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| Latin Names |
Sanskrit Names |
Hindi Names |
Eclipta prostrata
(Linn.) Linn.
/ Eclipta alba (Linn.) Hassk.
(Asteraceae)
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Bhringaraja,
Kesharaja, Kesharanjana |
Bhangra,
Mochkand, Babri |
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| History |
It was used by Hindus
in their Shradh (ceremony for paying respect to a recently deceased
person), being placed under and on the pinda. The description of the
herb's medicinal properties by arab writers are the similar to their
Indian counterparts, and they called it "Kadim-el-bint"
in Arabic. Mr. J.J. Wood suggested that E.prostrata would be
found eventually of greater service than taraxacum in hepatic derangements.
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| Habitat |
It grows as a common
weed throughout India, ascending up to 6,000 ft. on the hills.
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| Morphology
Description (Habit) |
An erect or prostrate,
much branched, roughly hairy, annual, rooting at the nodes; the leaves
are opposite, sessile and lanceolate; the flower-heads are white.
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| Principal
Constituents |
The herb contains
wedelolactone and dimethyl wedelolactone possessing potent antihepatotoxic
properties1.The herb is a rich source of ascorbic acid.
It also contains an alkaloid, ecliptine. The plant is a good source
of thiophene derivatives which are active against nematodes. The occurrence
of mono-, di- and trithiophene acetylenes together with a-terthenyl
in this species is noteworthy. The petroleum ether extract of aerial
parts contains a trithienyl aldehyde, ecliptal, besides stigmasterol
and ß-sitosterol. The roots are very rich in thiophene acetylenes2.
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| Pharmacology |
Eclipta
is an effective anti-inflammatory agent. It inhibited the higher levels
of histamine due to chronic inflammation upto 58.67 percent3
. The ethanolic extract of the dried whole plant E.prostrata
and its active constituent, culumbin, exhibited remarkable antihypertensive
activity on anesthetized rats. No significant side effects or toxicities
have been found either on histopathology of liver, kidney, spleen,
heart or on biochemical parameters like SGOT, SGPT, BUN, etc. Moreover,
no appreciable changes have been found in body weight and in specific
organ weight during the course of investigation on Long Evans rats4.
An alcoholic extract of freshly collected E.prostrata aerial
parts exhibited dose-dependent (62.5-500.0mg/kg p.o.) and significant
hepatoprotective activity against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver
injury in rats and mice. The hepatoprotectve activity is further substantiated
by its protective role on parameters such as hexobarbitone-induced
sleep, zoxazolamine-induced paralysis, bromosulphaphthalin (BSP) clearance,
serum levels of transaminases, bilirubin and protein. The extract
did not show any signs of toxicity and the minimum lethal dose was
greater than 2.0g/kg when given orally and intraperitoneally in mice5.
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| Indications |
The herb is used
as a tonic and deobstruent in hepatic and splenic enlargements and
in skin diseases. The plant juice is administered in combination with
aromatics for catarrhal jaundice.The plant possesses antihepatotoxic
and anti-inflammatory activities. The fresh plant is considered anodyne
and absorbent.
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| Product
Range |
Abana (HeartCare),
Geriforte (GeriCare / StressCare), Pilex (VeinCare), Purim (HemoCare),
Protein Conditioner, Revitalizing Hair Oil, Galactin Vet, Geriforte Aqua, Geriforte Vet, Liv.52 Protec,
Anti-Hair Fall Shampoo.
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| References |
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- Bhargava, K.K. et. al., Ind. J. Chem., 1970,
8, 664.
- Singh et. al., Geobios, 1990, 17(1), 35; Das & Chakravarty,
Indian J Chem, 1991, 30B, 1052; Singh, Bioact Mol, 1988, 7, 179;
Mabberley, 199.
- Reddy, K.R.K. et. al., J. Res. Educ. in Ind.
Med., 1990, v., 9(4), 43-46.
- Rashid, Md , International Seminar-Traditional Medicine, Calcutta,
7-9 November, 1992, Abstr. No. 8.16, 134.
- Singh, B. et. al., Phytotherapy Research, 1993,
v., 7(2), 154-158; Murthy, T.S. et. al., J. Res.
Educ. Ind. Med., 1993, v., 12(2), 41-43.
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