A review on traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of Eclipta alba (Linn.) Hassk - an innumerable medicinal plant.
Eclipta alba is a common folk medicinal plant which is generously known as bhringraj in Indian traditional medicine and as false daisy in English. It belongs to the Asteraceae family, found in almost all over the globe specially in tropical and subtropical region with various vernacular names include kesuriya (Bengali), maakaa (Marathi), yerba de tago (Minnesota), Kehraj (Assamese), Karisalankanni (Tamil), galagara (Telugu), bhangaro (Guajarati), bhangaara (Hindi). The plant has been traditionally used in folk medicine along with Ayurveda and Siddha for its curative properties where it is utilized as anticancer, antimicrobial, analgesic, anti-venom, antioxidant, antimytotoxic, antihyperglycemic, immunomodulatory properties. A broad range of chemical components including alkaloids, coumentans, flavonoids, polyacetylenes, triterpenes, thiopenes and their derivatives have been extracted from this species. These phytochemicals show different pharmacological activities against several common diseases. This contribution provides update about isolated and identified chemical compounds from the plant extract and their traditional and pharmacological activities.