ECLIPTA TEA (infusio ECLIPTA ALBA) from AMAZON HERBS® |
Overview Traditional Ayurvedic uses of Eclipta Viral hepatitis, liver disorders, skin- and hair care, improves complexion, calm the mind, memory disorders, swollen glands, due to upper respiratory viral infection, strengthens spleen, general tonic. This herbal tincture has a neutralizing effect on the venom of South American rattle snakes. The alcoholic extracts (tinctures) of the entire plant have been reported to have antiviral activity against the Ranikhet disease, a virus (contagious and highly fatal disease of flows). Aqueous extracts of the plant showed subjective improvement of vision in the cases of refractive errors. The alcoholic extract of the plant also shows protective effects on experimental liver damage in rats and mice. Ayurveda and Liver Damage Eclipta alba (also known as Bhringaraj) is a traditional Ayurvedic creeping herb which grows abundantly in the tropical parts of the world. In Ayurvedic medicine, Eclipta is said to be the best herbal drug as a remedy for liver ailments such as cirrhosis, infective hepatitis and other conditions involving hepatic enlargement. It is also widely used in India and Surinam for jaundice and other ailments of the liver, gall bladder (to promote bile flow) and spleen (enlargement). Used as a nervine in Ayurvedic medicine to handle mental disorders, insomnia and headaches. The oil is used to maintain and rejuvenate the hair; it is also used against skin disorders. The parts that are used in the herbal tincture are the whole plant (leaves, stem and roots). In The Philippines there are some other interesting applications too. A decoction of the dried plant is used for internal hemorrhage (especially bleeding in the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts) such as pulmonary tuberculosis, gastrointestinal hemorrhage. For bloody stool and urine, a decoction of the dried herb or tincture can be used. Dysentery: a decoction of the herb or tincture can be used. Against sprains, furuncle and dermatitis; the tea or tincture is excellent. Constituents Resin, Ecliptine, nicotine, glucosides, alkaloids. Eclipta contains bio-active steroidal alkaloids*; these have cytotoxity against certain cells, Ecliptasaponin C, a new triterpenoid glucoside, was isolated together with daucosterol (2) and stigmasterol-3-O-glucoside. Ethanol extracts of Eclipta alba have a neutralizing effect on the venom of South American rattle snakes. The plant contains the alkaloid ecliptine; other chemicals identified are wedelolactone, demethylwedelolactone, wedelic acid, apigenin, luteolin, b-amyrin, etc. Wedelolactone and demethylwedelolactone have potent trypsin inhibitory effect. * Bioassay-guided fractionation of the MeOH extract of Eclipta alba using three yeast strains (1138, 1140, and 1353) resulted in the isolation of eight bioactive steroidal alkaloids (1-8), six of which are reported for the first time from nature. The major alkaloid was identified as (20S)(25S)-22,26-imino-cholesta-5,22(N)-dien-3ß-ol (verazine, 3), while the new alkaloids were identified as 20-epi-3-dehydroxy-3-oxo-5,6-dihydro-4,5-dehydroverazine (1), ecliptalbine [(20R)-20-pyridyl-cholesta-5-ene-3ß, 23-diol] (4), (20R)-4ß- hydroxyverazine (5), 4ß-hydroxyverazine (6), (20R)-25ß-hydroxyverazine (7), and 25ß- hydroxyverazine (8). Pharmacology Using fresh extracts of rat liver, researchers studied the protective effects of the plants against remedies with known liver toxins carbon tetrachloride and the toxin from the Amanita mushroom (phalloidin). The results showed that at therapeutic concentrations of Eclipta, it conveyed complete protection on the liver cells. In fact, the hepato-protective effect was the most prominent of any natural extract that the researchers had ever screened. In vivo studies on phalloidin-treated mice resulted in no losses, as compared to 70% mortality in non-treated controls. The researchers concluded that the active ingredient was a coumestan extracted from wedelolactone. A separate study showed that wedelolactone was a potent and selective inhibitor of the potent inflamatory chemical, 5-lipoxygenase and the inhibition occurring via extremely aggressive oxygen radical scavenging. Wedelolactone and demethylwedelolactone exhibit antihepatotoxic activities in carbon tetrachloride, galactosamine and phalloidin induced liver damage. Eclipta alba is a plant that has bio-active steroidal alkaloids; they have cyto-toxity against certain cells. It is used against anemia, dysentery, eye diseases, asthma - and liver cirrhosis. One recent study showed that a liquid extract from fresh Eclipta alba leaves was effective in vivo in preventing acute carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage in guinea pigs. Clinically, the powdered drug is effective against jaundice in children (Wagner et al., 1986). Anti-ulcer activity of Eclipta alba: showed highly significant reduction in the occurrence of gastric ulcers as well as gastric inflammation. the potency as an antiulcer agent was comparable to the activity of the proton pump inhibiting drug rabeprazoie (Aciphex®). Eclipta alba appears to work better at fighting fungal infections than the prescription medicine Amphotericin B*. * Amphotericin B (Fungilin®, Fungizone®, Abelcet®, AmBisome®, Fungisome®, Amphocil®, Amphotec®) is a polyene antimycotic drug, used intravenously in systemic fungal infections. Dosage Tinctures: 0.5 - 3 ml. daily. Infusion (herbal tea): 1- 2 cups daily. Reference Wagner H, Geyer B, Yoshinobu K, Govind SR - Coumestans as the Main Active Principles of the Liver Drugs Eclipta alba and Wedelia calendulacea. Planta Medica 1986:5: 370-2 Gupta SC, Bajaj UK, Sharma VN. Cardiovascular effects of Eclipta alba. J Res Ind Med Yoga & Homeop 1976;11:3, 91-93. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, et al. (eds.) American Herbal Products Association’s Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 1997, p. 44. Saxena AK, Singh B, Anand KK. Hepatoprotective effects of Eclipta alba on subcellular levels in rats. J Ethnopharmacol 1993 Dec;40(3):155-61. Wagner H, et al. Coumestans as the main active principles of the liver drugs Eclipta alba and wedelia calendulacea." Planta Med Oct 1986;(5):370-4. Xu ZL. Pocket Handbook of Chinese Herbal Medicine. Miami: Waclion International, 2000, p. 106. DNA-damaging steroidal alkaloids from Eclipta alba from the suriname rainforest1. Abdel-Kader MS, Bahler BD, Malone S, Werkhoven MC, van Troon F, David, Wisse JH, Bursuker I, Neddermann KM, Mamber SW, Kingston DG. Department of Chemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061-0212, USA. Promising Phytochemicals from Indian Medicinal Plant Dr. Amrit Pal Singh MD (Alternative Medicine), Medical Executive, Ind-Swift Ltd, Chandigarh (India). The above presentation is for informational and educational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescribed (RX) or over - the - counter medication (OTC) is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using dietary supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. |
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