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Bacopa monnieri and perceived stress: grade C

Limited evidence. Direction: Benefit.

C LimitedSubjective outcome only

Educational guidance, not medical advice

Why this grade

Rubric condition met: RCT results inconsistent (B not met); positive findings are secondary or trend-level; conservative reading per citation-rules 9

One 12-week trial in healthy adults reported lower state anxiety, and one in adults 65 or older (tablets supplied by MediHerb) reported falling combined anxiety scores; an industry-funded 2025 trial found greater reductions in self-reported stress reactivity as a secondary outcome. Other trials found anxiety unaffected or only a trend. A small single-dose crossover study reported some positive mood effects and lower cortisol. Evidence is mixed and rests on questionnaires.

How we grade evidence

Studies this grade rests on

EffectMixedNo effectSize shows participants (n)2000200520102015202020252030RCTCrossover RCTLopresti 2025, 2025: RCT, n = 101, result not recordedRoodenrys 2002, 2002: RCT, n = 76, result not recordedSathyanarayanan 2013, 2013: RCT, n = 72, result not recordedCalabrese 2008, 2008: RCT, n = 54, result not recordedBenson 2014, 2014: crossover RCT, n = 17, result not recordedStough 2001, 2001: RCT, n not recorded, result not recorded
each study this grade rests on, by publication year and design. Solid: effect versus the comparator; half-filled: mixed; hollow: no effect; dashed: result not recorded yet. Larger marks had more participants.
Show the numbers
StudyYearDesignParticipantsResult
Stough 20012001RCTnot recordedresult not recorded
Roodenrys 20022002RCT76result not recorded
Calabrese 20082008RCT54result not recorded
Sathyanarayanan 20132013RCT72result not recorded
Benson 20142014crossover RCT17result not recorded
Lopresti 20252025RCT101result not recorded

An acute, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study of 320 mg and 640 mg doses of Bacopa monnieri (CDRI 08) on multitasking stress reactivity and mood.

Benson S, Downey LA, Stough C. An acute, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study of 320 mg and 640 mg doses of Bacopa monnieri (CDRI 08) on multitasking stress reactivity and mood Phytother Res, 2014. PMID 23788517

Result not recorded
Design
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial (single doses)
Sample
n = 17
Population
Healthy adults
Funding
Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery

The Effects of a Bacopa monnieri Extract (Bacumen(®)) on Cognition, Stress, and Fatigue in Healthy Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Lopresti AL, Smith SJ. The Effects of a Bacopa monnieri Extract (Bacumen(®)) on Cognition, Stress, and Fatigue in Healthy Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial Clin Drug Investig, 2025. PMID 41091332

Result not recorded
Design
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel-group trial (12 weeks)
Sample
n = 101
Population
Adults aged 40-70 with self-reported memory and attention problems
Funding
US Pharma Lab (Crossref funder record)

Brahmi for the better? New findings challenging cognition and anti-anxiety effects of Brahmi (Bacopa monniera) in healthy adults.

Sathyanarayanan V, Thomas T, Einöther SJ. Brahmi for the better? New findings challenging cognition and anti-anxiety effects of Brahmi (Bacopa monniera) in healthy adults Psychopharmacology (Berl), 2013. PMID 23354535

Result not recorded
Design
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel-group trial (12 weeks)
Sample
n = 72
Population
Healthy urban adults aged 35-60, Bangalore, India
Funding
Hindustan Unilever Limited

Effects of a standardized Bacopa monnieri extract on cognitive performance, anxiety, and depression in the elderly: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Calabrese C, Gregory WL, Leo M. Effects of a standardized Bacopa monnieri extract on cognitive performance, anxiety, and depression in the elderly: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial J Altern Complement Med, 2008. PMID 18611150

Result not recorded
Design
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (6-week placebo run-in, 12 weeks treatment)
Sample
n = 54
Population
Healthy adults aged 65 or older
Funding
NIH National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (via the Oregon Research Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Neurological Disorders); Northwest Health Foundation; tablets provided free by MediHerb Pty. Ltd.

Chronic effects of Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) on human memory.

Roodenrys S, Booth D, Bulzomi S. Chronic effects of Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) on human memory Neuropsychopharmacology, 2002. PMID 12093601

Result not recorded
Design
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (3 months plus 6-week follow-up)
Sample
n = 76
Population
Healthy adults aged 40-65
Funding
not stated in PubMed/Crossref records

The chronic effects of an extract of Bacopa monniera (Brahmi) on cognitive function in healthy human subjects.

Stough C, Lloyd J, Clarke J. The chronic effects of an extract of Bacopa monniera (Brahmi) on cognitive function in healthy human subjects Psychopharmacology (Berl), 2001. PMID 11498727

Result not recorded
Design
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel-group trial (12 weeks)
Population
Healthy adults
Funding
not stated in PubMed/Crossref records; extract (Keenmind) information supplied by the manufacturer per the erratum

Search and history

Search (): bacopa[ti] AND (anxiety[tiab] OR stress[tiab] OR mood[tiab]) AND (randomized controlled trial[pt] OR clinical trial[pt])

  • Graded C (proposed): Proposed in the monograph draft
  • C to C (approved): Editor sign-off November 13, 2026: grade matches the editor-approved final page