Eclipta prostrata explained

Eclipta prostrata, the false daisy, is a species of plant in the family Asteraceae. It is widespread across much of the world.^{[1] [2] [3]}

This plant has cylindrical, grayish roots. Solid, circular, purplish stems with white fine hairs 0.8m. Leaves arranged in opposite pairs, hairy in two-sided, lanceolate, serrated 2–12.5 cm long, 5-35 mm wide.The solitary flower heads are NaNmm in diameter, with white florets. The bumpy achenes are compressed and narrowly winged.^[4] This species grows commonly in moist places in warm temperate to tropical areas worldwide. It is widely distributed throughout India, Nepal, China, Thailand, Bangladesh and Brazil.

Traditional uses

The plant has traditional uses in Ayurveda. In Hindi speaking regions of India, it is known as bhangra or bhringaraj. Wedelia calendulacea is known by the same names, so the white-flowered E. alba is called white bhangra and the yellow-flowered W. calendulacea is called yellow bhangra.^[5]

In Southeast Asia, the dried whole plant is used in traditional medicine,^[6] although there is no high-quality clinical research to indicate such uses are effective. The Balinese cook it as a vegetable, the Javanese consume this herb (orang-aring or urang-aring) as part of their lalap, they also infuse it with coconut oil as a kind of hair oil popular until the 1970s^[7] Its leaves are extracted as a black hair dye, and in tattooing.^[8]

Phytochemistry

Eclipta prostrata contains various phytochemicals, such as coumestans, polypeptides, polyacetylenes, thiophene derivatives, steroids, sterols, triterpenes, and flavonoids.^[9]

Further reading

• Book: Everitt . J.H. . Lonard . R.L. . Little . C.R. . Weeds in South Texas and Northern Mexico . Texas Tech University Press . Lubbock . 2007.
• Book: Caldecott, Todd . 2006 . Ayurveda: The Divine Science of Life . Elsevier/Mosby . 0-7234-3410-7 .

External links

• • • Jepson Manual Treatment, University of California
• United States Department of Agriculture Plants Profile

Notes and References

1. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=111273 Flora of North America, Eclipta Linnaeus, Mant. Pl. 157, 286. 1771.
2. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200023875 Flora of China, 鳢肠 li chang Eclipta prostrata (Linnaeus) Linnaeus, Mant. Pl. 2: 286. 1771.
3. http://luirig.altervista.org/flora/taxa/index1.php?scientific-name=eclipta+prostrata Altervista Flora Italiana, Falsa margherita, false daisy, tattoo plant, Eclipta prostrata (L.) L.
4. [Cornelis Gijsbert Gerrit Jan van Steenis|Steenis, CGGJ van]
5. Puri, H. S. 2003. Rasayana: Ayurvedic Herbs for Longevity and Rejuvenation. Taylor & Francis, London. pages 80–85.
6. Book: Nantana Sittichai . Chayan Picheansoothon . 2014 . Herbal Medicines Used in Primary Health Care in ASEAN . Department for Development of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine . 9786161122119 . 148–149 .
7. [Karel Heyne|Heyne, Karel]
8. Jukema, J., N.Wulijarni-Soetjipto, R.H.M.J. Lemmens & J.W.Hildebrand (1991). Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk. Internet Record from Proseabase. Lemmens, R.H.M.J. and Wulijarni-Soetjipto, N. (Editors). PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia) Foundation, Bogor, Indonesia
9. 28623383. 2017. Chung. I. M. Ethnopharmacological uses, phytochemistry, biological activities, and biotechnological applications of Eclipta prostrata. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 101. 13. 5247–5257. Rajakumar. G. Lee. J. H. Kim. S. H. Thiruvengadam. M. 10.1007/s00253-017-8363-9. 9288894.