Bacopa monnieri is a small, creeping herb that contains the alkaloids brahmine, herpestine, and a mixture of three bases. It also contains the saponins monnierin, hersaponin, bacoside A and bacoside B. The entire plant constitutes the well-known drug Brahmi. The drug is astringent, bitter and cooling, and reportedly improves the intellect. It is used in Ayurveda for the treatment of asthma, hoarseness, insanity and epilepsy and is also a potent nerve tonic, cardiotonic, aperient and diuretic.