Eclipta
alba commonly known as False Daisy and Bhringraj, is a plant
belonging to the family Asteraceae. In Ayurvedic medicine, the
leaf extract is considered a powerful liver tonic, rejuvenative,
and especially good for the hair. A black dye obtained from
Eclipta alba is used for dyeing hair and tattooing. Eclipta alba
also has traditional external uses, like athlete foot, eczema
and dermatitis, on the scalp to address hair loss and the leaves
have been used in the treatment of scorpion stings. It is
reported to improve hair growth and color (Kritikar and Basu
1975 and Chopra et al. 1955)
The herb Eclipta alba contains mainly coumestans i.e.
wedelolactone (I) and demethylwedelolactone (II), polypeptides,
polyacetylenes, thiophene-derivatives, steroids, triterpenes and
flavonoids. Coumestans are known to possess estrogenic activity
(Bickoff et al. 1969) Wedelolactone possesses a wide range of
biological activities and is used for the treatment of hepatitis
and cirrhosis (Wagner et al. 1986), as an antibacterial,
anti-hemorrhagic (Kosuge et al. 1985). and for direct inhibition
of IKK complex resulting in suppression of LPS-induced
caspase-11 expression (Kobori et al. 2004)
Traditional uses
Plant is bitter, hot, sharp, dry in taste and is used in
ayurveda for the treatment of Kapha and Vata imbalances. In
India, the plant is known as bhangra or bhringraja. An other
plant Widelia calendulacea is also known by the same name, but
Eclipta has white flowers so called white bhangra and Widelia
has yellow flower so it is called yellow Bhangra (Puri 2003).
The expressed leaf juice is applied along with honey is a
popular remedy for catarrh in infants. A preparation obtained
from the leaf juice boiled with sesame or coconut oil is used
for anointing the head to render the hair black and luxuriant.
An oil prepared with amla, bhringraj and sometimes with brahmi
is well known known in India as Amla Bhringraj oil, which is
said to blacken the hair. Plant is rubbed on the gums in
toothache and applied with a little oil for relieving headache
and with sesame oil in elephantiasis. Roots of Eclipta alba are
emetic and purgative.
In Ayurveda the plant is considered a rasayana for longevity and
rejuvenation. Recent studies have shown that it has a profound
antihepatotoxic activity. A cardiodepressant activity was also
observed in it when used for hepatic congestion. A complete
symptomatic relief in epigastric pain, nausea and vomiting in
ulcer patients has also been observed (Puri 2003)
In Taiwan, entire plant is used as a remedy for the treatment of
bleeding, heamoptysis, haematuria and itching, hepatitis,
diphtheria and diarrhoea. In China, as a cooling and restorative
herb, which supports the mind, nerves, liver and eyes. The leaf
extract is considered to be powerful liver tonic, rejuvenative,
and especially good for the hair. A black dye obtained from
Eclipta alba is also for dyeing hair and tattooing. Eclipta alba
also has traditional external uses, like athlete foot, eczema
and dermatitis, on the scalp to address hair loss and the leaves
have been used in the treatment of scorpion strings. It is used
as anti-venom against snakebite in China and Brazil (Mors,
1991).
Arabic- kadim-el-bint,
BURMESE :
CHINESE :
ENGLISH :
FRENCH :
GERMAN :
Hindi - bhangra, mochkand,
JAPANESE :
Kannada-garagadasappu, kadiggagaraga.
KHMER :
LAOTIAN :
MALAY :
Marathi- bangra, bhringuraja,
PORTUGUESE :
RUSSIAN :
Sanskrit- bhringaraja, kesharaj, nilapushpa,pankajata,
SPANISH :
TAGALOG :
Tamil- karishalanganni,
Telugu - galagara, gunta-kalagara,
THAI :
Tibetan - bhra nga ra dza, bhri-ga, brin ga ra dza,
VIETNAMESE :
Urdu - bhangra, babri, bhangra, bhangra, ab bhangra.
Courtesy of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eclipta_alba
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