Synonym F. prostrata Roxb.
Family Compositae; Asteraceae.
Habitat Throughout India, up to 2,000 m on the hills.
English Trailing Eclipta Plant.
Ayurvedic Bhringaraaja, Bhringa, Bhringaj a, Bhrngaaraka, Bhrngaara, Maarkava, Kesharaaj a, Keshranj ana.
Unani Bhangraa.
Ehretia Iaevis Roxb. var. aspera (Wifid.) C.B. Clarke.
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Siddha/Tamil Karisalaankanni. Folk Bhangaraa.
Action Deobstruent, antihepatotoxic, anticatarrhal, febrifuge. Used in hepatitis, spleen enlargements, chronic skin diseases. Leaf—promotes hair growth. Its extract in oil is applied to scalp before bed time in insomnia. The herb is also used as an ingredient in shampoos.
Key application As hepatoprotective. (Indian Herbal Pharmacopoeia; The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of
India.)
The herb should be dried at room temperature under shade. Its active principles are lost due to aerial oxidation during sun drying or drying under reduced pressure below 40°C. The herb contains wedelolactone and demethylwedelolactone, which showed a dose- dependent effect against CC14, d-galactosamine - or phalloidin-induced cytotoxicity in primary cultured rat hepatocytes, and exhibited potent antihepatotoxic property. The whole plant shows effect on liver cell regeneration. Immunoactive property has been ob served against surface antigen of hepatitis B-virus. The plant is also reported to be effective in the treatment ofpeptic ulcer, inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, diseases of the gallbladder and skin infections.
Aqueous extract of leaves exhibits myocardial depressant and hypotensive activity (unrelated to cholinergic and histaminergic effects).
The roots are very rich in thiophene acetylenes. Thiophene derivatives show activity against nematodes.
Dosage Whole plant—3—6 ml fresh juice; 13—36 g for decoction. (API Vol. II.)
Ehretia buxifolia Roxb.
Synonym Carmona microphylla (Lam.) G. Don.
Family Ehrethiaceae.
Habitat Common in dry scrub forests of the Deccan Peninsula.
