Eclipta alba- A POWERFUL TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL HERB

Herbal therapies are the oldest type of medicine in the world and recent studies indicate that these herbal remedies are very popular, particularly in under developed countries where the use of modern and expensive medicinal system is lacking. In the earlier medicinal system of some countries, Eclipta alba is an important medicinal plant. The common name of Eclipta alba is Bhringraj and Bhangara. This herb is very well known in Ayurvedic system of medicines. Through qualitative analysis, E. alba is reported to contain numerous phytoconstituents like coumestan derivatives, flavonoids, phenols, tannins and ascorbic acid etc. As it contains number of phytoconstituents but still pharmacological activities of these isolated constituents is not predicted, which requires further pharmacological analysis. The present study summarizes various ethnopharmacological and common uses along with the report on phytochemical and pharmacology of E. alba.