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Unveiling the Therapeutic Wealth of Eclipta Prostrata: Ethnobotany, Bioactive Compounds, and Biomedical Relevance
Corresponding Author(s) : M. Navaneetha Krishnan
International Journal of Allied Medical Sciences and Clinical Research,
Vol. 13 No. 3 (2025): 2025 Volume -13 - Issue 3
Abstract
Eclipta prostrata (L.) L., also referred to as Eclipta alba, is a common medicinal herb that is a member of the Asteraceae family. It is well known for its ability to heal respiratory, skin, and liver illnesses as well as to encourage hair growth. It has long been prized in many ethnomedical systems. The current understanding of E. prostrata's botanical description, ethnomedical applications, phytochemical makeup, and range of pharmacological activity is compiled in this paper. The plant has a wide range of bioactive substances, including as alkaloids (ecliptine), triterpenoid saponins (eclalbasaponins), flavonoids (e.g., luteolin), phenolic compounds, and coumestans (e.g., wedelolactone). Its powerful anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, anticancer, antiobesity, osteogenic, neuroprotective, immunomodulatory, antiulcer, and antibacterial qualities have been emphasized in recent research. Certain phytoconstituents are thought to be responsible for the therapeutic benefits via working via ERK/STAT1, AMPK/PGC-1α, NF-κB, and METTL3-mediated RNA methylation. The review supports the plant's incorporation into contemporary pharmaceutical formulations and highlights its promising role in evidence-based therapy.
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- Khare CP. Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeial Plant Drugs. Taylor & Francis; 2015.
- Chung IM, Rajakumar G, Lee JH, Kim SH, Thiruvengadam M. Ethnopharmacological uses, phytochemistry, biological activities, and biotechnological applications of Eclipta prostrata. Applied microbiology and biotechnology. 2017 Jul;101(13):5247-57.
- Mithun NM, Shashidhara S, Vivek Kumar R. Eclipta alba (L.) A review on its phytochemical and pharmacological profile. Pharmacologyonline. 2011;1(1):345-57.
- The Siddha Pharmacopoeia of India. First ed., vol. II, New Delhi, Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 2011, pp. 42–45.
- Timalsina D, Devkota HP. Eclipta prostrata (L.) L.(Asteraceae): ethnomedicinal uses, chemical constituents, and biological activities. Biomolecules. 2021 Nov 22;11(11):1738.
- Khan AV, Khan AA. Ethnomedicinal uses of Eclipta prostrata Linn. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 2008 Apr 1;7(2):316-20.
- Silalahi M. Eclipta prostrata (L.) L.(uses and bioactivities). GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2022;18(1):1-7.
- Wagner, H., Geyer, B., & Kiso, Y. Coumestans and triterpenoid saponins from Eclipta alba.Journal: Planta Medica, 1986.52(5):370–374.
- Ryu, G., et al. Triterpenoid saponins from Eclipta prostrata inhibit hepatic stellate cell proliferation. Journal: Molecules. 2013.18(10):12149–12163.
- Feng L, Zhai YY, Xu J, Yao WF, Cao YD, Cheng FF, Bao BH, Zhang L. A review on traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. Journal of ethnopharmacology. 2019 Dec 5;245:112109.
- Guenné S, Ouattara N, Ouédraogo N, Ciobica A, Hilou A, Kiendrebéogo M. Phytochemistry and neuroprotective effects of Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk. Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine. 2020 Feb 25;17(1):20190026.
- Kang YM, Kim HM, Lee H, et al.An HJ. Anti-inflammatory effects of Eclipta prostrata Linné on house dust mite-induced atopic dermatitis in vivo and in vitro. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2022 Jun 28;292:115233.
- Pukumpuang W, Chansakaow S, Tragoolpua Y. Antioxidant activity, phenolic compound content, and phytochemical constituents of Eclipta prostrata (Linn.) Linn. Chiang Mai J Sci. 2014 Jul 1;41(3):568-76.
- Khurshid R, Ullah MA, Tungmunnithum D, et al. Lights triggered differential accumulation of antioxidant and antidiabetic secondary metabolites in callus culture of Eclipta alba L., Plos One. 2020 Jun 12;15(6):0233963.
- Giang LT, Park S, Cuc NT, et al. Bithiophene and coumestan derivatives from Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. and their hepatoprotective activity. Journal of Asian Natural Products Research. 2024 Nov 1;26(11):1381-7.
- Nelson VK, Sahoo NK, Sahu M, et al. In vitro anticancer activity of Eclipta alba whole plant extract on colon cancer cell HCT-116. BMC complementary medicine and therapies. 2020 Nov 23;20(1):355.
- Xia Y, Chen J, Cao Y, et al. Wedelolactone exhibits anti-fibrotic effects on the human hepatic stellate cell line LX-2. European Journal of Pharmacology. 2013 Aug 15;714(1-3):105-11.
- Singh AK, Pal P, Gupta V, Yadav TP, et al. Green synthesis, characterization, and antimicrobial activity of zinc oxide quantum dots using Eclipta alba. Materials Chemistry and Physics. 2018 Jan 1;203:40-8.
- Zhang X, Lu C, Shen Y. A natural thiophene from Eclipta prostrata (L.) combats obesity by enhancing adipocyte thermogenesis in high-fat diet-fed obese mice. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids. 2025 Jun 10:159644.
- Tian S, Li YL, Wang J, et al. Chinese Ecliptae herba (Eclipta prostrata (L.) L.) extract and its component wedelolactone enhance osteoblastogenesis of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells via targeting METTL3-mediated m6A RNA methylation. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2023 Aug 10;312:116433.
- Kim DI, Lee SH, Hong JH, et al. The butanol fraction of Eclipta prostrata (Linn) increases the formation of brain acetylcholine and decreases oxidative stress in the brain and serum of cesarean-derived rats. Nutrition Research. 2010.1;30(8):579-84.
- Jayathirtha MG, Mishra SH. Preliminary immunomodulatory activities of methanol extracts of Eclipta alba and Centella asiatica. Phytomedicine. 2004.1;11(4):361-5.
- Lee CS, Kang JA, Kim GY, Kim GR. A Study on the Effect of Eclipta Prostrata Extract and MTS on the Improvement of Scalp Health and Prevention of Hair Loss for Workers in Their 20s and 30s. Medico-legal Update. 2020 Jan 1;20(1).
- Pithayanukul P, Lapett B, Bavovada R, et al. Inhibition of proteolytic and hemorrhagic activities by ethyl acetate extract of Eclipta prostrata. Against Malayan pit viper venom. Pharmaceutical Biology. 2007 Jan 1;45(4):282-8.
- Manikiran SS, Santhi Priya Na, Aubine Molly B, Lakshmi Prasanthi No. Fabrication and characterization of fast dissolving films of Eclipta prostrata leaves extract to treat mouth ulcers. International Journal of Applied Pharmaceutics. 2021;13(5):263-71.
References
Khare CP. Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeial Plant Drugs. Taylor & Francis; 2015.
Chung IM, Rajakumar G, Lee JH, Kim SH, Thiruvengadam M. Ethnopharmacological uses, phytochemistry, biological activities, and biotechnological applications of Eclipta prostrata. Applied microbiology and biotechnology. 2017 Jul;101(13):5247-57.
Mithun NM, Shashidhara S, Vivek Kumar R. Eclipta alba (L.) A review on its phytochemical and pharmacological profile. Pharmacologyonline. 2011;1(1):345-57.
The Siddha Pharmacopoeia of India. First ed., vol. II, New Delhi, Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 2011, pp. 42–45.
Timalsina D, Devkota HP. Eclipta prostrata (L.) L.(Asteraceae): ethnomedicinal uses, chemical constituents, and biological activities. Biomolecules. 2021 Nov 22;11(11):1738.
Khan AV, Khan AA. Ethnomedicinal uses of Eclipta prostrata Linn. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge. 2008 Apr 1;7(2):316-20.
Silalahi M. Eclipta prostrata (L.) L.(uses and bioactivities). GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2022;18(1):1-7.
Wagner, H., Geyer, B., & Kiso, Y. Coumestans and triterpenoid saponins from Eclipta alba.Journal: Planta Medica, 1986.52(5):370–374.
Ryu, G., et al. Triterpenoid saponins from Eclipta prostrata inhibit hepatic stellate cell proliferation. Journal: Molecules. 2013.18(10):12149–12163.
Feng L, Zhai YY, Xu J, Yao WF, Cao YD, Cheng FF, Bao BH, Zhang L. A review on traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. Journal of ethnopharmacology. 2019 Dec 5;245:112109.
Guenné S, Ouattara N, Ouédraogo N, Ciobica A, Hilou A, Kiendrebéogo M. Phytochemistry and neuroprotective effects of Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk. Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine. 2020 Feb 25;17(1):20190026.
Kang YM, Kim HM, Lee H, et al.An HJ. Anti-inflammatory effects of Eclipta prostrata Linné on house dust mite-induced atopic dermatitis in vivo and in vitro. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2022 Jun 28;292:115233.
Pukumpuang W, Chansakaow S, Tragoolpua Y. Antioxidant activity, phenolic compound content, and phytochemical constituents of Eclipta prostrata (Linn.) Linn. Chiang Mai J Sci. 2014 Jul 1;41(3):568-76.
Khurshid R, Ullah MA, Tungmunnithum D, et al. Lights triggered differential accumulation of antioxidant and antidiabetic secondary metabolites in callus culture of Eclipta alba L., Plos One. 2020 Jun 12;15(6):0233963.
Giang LT, Park S, Cuc NT, et al. Bithiophene and coumestan derivatives from Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. and their hepatoprotective activity. Journal of Asian Natural Products Research. 2024 Nov 1;26(11):1381-7.
Nelson VK, Sahoo NK, Sahu M, et al. In vitro anticancer activity of Eclipta alba whole plant extract on colon cancer cell HCT-116. BMC complementary medicine and therapies. 2020 Nov 23;20(1):355.
Xia Y, Chen J, Cao Y, et al. Wedelolactone exhibits anti-fibrotic effects on the human hepatic stellate cell line LX-2. European Journal of Pharmacology. 2013 Aug 15;714(1-3):105-11.
Singh AK, Pal P, Gupta V, Yadav TP, et al. Green synthesis, characterization, and antimicrobial activity of zinc oxide quantum dots using Eclipta alba. Materials Chemistry and Physics. 2018 Jan 1;203:40-8.
Zhang X, Lu C, Shen Y. A natural thiophene from Eclipta prostrata (L.) combats obesity by enhancing adipocyte thermogenesis in high-fat diet-fed obese mice. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids. 2025 Jun 10:159644.
Tian S, Li YL, Wang J, et al. Chinese Ecliptae herba (Eclipta prostrata (L.) L.) extract and its component wedelolactone enhance osteoblastogenesis of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells via targeting METTL3-mediated m6A RNA methylation. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2023 Aug 10;312:116433.
Kim DI, Lee SH, Hong JH, et al. The butanol fraction of Eclipta prostrata (Linn) increases the formation of brain acetylcholine and decreases oxidative stress in the brain and serum of cesarean-derived rats. Nutrition Research. 2010.1;30(8):579-84.
Jayathirtha MG, Mishra SH. Preliminary immunomodulatory activities of methanol extracts of Eclipta alba and Centella asiatica. Phytomedicine. 2004.1;11(4):361-5.
Lee CS, Kang JA, Kim GY, Kim GR. A Study on the Effect of Eclipta Prostrata Extract and MTS on the Improvement of Scalp Health and Prevention of Hair Loss for Workers in Their 20s and 30s. Medico-legal Update. 2020 Jan 1;20(1).
Pithayanukul P, Lapett B, Bavovada R, et al. Inhibition of proteolytic and hemorrhagic activities by ethyl acetate extract of Eclipta prostrata. Against Malayan pit viper venom. Pharmaceutical Biology. 2007 Jan 1;45(4):282-8.
Manikiran SS, Santhi Priya Na, Aubine Molly B, Lakshmi Prasanthi No. Fabrication and characterization of fast dissolving films of Eclipta prostrata leaves extract to treat mouth ulcers. International Journal of Applied Pharmaceutics. 2021;13(5):263-71.