Bhringaraja

Botanical Name: Eclipta alba, E. erecta, E. prostata, Asteraceae

Other names: Kehsaraja (S), Bungrah (H), Kaikeshi (T), Eclipta (E), Han lian cao (C)

Botany: Bhringaraja is an erect or prostate annual branching herb, often rooting at the nodes, the stem and branches, covered with short white strigose trichomes. The leaves are sessile, 2.5 to 7.5 cm long, oblong-lanceolate, acute to subacute, the base tapering, and strigose. The flower heads are 6-8 mm in diameter, solitary or with two on unequal axillary stalks. Involucral bracts about eight to ten in number, strigose, ray florets ligulate and white, disk flowers tubular, the corollas often 4-tubed. Flowers give way to compressed achenes. Bhringaraja is distributed throughout Southeast Asia, from the Punjab south to Sri Lanka, and eastwards into Burma and Malaysia (Warrier et al 1994, 350; Kirtikar and Basu 1935, 1361).

Part used: Aerial parts, seeds, roots.

Dravyaguna:

• Rasa: katu, tikta

• Vipaka: madhura

• Virya: ushna, ruksha

• Karma: dipanapachana, bhedhana, krimiaghna, jvaraghna, svasahara, kasahara, kushtaghna, raktaprasadana, raktasthambhana, mutravirechana, vishaghna, medhya, rasayana, tridoshaghna (Srikanthamurthy 2001, 266-7; Warrier et al 1994, 350)

Constituents: Bhringaraja contains the triterpenoid saponins eclalbasaponins I-VI, XI and XII, ecliptasaponin C and D, eclalbatin, the flavonoids apigenin and luteolin, and as well as the coumestans wedelolactone, demethylwedelolactone, isodemethylwedelolactone and strychnolactone. Alkaloids include 25-?-hydroxyverazine and ecliptalbine, as well as small amounts of nicotine (0.078%) in the aerial portions. Other constituents are ?-formylterthienyl, ?-terthienyl, sixteen related polyacetylenic thiophenes, dithienylacetyline esters I, II, and III, ?-sitosterol, stigmasterol, daucosterol, stigmasterol-3-O-glucoside, nonacosanol, stearic acid, lacceroic acid, 3,4-dihydoxy benzoic acid, ?-amyrin, ursolic acid and oleanolic acid. (Zhang and Guo 2001; Upadhyay et al 2001; Zhao et al 2001; Yoganarasimhan 2000, 207; Han et al 1998; Abdel-Kader et al 1998; Zhang et al 1997; Zhang and Chen 1996).

Medical research:

Hepatoprotective: An alcoholic extract of fresh leaves of Eclipta alba was fractionated into three parts to chemically identify the most potent bioactive fraction. The hepatoprotective potential of the fraction prepared from extract was studied in vivo in rats and mice against carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity. The fraction containing the coumestan wedelolactone and desmethylwedelolactone were determined to be major components, with apigenin, luteolin, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and protocateuic acid as minor constituents, in the hepatoprotective activity of Eclipta alba (Singh et al 2001). An ethanol/water extract of Eclipta alba significantly counteracted CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity, restoring hepatic lysosomal acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase. This study indicates that the hepatoprotective activity of Eclipta alba functions by regulating the levels of hepatic microsomal drug metabolising enzymes (Saxena et al 1993).

Immunosuppression: Experimental immunosuppression induced in mice by injection of cyclophosphamide and hydrocartisone was significantly attenuated by the concurrent administration of an ethyl acetate extract of Eclipta prostata, suggesting a regulatory mechanism of action on immune function (Liu et al 2000).

Antifungal: The alkaloid 25-?-hydroxyverazine derived from an methyl extract of Eclipta alba showed significant activity against Candida albicans. Another alkaloid, ecliptalbine, had an antifungal activity comparable to verazine when tested against three yeast strains (Abdel-Kader et al 1998).

Antivenom: The antimyotoxic and antihemorrhagic effects of Eclipta prostrata and three of its constituents (wedelolactone, stigmaterol, and sitosterol) were investigated in the myotoxicity of snake venoms (Bothrops jararaca, Bothrops jararacussu and Lachesis muta), purified myotoxins (bothropstoxin, BthTX; bothropasin; and crotoxin), and polylysine in vitro, quantified by the release rate of creatine kinase (CK) from rat or mouse extensor digitorum muscles, and in vivo by the plasma CK activity in mice. The in vitro myotoxicity of the snake venoms and myotoxins was neutralized by simultaneous exposure of the muscles to an aqueous extract of Eclipta and to wedelolactone. Used alone, stigmaterol and sitosterol were less effective than wedelolactone, but had a synergistic effect with it. The in vivo myotoxicity of the venoms and myotoxins was neutralized by their preincubation with the Eclipta extract and wedelolactone. The intravenous administration of the plant extract and wedelolactone attenuated an increase in plasma CK activity induced by subsequent intramuscular injections of the snake venoms and myotoxins, and also inhibited the hemorrhagic effect of B. jararaca venom, as well as the phospholipase A2 activity of crotoxin and the proteolytic activity of B. jararaca venom (Melo et al 1994).

Toxicity: No data found for oral doses.

Indications: Dyspepsia, dysentery, hemorrhoids, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, cholelithiasis, jaundice, cirrhosis, cough, bronchitis, asthma, skin diseases, ophthalmic disorders, premature greying, alopecia, odontalgia and odontopathies, edema, anemia, mental disorders, menorrhagia, insect and snake bites.

Contraindications: Pregnancy; severe chills (Frawley and Lad 1986, 163).

Medicinal uses: Bhringaraja is a bitter-tasting herb that is in many respects similar to hepatic tonics such as Dandelion (Taraxacum officinalis root) (Nadkarni 1954, 469), but combines this with a concomitant activity on the mind and senses making it somewhat similar to Mandukaparni (Frawley and Lad 1986, 163). Although Bhringaraja is generally listed in the older Ayurvedic nighantus as being useful to reduce vitiations of both Kapha and Vata, a few modern texts indicate that can reduce all three doshas, and some even mention it as a rasayana to Pitta (Dash 1983, 137; Frawley and Lad 1986, 163). Traditional uses for E. prostrata include the treatment of cough, asthma, parasites, edema, skin diseases, edema, hepatosplenomegaly, dyspepsia, anorexia, wounds, ulcers, hypertension, pruritis, odontalgia (fresh root chewed or rubbed on gums), otalgia (as an ear oil in karnatarpanam) and headache (Warrier et al 1994a, 350-353; Nadkarni 1954, 472). The Mandanapala nighantu recommends E. alba in the treatment of obstinate skin diseases and in diseases of the eyes and head (Dash 1991, 82). Both Chakradatta and the Sharangadhara samhita recommend a medicated oil called Bhringaraja taila, prepared with the juice of Bhringaraja mixed with a paste of Triphala, Nilotpala (Monochoria hastata), Sariva (Hemedesmus indicus) and powdered iron oxide in the treatment of dandruff, premature graying, itching, and alopecia (Sharma 2002, 486; Srikanthamurthy 1984, 131). This taila may also be used as an antiinflammatory and vulnerary in cases of psoriasis and eczema, and finds special application when applied on the head to improve memory and mental function. A simpler preparation can be made by decocting one part Bhringaraja juice or powder in four parts ghee and sixteen parts water until all the water has evaporated, after which the oil is cooled and filtered. This preparation finds special utility in diseases of the eye, and is used in netra vasti, a method by which a mixture of wheat or bean paste is used to form a wall around the eye socket, and the oil applied over the closed eye and allowed to sit for 20-30 minutes. Internally, the Chakradatta mentions a simple formula comprised of Bhrigaraja juice, mixed with the powders of Amalaki and Tila (Black sesame seed) in the treatment of alopecia and premature aging, and to rejuvenate the senses (Sharma 2002, 625). In cholelithiasis Bhrigaraja may be used along with appropriate antispasmodics such as Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa) and carminatives such as Ajamoda (Carum roxburghianum) (Nadkarni 1954, 469). The expressed juice of both E. alba and E. erecta is given to infants in doses of 2 gtt., taken with honey for respiratory catarrh (Nadkarni 1954, 470; Kirtikar and Basu 1935, 1362). Externally the leaves may be used as a poultice in glandular swellings, hemorrhoids and wounds to reduce inflammation and act as a drawing agent (Nadkarni 1954, 470). Bensky and Gamble describe Eclipta prostata as having the ability to “…nourish and tonify the Liver and Kidney yin,” specific for “…Liver and Kidney yin deficiency with dizziness, blurred vision, vertigo and premature graying of the hair.” Additionally, it is used within Chinese Traditional medicine to “…cool the blood and stop bleeding” and for “…yin deficiency patterns with bleeding due to heat in the blood, with such symptoms as vomiting or coughing up blood, nosebleed, blood in the stool, uterine bleeding, and blood in the urine” (Bensky and Gamble 1993, 365).

Dosage:

• Churna: dried leaves, 3-5 g b.i.d.-t.i.d.
• Svarasa: 10-15 mL, b.i.d.-t.i.d.
• Phanta: dried leaves, 1:4, 30-90 mL b.i.d.-t.i.d.
• Tincture: dried leaves, 1:4, 50%; 3-5 mL b.i.d.-t.i.d.
• Taila: 2-5 gtt. in nasya; ad libitum in abhyanga, shirovasti, kabalagraha etc.