Songklanakarin J. Sci. Technol. 41 (2), 397-404, Mar. – Apr. 2019 Original Article Pharmacognostic and physico-chemical investigations of the aerial part of Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst. Tongchai Saesong 1 , Prapapan Temkitthawon 1 , Pranee Nangngam 2 , and Kornkanok Ingkaninan 1* 1 Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry, Naresuan University, Mueang, Phitsanulok, 65000 Thailand 2 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Naresuan University, Mueang, Phitsanulok, 65000 Thailand Received: 26 September 2017; Revised: 19 November 2017; Accepted: 26 November 2017 Abstract A macroscopic, microscopic, physico-chemical, and phytochemical analysis of the aerial part of Bacopa monnieri ( L.) Wettst. or Brahmi was undertaken for the purpose of establishing a monograph. The macroscopic and microscopic studies presented the typical characteristics of the Brahmi plant and its powder. The standard values of physico-chemical parameters were established at not more than 10. 0 %w/w for loss on drying and 13.0 %w/w for total ash as well as not less than 17. 0 %w/w for water soluble extractives and 10. 0 %w/w for ethanol soluble extractives. Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of steroidal saponins, with confirmation by the TLC fingerprint. Total saponin content was not less than 1.0 %w/w measured by HPLC-UV method. The overall study provides pharmacognostical, physico-chemical, phytochemical details, typical TLC and HPLC fingerprints of the Brahmi, which can be used to establish a Pharmacopoeia monograph for the identification and standardization of Brahmi material. Keywords: Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst, Brahmi, monograph, pharmacognostic study, HPLC fingerprint 1. Introduction Bacopa monnieri ( L.) Wettst. ( commonly known as Brahmi) is a perennial herb belonging to the family Planta- ginaceae. It has been used in Ayurvedic medicine as a brain tonic and memory enhancer for hundreds of years. The chemical constituents of Brahmi include various classes of chemical groups such as sterols (Bhandari, Kumar, Singh, & Kaul, 2006), flavonoids (Bhandari, Kumar, Gupta, Singh, & Kaul, 2007) and saponins (Nuengchamnong, Sookying, & Ingkaninan, 2016; Sivaramakrishna, Rao, Trimurtulu, Vanis- ree, & Subbaraju, 2005). The major compounds of this plant responsible for memory and cognition enhancement are steroidal saponin glycosides e.g. bacoside A3, bacopasaponin C, and bacopasides I, II, and X (Deepak, Sangli, & Amit, 2005; Ganzera, Gampenrieder, Pawar, Khan, & Stuppner, 2004; Le et al., 2015; Singh, Rastogi, Srimal, & Dhawan, 1988; Zhou, Peng, Zhang, & Kong, 2009). Some trials on the standardized extract of Brahmi have indicated that the extract also improved cognitive functioning (Kongkeaw, Dilokthorn- sakul, Thanarangsarit, Limpeanchob, & Norman Scholfield, 2014; Peth-Nui et al., 2012; Stough et al., 2001). Brahmi also has been shown to have anti-oxidant (Kapoor, Srivastava, & Kakkar, 2009; Simpson, Pase, & Stough, 2015), neuropro- tective (Hosamani & Muralidhara, 2009; Limpeanchob, Jaipan, Rattanakaruna, Phrompittayarat, & Ingkaninan, 2008; Uabundit, Wattanathorn, Mucimapura, & Ingkaninan, 2010) and anti-inflammatory effects (Nemetchek, Stierle, Stierle, & Lurie, 2017). Supported by ethnopharmacological data and scientific studies, several Brahmi products have been developed as food supplements which are marketed around *Corresponding author Email address: k_ingkaninan@yahoo.com