Common Name:

False Daisy (Eng)

Sanskrit Name:

Bhringraj: As it is having hair on its surface similar to those of humming bee.

Markava: Which removes whiteness from hair

Kesharanjana: Which colors hair

Kesharaja:

Bhangara:

Bhangaraiya:

Lt. Name:

Eclipta alba – Compositae

Bio energetics:

Rasa (Taste) – Katu (Pungent); Tikta (Bitter)

Guna (Characteristics) – Laghu (Light); Ruksha (Un- unctuous)

Veerya (Potency) – Ushna (Hot)

Vipaka (Post digestion effect) – Katu (Pungent)

Chemical composition:

The principal constituents of Eclipta alba are coumestan derivatives like wedololactone [1.6%], demethylwedelolactone, desmethyl-wedelolactone-7glucoside and other constituents are ecliptal, ?-amyrin, luteolin-7-O-glucoside, hentriacontanol, heptacosanol, stigmasterol. All the parts of Eclipta alba and chemical constituents are used as anticancer, antileprotic, analgesic, antioxidant, antimyotoxic, antihaemorrhagic, antihepatotoxic, antiviral, antibacterial, spasmogenic, hypotensive, ovicidal, promoter for blackening and growth of hair. This article highlights chief constituents their biological activities, uses of various parts, pharmacological activities, toxicity and clinical studies of Eclipta alba.

Effect on Tridosha (Three bio humors):

Bhringraj pacifies Kapha and Vata Dosha so it can be used in all disease originating from aggravation of Kapha/ Vata or Kapha – Vata.

Actions according to Ayurveda:

• Keshya: Bhringraj is a rejuvenating herb for hair
  
• Twachya: Bhringraj rejuvenates skin and improves complexion.
  
• Shwas- Kasanut: Bhringraj is useful in management of respiratory distress and cough.
  
• Pandunut: Bhringraj is useful in management of anemia.
  
• Dantya: Bhringraj strengthens teeth.
  
• Rasayana: Bhringraj rejuvenates each and every cell of the body.
  
• Balya : Bhringraj increases strength of body
  
• Kushthanut: Bhringraj is usefyl in management of skin diseases
  

Medicinal value:

• The effect of Eclipta alba (EA)extract was studied on paracetamol induced hepatic damage in mice.Treatment with 50% ethanol extract of E.alba (100&250mg/100g body weight) was found to protect the the mice from hepato-toxic action of paracetamol as evidenced by significant reduction in the elevated serum transaminase levels. Histopathological studies showed marked reduction in fatty degeneration and centrizonal necrosis, in animals receiving different doses of E.alba along with paracetamol as compared to the control group. It is stipulated that the extract treated groups were partially protected from hepatocellular damage caused by paracetamol.
  
• HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY OF ECLIPTA ALBA HASSK. AGAINST PARACETAMOL INDUCED HEPATOCELLULAR DAMAGE IN MICE. Nahid Tabassum, Shyam. S. Agrawal.
• Eclipta alba (Ea) commonly called as the trailing Eclipta is being examined for its memory enhancing quality as it is traditionally used for this purpose. The shade dried leaves of Eclipta alba was extracted with distilled water. The suspension of Eclipta alba containing 100 and 200 mg/kg was administered to rats to evaluate Transfer Latency (TL) on an elevated plus maze. TL was a measure of acquisition and retrieval learning. Mice were placed at the center of open field apparatus to assess spatial habitual learning, observed for 20 minutes for rearing and time spent during rearing using varied doses for 30 minutes, 24 hours and 96 hours and 144 hrs. The results revealed significant improvement of retrieval memory.
  
• Investigation on the effect of Eclipta alba on animal models of learning and memory Otilia Banji, DAVID BANJI Department of Pharmacology, Siddaganga College of Pharmacy, Tumkur – 572 102, ANNAMALAI A.R. Department of Pharmacology, Rajah Muthiah Medical College, Annamalai University Annamalainagar (Tamilnadu) AND MANAVALAN R. Department of Pharmacy, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar (Tamilnadu)
• On the basis of the antibacterial studies of wedelolactone, it can be suggested that Eclipta alba can be used effectively to treat S. epidermidis and S. typhimurium infections. However, the compound must be studied in animal models to determine the efficacy in vivo against these pathogens and to elucidate their mechanism of action. In vivo data may be helpful in determining the real potential usefulness of this plant for the treatment of infectious diseases.
  
• Sunita Dalal Ph.D. Department of Biotechnology, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra-136 119, Haryana, India; SVS Rana PhD Department of Environmental Sciences, Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut (Uttar Pradesh) India; KVS Sastry Ph.D. Department of Bioscience, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak-124 001, Haryana, India; Sudhir Kumar Kataria Ph.D. Department of Bioscience, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak-124 001, Haryana, India
• The combined effect of dried Eclipta alba leaf powder (3 g/day) in encapsulated form on blood pressure, diuresis, and lipid profile of 60 mildly hypertensive male subjects in the age group of 40–55 years was studied. Clinical parameters, viz., blood pressure, urine volume, electrolytes (Na and K) in serum and urine, lipid profile, and plasma lipid peroxides, were analyzed before and after the feeding trials. The findings revealed that the Eclipta-supplemented group showed a marked reduction in mean arterial pressure by 15%, total cholesterol (17%), low-density lipoprotein fraction (24%), triglycerides (14%), very-low-density lipoprotein fraction (14%), and plasma lipid peroxides (18%). Results also revealed a remarkable increase in urine volume (34%), urine sodium (24%), serum vitamin C (17%), and serum tocopherols (23%) of the Eclipta group. In conclusion, it would appear that E. alba is diuretic, hypotensive, and hypocholesterolemic and helps in the alleviating oxidative stress-induced complications in hypertensives.
  
• Vasavi Rangineni; Department of Foods and Nutrition, Post Graduate and Research Center, Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University, Erragadda, Hyderabad, India. D. Sharada Department of Foods and Nutrition, Post Graduate and Research Center, Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University, Erragadda, Hyderabad, India; Saileshnath Saxena Andhra Pradesh State Level Drug Testing Laboratory, BRKR Ayurvedic Medical College, Erragadda, Hyderabad, India

Useful part:

Seeds; whole plant

Doses:

Juice: 5-10 ml; Powder: 3-5 gm

Some combinations with Bhringraj:

Bhringraj tail; Shadbindu tail; Bhringrajadi Churna; Bhringraj Ghruta

Some important notes about Bhringraj:

• If a person takes Bhringraj juice daily and takes only the milk when ever he is hungery; will live for 100 years with out any disease.
  

- Bhavprakash Nighantu