Eclipta

Eclipta (Eclipta prostrata / Eclipta alba): A Comprehensive Reference

1. Identity and Botanical Description

Nomenclature and Taxonomy

The accepted binomial nomenclature is Eclipta prostrata (L.) L., first published by Carl Linnaeus in Mantissa Plantarum in 1771, based on the earlier basionym Verbesina prostrata L. from Species Plantarum in 1753. The plant is also referred to by the synonym Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk., and is a member of the family Asteraceae. In formal botanical databases both names appear in the literature, though Eclipta prostrata is the currently accepted binomial. The genus name Eclipta originated from the Greek word meaning "deficient," referring to the absence of bristles and awns on the fruits.

Eclipta prostrata (syn. Eclipta alba) is commonly known as false daisy in English, Bhringraj in Ayurveda, and Ecliptae herba in China. In the three major traditional medicinal systems of the Indian subcontinent — Ayurveda, Unani, and Siddha — it is known respectively as bhringoraaja, bhangraa, and karissalaankanni.

Botanical Characteristics and Distribution

It is an annual, herbaceous, small, branched plant occurring mainly in tropical and subtropical areas. It is a white-flowering plant with multiple branches that can grow straight or prostrate. It is a herbaceous annual, a weed of moist places found throughout India, ascending up to 1,700 m.

Eclipta prostrata is distributed across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, with a long history of use in traditional healing systems across Asia, Africa, and South America. The plant belongs to the Asteraceae family and grows in moist places as a weed throughout India, China, Thailand, and Vietnam. The extracts of this plant have been used in Brazilian traditional medicine to treat asthma and other respiratory illnesses.

Plant Parts Used

The dried aerial parts of the plant are used medicinally in the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) system. The whole plant, including leaves, stems, and roots, has been shown to contain a variety of secondary metabolites that contribute to various therapeutic activities. Most chemical analyses are reported for the whole plant or aerial parts.

Common Forms and Preparations

Eclipta is encountered in commerce and traditional medicine in several forms. While Eclipta alba remains a staple in traditional medicine, its applications have extended to modern herbal medicine and cosmetics, appearing in various forms including herbal supplements, hair care products, and skincare formulations. Traditionally, the plant has been prepared as fresh juice, decoctions, powders, and oil extracts (particularly for topical scalp use). Externally, it is used for inflammation, minor cuts and burns, and the fresh leaf juice is considered effective in stopping bleeding.

2. Traditional and Historical Use

Ayurveda (Indian Subcontinent)

In Ayurveda, Eclipta prostrata is classified as a "rasayana" drug and used to rejuvenate the body, promote hair growth, and treat hepatic and skin disorders. The Ayurvedic literature dating back at least several centuries names it bhringoraaja ("king of hair"). The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India considers the plant hepatoprotective. Traditional medicinal systems of the Indian subcontinent, as well as tribal practitioners, use the plant commonly for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders, respiratory tract disorders (including asthma), fever, hair loss and graying of hair, liver disorders (including jaundice), skin disorders, spleen enlargement, and cuts and wounds.

Eclipta alba is also used as a general tonic for debility. The plant has long been utilized in Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and ancient Chinese medicine, among other ancient medicinal systems.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

The dried aerial parts of the plant are used medicinally in the TCM system and classified as a yin-nourishing herb, which has been commonly used for treating related ailments such as loose teeth, graying of hair, dizziness, tinnitus, and hemorrhage. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is prescribed for cooling, detoxification, and the management of bleeding disorders, hepatitis, and infectious diseases.

South American and Other Folk Traditions

Eclipta prostrata has been long used for the therapy of high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, vitiligo, diabetes, skin diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, respiratory diseases, cuts and wounds by Asian and South American populations. Folk remedies also employ this plant for wounds, snakebites, respiratory ailments, and gastrointestinal disturbances. This plant is widely used in different regions of India for the treatment of skin problems, hepatic problems such as jaundice, gastrointestinal problems, respiratory problems such as asthma, and other symptoms such as fever, hair loss and whitening of hair, cuts and wounds, and spleen enlargement.

3. Key Constituents and Active Compounds

Overview of Phytochemical Classes

Eclipta prostrata contains a wide range of active phytoconstituents, including coumestan derivatives, triterpene saponins, steroidal saponins, triterpenes, steroids, steroidal alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, thiophene derivatives, and many other compounds.

Coumestans (Primary Signature Compounds)

The major constituents include coumestans (wedelolactone, demethylwedelolactone), flavonoids (luteolin, apigenin, quercetin), triterpenoids, and sterols. Wedelolactone is the most extensively studied compound in the plant. It is an important active small-molecule compound with many pharmacological activities including anti-fibrotic effects on the human hepatic stellate cell line LX-2, inhibitory effects on the proliferation and differentiation of pre-osteoclasts, and anti-HCV activity.

An uncommon sulfated coumestan, demethylwedelolactone 3-sulfate, is obtained from the aerial part of Eclipta prostrata. It may be a useful chemical taxonomic marker to distinguish Eclipta prostrata and Eclipta alba.

Triterpenoid Saponins

Five oleanane-type triterpenoids (steroid-like molecules) are also identified in Eclipta: echinocystic acid and its four derivative eclalbasaponins. The plant also contains ursolic acid and oleanolic acid.

Flavonoids and Phenolic Compounds

A 2018 PubMed-indexed isolation study found a broad spectrum of flavonoids from ethanolic extracts: twenty-two compounds were isolated from the 95% EtOH extract of Eclipta prostrata, including acacetin, luteolin, apigenin, kaempferol, quercetin, and psoralen (wedelolactone and isopsoralen among others).

Alkaloids, Thiophenes, and Other Constituents

The plant contains alkaloids (ecliptine), triterpenoid saponins (eclalbasaponins), flavonoids (e.g., luteolin), phenolic compounds, and coumestans (e.g., wedelolactone). Two compounds isolated in earlier studies were identified as stigmasterol and alpha-terthienyl; alpha-terthienyl was isolated from the plant for the first time in that report.

4. Established Mechanisms of Action

Anti-Inflammatory Mechanisms

Wedelolactone has been found to inhibit lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced caspase-11 (an inflammatory caspase) expression in cultured cells by inhibiting NF-κB-mediated transcription. It has further been shown that wedelolactone is an inhibitor of IKK (IκB, part of the upstream NF-κB signal transduction cascade), a kinase critical for activation of NF-κB by mediating phosphorylation and degradation of IκBα.

Wedelolactone also reportedly significantly inhibited the protein expression levels of iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase) and COX-2 (cyclooxygenase-2) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, as well as the downstream products including NO (nitric oxide), PGE2 (prostaglandin E2), and TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor-α).

In murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs), zymosan-mediated secretion of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-12p40 (but not IL-10) was significantly inhibited by pre-treatment with wedelolactone (30 µg/mL, P < 0.001). Furthermore, zymosan-induced superoxide generation, NADPH oxidase activity, and phosphorylation of p47phox in BMDMs were significantly reduced by pre-treatment with wedelolactone.

Hepatoprotective Mechanisms

Wedelolactone is credited with reducing liver inflammation via repression of nuclear factor-κB and inducing apoptosis in activated hepatic stellate cells. All five oleanane-type triterpenoids (echinocystic acid and eclalbasaponins) are credited with antifibrotic activity in the liver and antitumor activities in liver cancer cell lines.

In CCl4-induced acute liver injury in mice, wedelolactone markedly decreased the elevation of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities and improved hepatic histopathology changes. Wedelolactone also significantly decreased MDA content in liver tissues, while increasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes SOD and GSH-Px.

Biological experiments verified that Ecliptae herba inhibits the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway through its active ingredients, quercetin and wedelolactone, thereby inhibiting the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and promoting their apoptosis.

Antidiabetic Mechanisms

The ethanolic extract of E. prostrata showed inhibition of α-glucosidase in a dose-dependent manner. At a concentration of 10 µg/mL, α-glucosidase activity was inhibited by 88.6%, with an IC50 of 4.5 µg/mL. In insulin-resistant conditions, wedelolactone has shown improvements in insulin sensitivity, resulting in better-controlled glucose uptake and disposal. Relevant antidiabetic effects also include boosting GLUT2 expression in insulin-producing pancreatic β-cells and encouraging translocation of GLUT4 through the PI3K/Akt and AMP-activated protein kinase pathways.

Lipid-Lowering Mechanisms

Administration of wedelolactone for 4 weeks decreased the lipid profiles of plasma and liver in high-fat-diet-induced hyperlipidemic hamsters, including total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and LDL-cholesterol. Activation of AMPK and upregulation of PPARα was also observed with wedelolactone treatment.

Hair Follicle Mechanisms

EP (Eclipta prostrata) stimulates hair regrowth by modulating the expression of FGF-7 (fibroblast growth factor-7, a key promoter of anagen/growth phase induction). Studies have also explored modulation of FGF-5 (which signals catagen/regression) as a complementary mechanism.

5. Scientific Evidence by Area of Use

5.1 Liver Protection (Hepatoprotective Activity)

Evidence strength: Preclinical (animal/in vitro); no robust human clinical trials identified.

Eclipta prostrata L. is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine used in the treatment of liver diseases. Its biological mechanisms were studied using the well-established animal model of Concanavalin A (ConA)-induced hepatitis (CIH). Pretreatment of mice with wedelolactone markedly reduced both the serum levels of transaminases and the severity of liver damage.

Ethanol extract of the whole plant was tested for hepatoprotective effect against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. Treatment with 100 and 250 mg of the extract per 100 kg body weight showed significant reductions in paracetamol-induced serum ALT levels. Histopathological studies showed marked reductions in paracetamol-induced fatty degeneration and centrizonal necrosis in the livers of extract-treated mice.

As an empirical herbal medicine widely used in China, Ecliptae herba has been proven to have hepatoprotective effects on damaged livers in rats and mice, but the mechanism of action and potential therapeutic targets in the treatment of HCC have not been thoroughly studied.

Cell culture studies suggest that Eclipta is inhibitory to hepatitis C virus, with wedelolactone, luteolin, and apigenin being credited as active compounds. Because hepatitis C is one of the contributors to chronic hepatocellular inflammation, Eclipta is being explored as a possible chemopreventive agent.

Phytochemical analysis of the extract revealed the presence of wedelolactone, luteolin, and apigenin. These compounds exhibited dose-dependent inhibition of HCV replicase in vitro and anti-HCV replication activity in a cell culture system. The results suggest that the plant or individual components have the potential to be used against HCV. However, these findings are in vitro only and have not been replicated in human clinical trials.

5.2 Hair Growth and Alopecia

Evidence strength: Preclinical (animal/in vitro) with one limited human study; overall evidence is preliminary.

A published study investigated the potency of Eclipta prostrata (EP) in promoting hair growth in vivo and in vitro. C57BL/6N mice were divided into four groups (n = 4): control, topical 3% minoxidil for 14 days, and low (1 mg/day) or high (10 mg/day) doses of EP administered orally once a day for 14 days. The effects of EP on FGF-7 expression and mTOR signalling in human dermal papilla cells (HDPs) were also examined. This study provided evidence that EP has hair growth facilitating activity in C57BL/6 mice, and that EP stimulates hair regrowth by modulating the expression of FGF-7.

One small human study examined topical Eclipta extract: the study conducted scalp treatments on 24 office workers in their 20s and 30s suffering from hair loss, divided into three groups (MTS group, Eclipta prostrata group, and MTS-Eclipta prostrata combination group). Scalp treatment was performed for 10 weeks, with one 30-minute session per week. Only the MTS-Eclipta prostrata group showed a statistically significant increase in hair density (from 18 hairs at 0 weeks to 19.43 at 10 weeks), hair line thickness, and frontal hairline distance changes. The Eclipta prostrata group alone also showed a significant increase in hair thickness. This study was small (n = 24), was not placebo-controlled, and combined Eclipta with microneedling (MTS), making it impossible to isolate the effect of Eclipta alone.

Many of these activities were performed based on in vitro methods, and mechanisms of action have not been explored in detail using animal models. Properly designed clinical studies are necessary to evaluate the safety and efficacy of E. prostrata.

5.3 Antidiabetic Activity

Evidence strength: Preclinical (animal/in vitro) only; no human clinical trials identified.

Treating streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats with Eclipta alba at a dose of 250 mg/kg body weight lowered blood sugar levels, urea, uric acid, creatinine, and boosted insulin levels. After 28 days of treatment with wedelolactone, hepatic parameters and c-peptide and insulin secreted from β-cells were shifted toward normal levels, confirming the effectiveness of the treatment in this animal model.

Animal studies suggest that inhibition of alpha-glucosidase and aldose reductase by Eclipta echinocystic acid saponin glycosides improves glucose regulation and reduces inflammatory organ damage in diabetes. E. prostrata has shown therapeutic potential in refractory diseases such as cancer, dementia, and diabetes, but present findings are still insufficient to satisfactorily explain some mechanisms of action.

5.4 Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Activity

Evidence strength: In vitro and animal model evidence; no human trials.

The ethyl acetate extract of E. prostrata exhibited significantly greater antioxidant activities in both DPPH and ABTS assays, with higher phenol and flavonoid contents than other solvent extracts. At a concentration of 100 µg/mL, the EtOAc extract reduced AGS (gastric cancer) cell viability and proliferation by inducing apoptosis through alteration of gene expression in the apoptotic cascade. However, this anticancer evidence is strictly in vitro.

Wedelolactone has been found to be a potent and selective inhibitor of IκB kinases and 5-lipoxygenase, making it a candidate compound for the prevention and treatment of inflammation.

5.5 Lipid Metabolism and Cardiovascular Effects

Evidence strength: Animal studies only; no human trials identified.

In an atherogenic diet-induced hyperlipidemic rat model, the aqueous leaf extract of E. prostrata given orally significantly reduced total cholesterol, triglycerides, and total protein, while causing a significant elevation in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. A dose of 200 mg/kg showed better results compared to 100 mg/kg.

5.6 Neuroprotective Activity

Evidence strength: Animal and cell-based studies only.

Both the aqueous and hydrolysed water extracts of Eclipta alba at doses of 300 and 30 mg/kg respectively demonstrated a significant improvement in the acquisition and retention of memory in animal learning tasks, showing nootropic (memory-enhancing) activity. These are rodent model findings and cannot be extrapolated to humans without clinical validation.

5.7 Antimicrobial Activity

Evidence strength: In vitro only.

The coumestan derivative wedelolactone (10 µg/mL), isolated from the plant, showed antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus epidermidis, Salmonella Typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella flexneri, and Escherichia coli with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 15 to 1,300 µg/mL.

5.8 Snake Venom Neutralization

Evidence strength: In vitro / animal; not clinically validated.

The in vitro and in vivo antimyotoxic and antihemorrhagic properties of E. prostrata and its constituents have been investigated against toxic properties of several Bothrops snake venoms and isolated toxins. The in vitro myotoxicity assessed by incubating rat muscles with aqueous extract of E. prostrata (10–150 µg/mL) or wedelolactone (0.1–10 µg/mL) was neutralized after exposure to all venoms and toxins except polylysine. Pharmacological activities of plant extracts and individual phytoconstituents have revealed snake venom-neutralizing properties.

6. Body Systems and Health Areas

The isolated crude extracts and individual compounds of E. prostrata have been reported to exhibit hepatoprotective, osteoprotective, cytotoxic, hypoglycaemic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, hypolipidemic, hair-growth-promoting, rejuvenative, and neuroprotective effects. The body systems with the greatest research attention include:

• Hepatic / Liver System: Eclipta has been used to treat liver disease for centuries, with the most consistent preclinical evidence across multiple models of liver damage.
• Integumentary (Skin and Hair): The plant is well known for its ability to encourage hair growth and heal skin illnesses.
• Endocrine / Metabolic (Blood Sugar and Lipids): Animal models demonstrate inhibition of key diabetic enzymes and improvement in lipid profiles.
• Neurological: Rodent studies show nootropic activity, referenced as relevant to memory and dementia research.
• Immune and Inflammatory: Eclipta prostrata exhibits immunomodulatory, antidiabetic, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-hepatitis C virus, and hepatoprotective activities.
• Respiratory: Used in traditional medicine for respiratory tract disorders including asthma.
• Musculoskeletal / Bone: Wedelolactone has demonstrated inhibitory effects on the proliferation and differentiation of pre-osteoclasts, suggesting a potential role in bone density research, though clinical evidence is absent.

7. Dosage Forms and Reported Dosages

Dosages in the research literature vary widely by extract type, preparation, and study model. The following figures are drawn directly from published studies:

• Animal hepatoprotective studies (alcohol extract): An alcoholic extract of Eclipta alba administered orally at doses of 62.5–500 mg/kg demonstrated dose-dependent hepatoprotective activity.
• Animal antidiabetic study: Eclipta alba at a dose of 250 mg/kg body weight in STZ-induced diabetic rats lowered blood sugar levels and boosted insulin levels.
• Animal anti-hyperlipidemic study (aqueous extract): Doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg were used in hyperlipidemic rats; 200 mg/kg showed better results for cholesterol reduction.
• Animal hair growth study (oral EP extract): Low (1 mg/day) and high (10 mg/day) doses of EP were orally administered once daily for 14 days in C57BL/6N mice.
• In vitro hair growth (human dermal papilla cells): Concentrations of EP at 5, 10, and 50 µg/mL were applied for 24 hours to examine effects on FGF-7 expression and mTOR signalling.
• Anti-glucosidase activity: At 10 µg/mL of the ethanolic extract, α-glucosidase activity was inhibited by 88.6%, with an IC50 of 4.5 µg/mL in vitro.
• Wedelolactone lipid lowering (hamster model): Administration of wedelolactone for 4 weeks decreased lipid profiles in high-fat-diet-induced hyperlipidemic hamsters.

No standardized human clinical dosage has been established in the peer-reviewed literature. Properly designed clinical studies are necessary to evaluate the safety and efficacy of E. prostrata.

8. Safety Considerations and Interactions

Acute Toxicity

Several researchers evaluated the acute toxicity of the plant, concluding that the LD50 (lethal dose 50%) of E. prostrata was more than 2.0 g/kg in mice and rats, hence considered a moderately safe drug.

Rats treated with the aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts at 100–800 mg/kg (oral) exhibited normal behaviour. They were alert, with normal grooming, touch response, and pain response. There was no sign of passivity, stereotypy, or vocalization. Motor activity and secretory signs were also normal, and the animals showed no signs of depression.

Sub-Acute Toxicity

Despite widespread use as a folk medicine, there is very little safety information about the extract obtained from this plant. One study investigated sub-acute toxicity through daily oral administration of aqueous extract in animal models, evaluating hematological, biochemical, histopathological, organ weight, and body weight parameters. Analyzed hematological parameters of males and females were comparable to the control groups during the experimental period; no significant differences were observed.

Potential Drug Interactions and Precautions

Wedelolactone has been identified as a potent and selective inhibitor of IκB kinases and 5-lipoxygenase, which raises a theoretical concern for interactions with anti-inflammatory drugs acting on similar pathways. The plant produces the planar coumarin wedelolactone, which is an inhibitor of topoisomerase II, a consideration relevant to oncology drug interactions.

Based on the pharmacological profile of constituents, potential interactions of concern noted in the literature include the following:

• Anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs: Wedelolactone's IKK-inhibitory and other bioactivities suggest a theoretical risk of enhanced bleeding when combined with anticoagulant or antiplatelet medications. This has not been formally studied in humans.
• Antidiabetic medications: Given documented α-glucosidase inhibition and improvements in insulin sensitivity in animal models, concurrent use with oral hypoglycemics could theoretically potentiate blood glucose-lowering effects.
• Hepatically metabolized drugs: The plant's activity at liver enzymes and its use in hepatic conditions raise the possibility of pharmacokinetic interactions with drugs metabolized by the liver, though this has not been characterized in human studies.

Allergenic Potential

As a member of the Asteraceae family, Eclipta prostrata shares a family with plants known to cause contact allergies (e.g., ragweed, chrysanthemum). Individuals with known sensitivity to the Asteraceae/Compositae family should be aware of this potential cross-reactivity, although specific clinical reports for Eclipta are absent from the peer-reviewed literature reviewed here.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

The safety of Eclipta alba during pregnancy has not been studied extensively. No adequately powered human safety studies in pregnant or nursing populations were identified in the literature.

Overall Evidence Gap

Until now, significant progress has been witnessed in the phytochemistry and pharmacology of E. prostrata. Some traditional uses have been well supported and clarified by modern pharmacological studies. Moreover, E. prostrata has shown therapeutic potential in some refractory diseases such as cancer, dementia, and diabetes. However, present findings are still insufficient to satisfactorily explain some mechanisms of action. More well-designed studies in vitro — especially in vivo — are required to establish links between traditional uses and bioactivities, discover new active molecules, and ensure safety before clinical use.

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