It also protect
the vascular damage by free radicals, which are
incomplete atom formed during the process of
oxidation.
PLANTS SHOWS THE NOOTROPIC ACTIVITY AND THEIR MECHANISMS
In PubMed we searched by key word “nootropic agents from plants” and we seen that 1176 articles wear
published on this nootropic and since 1945 and from the last 10 year(2009 – 13 august,2019) 568 articles wear
published. So we viewed that this is an important topic from last few years. And we hope that, The meta-
analysis of plants used as nootropic agents will be helpful for further study on nootropics from plants and for the
research purpose.