Brahmi, Shankhpushpi and Cow Ghee: What the Smrutihills Study Observed on Cognitive Scores

By Herbal Hills Research Team | Medically reviewed by: Dr. Ajitkumar Mandlecha, BAMS, M.Phil (Musculoskeletal Disorder), Medical Director, Vishwanand Kendra, Pune

Interest in an Ayurvedic memory booster has grown among students, professionals and adults over 40. Classical Ayurveda has a dedicated group of Medhya herbs for the mind, traditionally prepared in cow ghee. Smrutihills from Herbal Hills follows this tradition in a soft gel capsule, and a peer-reviewed study measured its effect on cognitive scores in healthy adults.

Quick answer: In a study published in IJRAMS (2021), 30 healthy adults took Smrutihills, a ghee-based Ayurvedic Medhya formulation, for 21 days. Their average Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score rose from 24.74 to 26.47 (p = 0.0082), and no adverse effects were reported on clinical, haematological or biochemical parameters.

Key takeaways

• Published: International Journal of Research in Ayurveda and Medical Sciences (IJRAMS), 2021, Vol 4 Issue 1.
• 30 healthy volunteers aged 18–60; 2 capsules (500 mg) twice a day for 21 days.
• Mean MoCA score: 24.74 ± 3.26 → 26.47 ± 1.17 (t = 2.7358, p = 0.0082).
• No adverse effects or withdrawals; study approved by an Institutional Ethics Committee under ICMR guidelines.
• Formulated with classical Medhya herbs processed in cow ghee (500 mg Go-Ghrita per capsule).

In this article

• What is Smrutihills capsule?
• What does Ayurveda say about memory and the mind?
• Why is cow ghee used in an Ayurvedic memory booster?
• How was the Smrutihills study designed?
• What results did the study report?
• What is the MoCA test?
• Who is Smrutihills suited to in practice?
• Study at a glance
• Frequently asked questions

What is Smrutihills capsule?

Smrutihills is an Ayurvedic proprietary soft gel capsule made from a combination of classical Medhya herbs processed in cow ghee, with 500 mg of Go-Ghrita per capsule. Ayurvedic texts describe herbs such as Brahmi, Shankhpushpi, Mandukparni, Guduchi, Jyotishmati and Vacha as Medhya, meaning they support the mind, memory and intellect.

What does Ayurveda say about memory and the mind?

Ayurveda describes three mental faculties: Dhi (intelligence), Dhriti (retention) and Smriti (memory, the recall of past experience). Stress, irregular routine and poor diet are seen as disturbing these faculties. Medhya Rasayana herbs, and ghee as their classical carrier, are the traditional Ayurvedic approach to supporting them.

Why is cow ghee used in an Ayurvedic memory booster?

Classical texts describe cow ghee as supporting intellect, memory and retention, and many traditional Medhya preparations, such as Brahmi Ghrita, are ghee-based. Smrutihills follows this principle by processing its herbs in cow ghee and delivering the ghrita in a measured soft gel dose.

How was the Smrutihills study designed?

It was an observational, non-comparative, prospective study approved by an Institutional Ethics Committee following ICMR ethical guidelines. Thirty healthy adults aged 18 to 60 took 2 Smrutihills capsules twice a day for 21 days. Cognitive function was measured with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and blood tests were done before and after to check safety.

What results did the study report?

The average total MoCA score rose from 24.74 ± 3.26 at baseline to 26.47 ± 1.17 after 21 days, a statistically significant change (t = 2.7358, p = 0.0082). The authors reported that cognitive function scores increased significantly in the healthy volunteers and that the capsule was free of adverse effects.

What is the MoCA test?

The Montreal Cognitive Assessment is a widely used 30-point screening test covering attention, memory, language, visuospatial skills and orientation. It was chosen in this study as an objective, standardised way to measure cognitive performance before and after the 21-day course.

Who is Smrutihills suited to in practice?

The study was conducted in healthy adults, so its findings relate to cognitive support in generally healthy people rather than to any disease. Practitioners commonly consider Medhya formulations for students, working professionals and adults over 40; published data cited in the study put age-associated memory impairment at 3.6% of Indians aged 40 and above.

Study at a glance

About the research

Herbal Hills studies were conducted at Vishwanand Kendra, Centre for Integrative Medicine & Research, Pune, under Dr. Ajitkumar Mandlecha (Medical Director) and Dr. Gous Mujawar (Research Head), with Institutional Ethics Committee approval.

About Herbal Hills

Herbal Hills has spent over 25 years manufacturing Ayurvedic formulations in ISO and GMP certified facilities. Our ghee-based soft gel capsules are prepared with cow ghee from our own cow farm using the classical Siddha Ghruta method, and nine of our formulations have been evaluated in clinical studies, eight of them published in peer-reviewed journals. Doctors, clinics, distributors and medical stores can buy directly from the manufacturer in retail packs or value packs.

Registered Ayurvedic practitioners can request the full study summary and a free product sample for clinical evaluation. Share your name, clinic name and registration number through the enquiry form or WhatsApp button on this page.

Frequently asked questions

Disclaimer

This article is for educational purposes and is intended for healthcare professionals, clinic owners and trade partners. The results described were observed in the study participants named above; individual results may vary. Herbal Hills products are Ayurvedic proprietary medicines and should be used under the guidance of a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner. The studies referenced were sponsored by Herbal Hills and conducted by an independent research centre.

References

1. Mandlecha A, Mujawar G. A safety evaluation and tolerability of Smrutihills capsule, an Ayurveda formulation, in healthy subjects. IJRAMS. 2021;4(1):28-31.
2. Nasreddine ZS et al. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment, MoCA: a brief screening tool. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2005;53(4):695-9.