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Eclipta alba L. Scientific Name: Eclipta alba L. Synonyms: Eclipta prostrate, Micrelium tolak Forssk, Cotula oederi Murray, Eclipta longifolia Schrad. ex DC, Eclipta dichotoma Raf, Eclipta zippeliana Blume, Spilanthes pseudo-acmella (L.) Murray,Eclipta philippinensis Gand, Ecliptaciliata Raf, Eclipta heterophylla Bartl, Cotula prostrata (L.) L ,Verbesina pseudoacmella L, Eclipta brachypoda Michx, Galinsogaoblonga DC, Verbesina conyzoides Trew, Amellus carolinianus Walter, Anthemis viridis Blanco, Anthemis cotula-foetida Crantz, Eupatoriophalacron album (L.) Hitchc, Eclipta oederi (Murray) Weigel, Eclipta linearis Otto ex Sweet, Buphthalmum diffusum Vahl ex DC, Eclipta punctata L, Bellis ramose Jacq, Eclipta simplex Raf, Eclipta procumbens Michx, Eclipta tinctoria Raf, Verbesina alba L, Eleutheranthera prostrata (L.) Sch.Bip, Eclipta palustris DC, Acmella lanceolata Link ex Spreng, Eclipta strumosa Salisb, Eclipta nutans Raf, Eclipta dubia Raf, Eclipta sulcata Raf, Eclipta dentate B.Heyne ex Wall, Eclipta marginata Boiss, Eclipta spicata Spreng. Chamaemelum foetidum Baumg, Eclipta patula Schrad, Cotulaalba (L.) L, Wilborgiaob longifolia Hook, Anthemis cotuloides Raf. ex DC, Eclipta Arabica Steud, Grangea lanceolata Poir, Galinsoga oblongifolia (Hook.) DC, Eclipta adpressa Moench, Eclipta erecta L, Wedelia psammophila Poepp, Artemisia viridis Blanco, Chamaemelum foetidum Garsault, Eclipta flexuosa Raf, Bellis racemosa Steud, Anthemis sulphurea Wall. ex Nyman, Eclipta thermalis Bunge, Eclipta marginata Steud, Polygyne inconspicua Phil, Eclipta parviflora Wall. ex DC, Eclipta angustifolia C.Presl, Paleis tabrachypoda (Michx.) Raf, Eclipta longifolia Schrad, Anthemis cotula Blanco, Anthemis abyssinica J.Gay ex A.Rich, Eclipta hirsute Bartl. Family: Asteraceae Genus: Eclipta Species: alba Common Name: false daisy, yerba de tago, and bhringraj Plant Description: E. alba is an annual herb and 10 to 60cm in height. The whole plant is shaggy haired. The juice leaking from the broken stem will turn into bluish black after a few minutes. Stems are erect or prostrate from the base. Roots are green or reddish-brown. Leaves are opposite. Blades are linear-elliptic to lanceolate, 3 to 10cm, 0.5 to 2.5cm wide, and with entire or slightly serrated margin and both sides with white shag. Capitulum is axillary or terminal. Involucre is campanulate, with 5 to 6 bracts and flat torus. Achene is yellow and black,

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about 3mm, and with no pappus.There are three kindsof E. alba the white-flowering, the yellow-flowering, and the black-fruiting Parts Used:whole plant, roots, leaves Chemical Constituents: saponins, tannins, vitamin A, Ecliptine, α-Terthienylmethanol, α-formyl-α-terthienel, Wedelolactone, demethylwedelolactone, desmethylwedelolactone glucoside. The coumestans Wedelolactone and Desmethylwedelolactone, which can reach 15.9% and 3.5% of ethyl acetate extractions and 1.6% Wedelolactone content in ethanolic fractions. These tend to be seen as the active ingredients Wedelic Acid, Echinocystic acid (triterpenesaponin) and glycosides, Verazine ((20S, 25S)-22,26-iminocholesta-5,22(N)-dien-3β-ol) and 5 derivatives. Other triterpenoids such as Ursolic Acid, α-Amyrin, or Oleanolic Acid.The flavonoid Apigenin and its 7-O-Glucoside, Luteolin and its 7-O-Glucoside.Protocatechuic acid and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid. Eclalbasaponin I-II, III, IV, V (possesses a sulfate group), and Ecliptasaponin D and Eclalbatin (all glycosides of Echinocystic Acid), β-Sitosterol, Daucosterol, and Stigmasterol.

Chemical constituents isolated from E. alba

Wedelolactone α-amyrin β-amyrin

Ursolic acid Oleanolic acid

Stigmastrol β-sitosterol

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Apigenin Luteolin Luteolin-7-glucoside

Diosmetin 3-hydroxybioachanin A 3́ -O-methyllorobol

Pharmacological actions: Liver tonic, anti-diabetic, anti-viral, anti-venom, repellent, insecticide, anti-anxiety, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, sedative, styptic, anti-amoebic, anti-cancer, antipyretic, stomachic, anthelmintic, pectoral, anti-asthmatic, expectorant, purgative, hair revitalizing, anti-proliferative, anti-giardial, anti-hemorrhagic. Medicinal uses: The leaf extract is considered a powerful liver tonic, rejuvenative, and especially good for the hair. E. 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 used as anti-venom against snakebite. It helps to improve hair growth and colour, eye health and acts as anti-diabetic. Fundamental E. alba uses and indications include liver-kidney deficiency, dizziness, premature graying, vomiting or spitting blood, nosebleed, hemafecia, bloody flux, metrorrhagia and metrostaxis, and traumatic bleeding.It cures inflammations, hernias, bronchitis, asthma, leucoderma, anaemia, itching, night blindness. It is also used as a tonic and deobstruent in hepatic and splenic enlargements, loss of appetite, acidity and heart burn. It is also used for jaundice, fevers, sores, skin diseases, elephantiasis and checking haemorrhages and fluxes and strengthening the gums. Powder of the plant cure patients suffering from infective hepatitis.Aqueous extract of leaf is myocardial depressant and hypotensive. Dosage:9 to 30 grams in decoction, paste, juice, tea pills, or powder. Fresh Juice 5-10 ml. Powder 250 mg to 2 grams in divided dose per day, 4-12ml infusion or as advised by physician. Side effects: None reported. Contraindications: Not to be used by pregnant and nursing women, children. Patients with high blood pressure should not use it without supervision of medical practitioner. Drug Interactions: None reported. Physico-chemical evaluation of E. alba Prasad et al. (2012) carried out physico-chemical analysis of E. alba.

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Table: Physico-chemical evaluation of E. alba

Prasad KV, Kavita YN, Vidya NS, Sumeet BK, Manohar PJ. 2012. Eclipta alba: A Phytopharmacognostic Study.

Int J Pharm Phytopharmacol Res; 1(6): 350-353. Phyto-chemical evaluation of E. alba Prasad et al. (2012) carried out preliminary phyto-chemical analysis of E. alba. Results are given below.

Table: Phytochemical screening of E. alba

Prasad KV, Kavita YN, Vidya NS, Sumeet BK, Manohar PJ. 2012. Eclipta alba: A Phytopharmacognostic Study.

Int J Pharm Phytopharmacol Res; 1(6): 350-353. Microscopic examination of E. alba Shaikh et al. (2013) carried out transverse section study of leaf and stem along with microscopic study of E. alba powdered drug.

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Figure: Transverse section of E. alba leaf

Prasad KV, Kavita YN, Vidya NS, Sumeet BK, Manohar PJ. 2012. Eclipta alba: A Phytopharmacognostic Study. Int J Pharm Phytopharmacol Res; 1(6): 350-353.

Figure: Transverse section of E. alba stem

Prasad KV, Kavita YN, Vidya NS, Sumeet BK, Manohar PJ. 2012. Eclipta alba: A Phytopharmacognostic Study. Int J Pharm Phytopharmacol Res; 1(6): 350-353.

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Figure: Powder microscopy of E. alba powered drug

Prasad KV, Kavita YN, Vidya NS, Sumeet BK, Manohar PJ. 2012 . Eclipta alba: A Phytopharmacognostic Study. Int J Pharm Phytopharmacol Res; 1(6): 350-353.

Thin-layer chromatography of E. alba Hussain et al. (2011) carried out thin-layer chromatography of E. alba..

Table: Thin-layer chromatographic behavior of the extracts of E. alba.

Hussain I, Khan N, Ullah R, Shanzeb, Ahmed S, Khan FA, Yaz S. 2011. Phytochemical, physiochemical and anti-

fungal activity of Eclipta alba. African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology; 5(19): 2150-2155. Anti-bacterial activity of E. alba Thakur and Pathek (2015) carried out anti-bacterial activity of petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, methanol and aqueous extracts of leaves of E. alba against selected strains of human pathogenic bacteria, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella abony and Pseudomonas aeruginosa by agar well diffusion method.

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Table:Anti-bacterial activity of different extracts of E. alba

Control-Erythromycin for Gram negative bacteria.Amikacin for Gram positive bacteria.

Thakur MK, Pathak S. 2015. Phytochemical and Anti-Bacterial Activity of Eclipta alba. Asian Resonance; 4(3): 108-112.

Anti-fungal activity of E. alba Hussain et al. (2011) evaluated anti-fungal activity of crude extracts of alkaloids, saponins and flavonoids from E. alba against four fungal strains: Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, Fusarium solani and Aspergillus flavus. The results of the research work revealed significant anti-fungal activity.

Table: Anti-fungal activity of crude alkaloids, flavonoids and saponins from E. alba.

Hussain I, Khan N, Ullah R, Shanzeb, Ahmed S, Khan FA, Yaz S. 2011. Phytochemical, physiochemical and anti-

fungal activity of Eclipta alba. African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology; 5(19): 2150-2155.

Anti-epileptic activity of E. alba Shaikh et al. (2013) studied the effect of methanolic extract of E. alba on acute seizure models. The results of the study showed that the methanolic extract of E. alba possess significant anti-convulsant activity. This research work provided the evidence that the anti-convulsant activity of methanolic extract of E. alba is because of its positive modulatory effect on GABAA receptor and not by release of GABA in the synapse. Hepato-protective activity of E. alba Lal et al. (2010) evaluated the hepato-protective activity of methanolic extract and sub fractions of leaves and the chloroform extract and sub fractions of roots of E. alba by using carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage and Lysosomal enzymes level in Wistar albino rats. The results of the research work revealed that methanolic extract fractions of leaves and chloroform extract fractions of roots (E. alba) exhibited significant hepato-protective activity in Carbon tetra chloride models. It was also observed that Eclalbasaponin triterpenoidal fraction from leaves showed most significant hepato-protective activities against carbon tetra chloride and acetaminophen-induced hepatic injury by normalization of various hepatic enzymes levels and lysosomal enzyme levels.

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Table: Effect of various solvent extracts and fractions from E.alba leaves & roots on biochemical parameters in Carbon tetra chloride induced hepatic injury in Rats

Group 1= Normal Control, Group 2= Disease Control, Group 3= Disease animals treated with reference drug silymarin, Group 4= Disease animals treated with chloroform extract of roots Group 5= Disease animals treated with methanolic extract of leaves, Group 6= Disease animals treated with Coumastone Fraction (CF), Group 7= Disease animals treated with tri-terpenoidal fraction (RTF), Group 8= Disease animals treated with tri-terpenoidal fraction (LTF), Group 9= Disease animals treated with Alkaloidal fraction (AF) of leaves N= 6 samples in each group; Values are expressed as Mean±SEM *P<0.05; **P<0.01; ***P<0.001 when compared with disease control Lal VK, Kumar A, Kumar P, Yadav KS. 2010. Screening of Leaves and Roots of Eclipta alba for Hepatoprotective

Activity. Archives of Applied Science Research; 2 (1): 86-94. Table: Lysosomal enzymes inhibition produced by various extracts & fractions from

E. alba leaves & roots

Group 1= Normal Control, Group 2= Disease Control, Group 3= Disease animals treated with reference drug silymarin, Group 4= Disease animals treated with methanolic extract of leaves, Group 5= Disease animals treated with chloroform extract of roots Group 6= Disease animals treated with alkaloidal fraction (AF) of leaves, Group 7= Disease animals treated with tri-terpenoidal fraction (LTF), Group 8= Disease animals treated with Coumastone Fraction (CF), Group 9= Disease animals treated with tri-terpenoidal fraction (RTF), N= 6 samples in each group. Values are expressed as Mean±SEM *P<0.05; **P<0.01; ***P<0.001 when compared with disease control Lal VK, Kumar A, Kumar P, Yadav KS. 2010. Screening of Leaves and Roots of Eclipta alba for Hepatoprotective

Activity. Archives of Applied Science Research; 2 (1): 86-94. Anti-cancer activity of E. alba Chauhan et al. (2012) carried out anti-cancer activity by performing cell viability assay using human lung epithelial adenocarcinoma cell line (HCC-827). The results demonstrated that the extracts caused growth arrest and apoptosis in lung cancer cells and the growth inhibitory effects were found to be significant.

Table: The effect of ethyl acetate extract of E. alba on HCC-827 cells after 24h and 48h.

Chauhan N, SinghD, Painuli RM. 2012. Screening of bioprotective properties and phytochemical analysis of various

extracts of Eclipta alba whole plant. Int J Pharm PharmSci; 4(2): 554-560.

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Table: The effect of methanolic extract of E. alba on HCC-827 cells after 24h and 48h.

Chauhan N, Singh D, Painuli RM. 2012. Screening of bioprotective properties and phytochemical analysis of

various extracts of Eclipta alba whole plant. Int J Pharm PharmSci; 4(2): 554-560. Table: The effect of aqueous extract of E. albaon HCC-827 cells after 24h and 48h.

Chauhan N, Singh D, Painuli RM. 2012. Screening of bioprotective properties and phytochemical analysis of

various extracts of Eclipta alba whole plant. Int J Pharm PharmSci; 4(2): 554-560. Analgesic activity of E. alba Sawant et al. (2004) carried out analgesic activity in albino mice by tail clip and tail flick method and the acetic acid induced writing response by the ethanolic extract and total alkaloid including ecliptine, nicotine, verzine. The results revealed presence of significant analgesic effect in E. alba extract. Anti-oxidant Activityof E. alba Ananthi et al. (2003) evaluated the anti-oxidant effect of E. alba. Methanol extract of the aerial parts of E. alba exhibited significant free radical scavenging capacity for DPPH and for hydroxyl radical. Anti-inflammatory activity of E. alba Arunachalam et al. (2009) carried out anti-inflammatory activity of methanolic extract of E. alba in albino wistar rats. The results of the study revealed that 100 and 200mg/kg exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan and egg white induced hind paw edema in rats as compared to standard drugs, Indomethacin (10mg/kg) and Cyproheptadine (8mg/kg). Anthelmintic activity of E. alba Bhinge et al. (2010) evaluated the anthelmintic activity of ethanol and aqueous extract of whole plant of E. alba L. against Pheretima posthuma. The results of the study revealed that the ethanolic extract significantly exhibited paralysis (P<0.01) in worms in doses (25 to 100 mg/ml) and also caused death of worms especially at concentration of 25 mg/ml, as compared to standard drug, Albendazole..

Table: Anthelmintic activity of E. alba

Values are expressed as MEAN±SEM, One way ANOVA followed by Dunnets ‘t’ test, Note: n=6 in each group, *P<0.05, **P<0.01.

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Bhinge SD, Hogade MG, Chavan C, Kumbhar M, Chature V. 2010. In vitro anthelmintic activity of herb extract of Eclipta prostrate L. against Pheretima posthuma. Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research; 3(3): 229-

230. Anti-malarialactivity of E. alba Bapna et al. (2007)carried out anti-malarial activity of E. alba leaves extract against Plasmodium berghei ANKA strain in mice. A standard inoculum of 1 x 10(6) infected erythrocytes was used. The methanolic leaf extract (250-750 mg/kg) produced a dose-dependent chemosupression or schizontocidal effect during early and established infection and high mean survival time value sparticularly in the group administered 750 mg/kg/day of extract. Neuro-pharmacological activity of E. alba Thakur and Mengi (2005) carried out neuro-pharmacological activity of the aqueous, hydroalcoholic extracts and hydrolyzed fraction of the aqueous extract of E. alba in rats. The results of the research work revealed no otropic activity of the aqueous extract (300mg/kg, p.o.) and its hydrolyzed fraction (30 mg/kg, p.o.). The aqueous extract and the hydrolyzed fraction exhibited gastro-protective effect and normalized the white blood cell count in the milk-induced leukocytosis challenge model. The suspension of E. alba containing 100 and 200 mg/kg was administered to rats to evaluate Transfer Latency on an elevated plus maze by Banji et al. (2008). 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 and96 hours and 144 hrs. The results revealed significant improvement of retrieval memory. Anti-anaphylactic activity of E. alba Patel et al. (2009) studied anti-anaphylactic activity of alcoholic extract of E. alba at two different doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg by using different animal models such as effect on mast cell degranulation using rat mesentery, passive cutaneous anaphylaxis using rat, by measuring leakage of Evans blue dye in skin, passive paw anaphylaxis using rat by measuring the paw volume by plethysmometer. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BaL) fluid study in guinea pig trachea, measurement of different blood cells, and level of histamine in lung tissues were also performed. Dose-dependent anti-anaphylactic activity of alcoholic extract of E. alba was observed in different studied animal models. Anti-hyperglycaemic effectof E. alba Sazia et al. (2015) assessed the anti-hyperglycaemic effect of E. alba against the diabetes mellitus on patients. The results of the study revealed that E. alba significantly reduced blood glucose level in diabetic patients. Radio-protective effect of E. alba Singh et al. (2011) studied the radio-protective effect of E. alba aqueous leaf extract against gamma radiation induced haematological alterations in Swiss albino mice. The results of the study revealed that E. alba aqueous extract modulates radiation induced hematological alterations hence exhibited radio-protective effect. Anti-depressant activity of E. alba Swati et al. (2013) evaluated anti-depressant effect of E. alba leaf extract using tail suspension test(TST) and forced swim test (FST).The E. alba leaf extract produced significant anti-

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depressant like effect at dose of 200 & 400 mg/kg administered for 7 & 14 consecutive days as indicated by reduction in immobility times of mice in TST & FST (P<0.05). The efficacy of EALE at 200mg/kg was found to be comparable to that of Fluoxetine & Imipramine at doses of 20mg/kg & 15mg/kg. Anti-convulsant activity of E. alba Mahanthesh et al. (2014) carried out anti-convulsant activity of E. alba stem extract by using the Maximal Electroshock (MES) induced convulsion technique. The study results showed that the stem extract of E. alba exhibited a significant reduction in various phases of epileptic seizure. References Ananthi J, Prakasam A, Pugalendi KV. 2003. Antihyperglycemic Activity of Eclipta alba Leaf on Alloxan-induced

Diabetic Rats. Yale Journal of Biological Medicine; 1: 97-102. Arunachalam G, Subramanian N, Pazhani GP, Ravichandran V. 2009. Anti-inflammatory activity of methanolic

extract of Eclipta prostrate L. (Astearaceae). African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology; 3(3): 97-100. Banji O, Banji D, Annamalai AR, Manavalan R. 2007. Investigation on the effect of Eclipta alba on animal models

of learning and memory. Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology; 51: 274-278. Bapna S, Asdule S, Shirshat MS, Jadhav S, Patil LS, Deskmukh RA. 2007. Anti-malarial activity of Ecliptaalba

against Plasmodium berghei infection in mice. Journal of Communicable Diseases; 39: 91-94. Bhinge SD, Hogade MG, Chavan C, Kumbhar M, Chature V. 2010. In vitro anthelmintic activity of herb extract of

Eclipta prostrate L. against Pheretimaposthuma. Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research; 3(3): 229-230.

Chauhan N, Singh D, Painuli RM. 2012. Screening of bioprotective properties and phytochemical analysis of various extracts of Eclipta alba whole plant. Int J Pharm PharmSci; 4(2): 554-560.

Hussain I, Khan N, Ullah R, Shanzeb, Ahmed S, Khan FA, Yaz S. 2011. Phytochemical, physiochemical and anti-fungal activity of Eclipta alba. African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology; 5(19): 2150-2155.

Hussain I, Khan N, Ullah R, Shanzeb, Ahmed S, Khan FA, Yaz S. 2011. Phytochemical, physiochemical and anti-fungal activity of Ecliptaalba. African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology; 5(19): 2150-2155.

Lal VK, Kumar A, Kumar P, Yadav KS. 2010. Screening of Leaves and Roots of Eclipta alba for Hepatoprotective Activity. Archives of Applied Science Research; 2 (1): 86-94.

Mahanthesh MC, Swati MP, Popat SK, Vikram HP, Jadhav SY, Disouza JI. 2014. Evaluation of phytochemical investigation and anticonvulsant activity of aqueous stem extract of Eclipta alba. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research; 3(5): 776-784.

Patel MB, Panchal SJ, Patel JA. 2009. Anti-anaphylactic Activity of Alcoholic Extract of Eclipta alba. J Young Pharm;1(3):244-250.

Prasad KV, Kavita YN, Vidya NS, Sumeet BK, Manohar PJ. 2012. Eclipta alba: A Phyto-pharmacognostic Study. Int J Pharm Phytopharmacol Res; 1(6): 350-353.

Sawant S, Issac JC, Narayanan M. 2004. Analgesic studies on total alkaloids and alcohol extracts of Eclipta alba (Linn.) Hassk. Phytotherapy Research; 10: 111-112.

Sazia, Singh S, Shankar P, Nath R, Sachan AK, Dixit RK. 2015. Effect of Eclipta alba against blood glucose level in diabetic patients. International Journal of Biomedical Research; 6(3): 210-213.

Shaikh MF, Sancheti J, Sathaye S. 2013. Effect of Eclipta alba on Acute Seizure Models: a GABAA-mediated Effect.Indian J Pharm Sci; 75(3): 380–384.

Singh A, Kumar R, Nivedita, Singh JK, Tanuja. 2011. Radioprotective effect of Eclipta alba (L.) against radiation induced haematological changes in Swiss albino mice. Journal of Natural Products; 4(2011): 177-183.

Swati M, Monalisa J, Abhisek P. 2013. Evaluation of antidepressant activity of Eclipta alba using animal models. Asian J Pharm Clin Res; 6(3): 118-120.

Thakur MK, Pathak S. 2015. Phytochemical and Anti-Bacterial Activity of Eclipta alba. Asian Resonance; 4(3): 108-112.

Thakur VD, Mengi SA. 2005. Neuropharmacological profile of Eclipta alba (Linn.) Hassk. Journal of Ethnopharmacology; 102: 23-31.