Bacopa monnieri in Patients with Parkinson's Disease: A Pilot Study

Santos AFD, Souza MMQ, Amaral EC, Albuquerque ER, Bortoloti DS

Published in Journal of Medicinal Food

Methodology

Interventional, controlled, parallel, double-blind pilot trial; 20 volunteers with Parkinson's disease received Bacopa monnieri extract 225 or 450 mg/day or placebo, with quality-of-life (PDQL) and motor assessments at baseline and 30, 60 and 90 days.

Key Findings

No differences in parkinsonian or systemic symptoms, emotional function or social function were observed between groups; only within-group delta-percent analyses suggested time-dependent improvement in emotional function at 450 mg/day.

Conclusions

Bacopa did not improve Parkinson's disease symptoms in this pilot; any emotional-function signal needs confirmation in adequately powered trials.

Limitations

Very small pilot (n = 20) split across three arms; underpowered; positive signals came from within-group percentage change rather than between-group comparison.