Very cool study detailing some properties of nootropic herbs used in Ayurveda, India's traditional system of medicine. They're classified as medhya rasayanas within Ayurveda - as the study states "Medha means intellect and/or retention and Rasayana means therapeutic procedure or preparation that on regular practice will boost nourishment, health, memory, intellect, immunity and hence longevity."
Study here : http://www.ncbi.nlm....les/PMC3459457/
Herbs mentioned include Gotu Kola, Licorice, and Bacopa, as well as some lesser known herbs, such as Shankhapushpi, Nardostachys jatamamsi and Jyotishmati (Celastrus panniculata), also called intellect seeds, which I've used and have been shown to have dose-dependent cholinergic activity.