FUNCTIONAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF BHRINGARAJA: A REVIEW

Bhringaraja (Eclipta alba) of the Asteraceae family is used in various Kalpa to treat eye disease because of its Chakshushya properties. It is also used in naktyandhtva and widely used in liver disease, anemia, eye disease, problem-related to hairs. It is having antibacterial, analgesic, antifungal, antiviral, antihepatotoxic, immunomodulatory, neuroprotective properties. It contains chemical compounds including coumarins, alkaloids, flavonoids etc. Because of these properties, it is used in various eye diseases. The eye is also made from the Panchamahabhutas like other body parts. Every part of the body is developed from a neural tube i.e., ectoderm and mesoderm like this every part or layer of the eyeball develop from the optic vesicle, the ectoderm and mesoderm, as the origin is the same. Also, many eye-related symptoms are seen in various systemic diseases. Eclipta alba can be used in various diseases which has ocular manifestation with different concentrations and in various formulation with appropriate concentration along with other herbs. So, we need to develop appropriate formulation for evidence-based medicine.

ECLIPTA ALBA (BHRINGRAJ): A PROMISING HEPATOPROTECTIVE AND HAIR GROWTH STIMULATING HERB.

Plants are the primary source of food, shelter, and various remedial approaches. They are being in use for treating various kinds of human ailments across the world since the ancient times. One of such important plants is Eclipta alba hassk (Asteraceae) which is commonly known as Bhringraj and false daisy. This plant is known for its extra-ordinary therapeutic properties. It is one of most widely used plant in traditional systems of medicines such as Ayurvedic, Unani, Sidha, homeopathy, Chinese, and folk. Each part of this medicinal plant contains many important phytochemical constituents such as coumestans, triterpenes, flavonoids, steroids, polypeptides, and saponins. It is majorly used for enhancing the growth, strength, and blackening of hair. It is used as the main ingredient in many hair oils. It significantly treats problems related to hair such as hair fall, dandruff, premature greying, and baldness. E. alba exhibits many other important biological properties such as anticancer, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-stress, and immunomodulatory. Thus, this medicinal plant is playing a vital role in the medical field and cosmetic industry. The present review is a summary of phytomedicinal importance of E. alba in Ayurveda as well as folk medicine system.

Formulation of wedelolactone enriched extract with enhanced potential to inhibit cytokines in experimental arthritis

Eclipta alba Linn. (Asteraceae) is traditionally claimed and reported to possess antarthritic and anti-inflammatory activity. Wedelolactone, an active constituent of Eclipta alba Linn responsible for its therapeutic effectiveness, is poorly water soluble and less bioavailable. Hence in the present study, we proposed a SNEDDS formulation of wedelolactone rich extracts of Eclipta alba Linn. (EAF) and evaluated its effect in Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) induced arthritis in rats.EAF reduced increase in paw volume and hyperalgesia in 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg doses significantly. It restored all cytokines (Tumor Necrosis Factor-α, Interleukin-1β and Interleukin-6); hematological and biochemical parameters altered due to FCA induction. The histopathology further supported the potential of EAF in arresting the progress of the disease. It protected cartilage destruction and exudation of inflammatory cells dose dependently. In conclusion, the EAF exhibited potent antarthritic potential due to the increased bioavailability of wedelolactone and other constituents. The mechanism of action is mainly mediated through inhibition of cytokines, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential of wedelolactone.

In vitro anticancer activity of Eclipta alba whole plant extract on colon cancer cell HCT-116

Backgrounds Colon cancer is the third most deadly and one of the most diagnosed diseases in the world. Although routine screening and early detection during last decades has improved the survival, colon cancer still claims hundreds of thousands lives each year worldwide. Surgery and chemotherapy is mainstay of current treatment, nevertheless toxicity associated with this treatment underscores the urgency of demand of a better therapeutics. Close to 50% of current chemotherapeutic drugs are direct or indirect descendants compounds isolated from medicinal plants, which indicate plants are great potential sources of novel therapeutics. In our literature review we found Eclipta alba to posses many pharmacological activities, including those with anticancer potentials. However, no study on anticancer activity of this kind has been reported. Methods Phytochemicals were extracted by maceration method from shade dried whole plant of Eclipta alba using methanol as a solvent. The anticancer effect of extract was investigated on various cancer cell lines like human colorectal carcinoma (HCT-116), human prostate cancer (PC-3), Michigan cancer foundation-breast cancer (MCF-7) and renal cell carcinoma (RCC-45). We have also studied the effects on normal human embryonic lung fibroblast cell (WI-38) using MTT (methyl thiazoldiphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay, clonogenic (colony formation) and migration assay. Finally obtained results were analyzed using ANNOVA and Dunnett’s test. Results Results obtained from MTT assay revealed that the methanolic extract of Eclipta alba carried significant (p < 0.005) specificity against HCT-116 cells as compared to the other cancer cells. This extract also showed minimal or nontoxicity to WI-38 cells. Migration as well as clonogenic assays also confirmed the anticancer potential of the extract against HCT-116 cells. Conclusion This is a unique finding of its kind because the specific anticancer effect with minimal toxicity on normal cells has not been reported on Eclipta alba extract. Finally this finding opens up a great possibility to develop a novel antitumor drug candidate against deadly colon cancer in the future.