Bhṛṅgarāja (Bhringraj) – Detailed Product Monograph

1. Synonyms (पर्यायवाची नाम)

• Sanskrit Names:
  भृङ्गराजः (Bhṛṅgarāja), भृङ्गरजः (Bhṛṅgaraja), मार्कवः (Mārkava), भृङ्गः (Bhṛṅga), अङ्गारकः (Aṅgāraka), केशराजः (Keśarāja), भृङ्गारः (Bhṛṅgāra), केशरञ्जनः (Keśarañjanaḥ)
• Meaning of Names (Etymological Derivation):
• Bhṛṅgarāja: "Shines like a bee" – plant glows beautifully.
• Keśarāja: "King of Hair" – makes hair black and healthy.
• Mārkava: "Destroyer of greying of hair."
• Keśarañjanaḥ: "Dyes the hair" – restores natural blackness.

2. Regional Names

• Hindi: भांगरा (Bhangara), भंगरैया (Bhangaraiya)
• Bengali: भीमरज (Bhimaraja), केसुरिया (Kesuriya), केसरी (Kesari)
• Marathi: माका (Mākā)
• Gujarati: भांगरो (Bhangaro)
• Kannada: गरगदा सoppu (Garagada soppu), कडिग्ग गरगा (Kadigga garaga)
• Malayalam: क्योननी (Kyonni)
• Telugu: गुंटगलिजेरु (Guntagalijeru)
• Tamil: गरुग (Garuga)
• English: Trailing Eclipta

3. Botanical Description

• Botanical name: Eclipta alba Linn.
• Family: Compositae (Asteraceae)
• Type: Annual erect or prostrate herb.
• Habitat: Common throughout India, especially near water courses.
• Morphology:
• Stem/Branches: Hairy
• Leaves: Opposite, sessile, oblong-lanceolate, hairy
• Flowers: Small, white, solitary or paired heads; ray florets ligulate, disk florets tubular
• Fruit: Achene
• Flowering Season: October–December

4. Chemical Constituents

• Major Active Compounds:
• Coumestans: Wedelolactone, Desmethylwedelolactone (and their glycosides)
• Sterols: β-amyrin, Stigmasterol
• Polyacetylenes/Thiophenes: Ecliptal, α-terthienyl-methanol, Polyacetylenic thiophenes
• Flavonoids: Luteolin-7-O-glucoside
• Others: Nicotine (trace), Heptacosanol, Hentriacontanol
• Pharmacological Actions (Reported):
• Hepatoprotective (protects liver cells)
• Anti-hepatitis B activity (in vitro HBsAg inactivation)
• Immunomodulatory and antioxidant
• Effective in peptic ulcers

5. Properties and Therapeutic Uses

Ayurvedic Properties (गुणधर्म)

• Rasa (Taste): Tikta (Bitter), Kaṭu (Pungent)
• Guna (Qualities): Rūkṣa (Dry), Tīkṣṇa (Sharp)
• Virya (Potency): Uṣṇa (Hot)
• Vipaka (Post-digestive effect): Kaṭu
• Doshic Action: Pacifies Kapha and Vāta

Therapeutic Uses

For Hair & Skin:

• Prevents premature greying and hair fall.
• Promotes hair growth, strengthens roots.
• Improves complexion, useful in skin disorders, wounds, ulcers, burns, alopecia.
• Bhringraj oil (prepared with sesame/coconut base) used for hair blackening, headaches, and eye strength.

For Digestive & Hepatic Disorders:

• Improves appetite and digestion.
• Beneficial in liver disorders – hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, jaundice, ascites, piles.
• Useful in anaemia (pāṇḍu), ascites, indigestion.

Respiratory Conditions:

• Effective in cough, asthma, dyspnoea, worm infestations.
• Juice with honey beneficial in children’s cough.

Rasayana (Rejuvenative):

• Promotes strength and longevity.
• Improves vision and vitality.
• Seeds considered aphrodisiac.

Other Uses:

• Paste applied in scorpion bite.
• Leaf juice with Kāsīsa (iron sulphate) applied for blackening hair.
• Combined with Mehendi and other herbs in burns for reducing burning sensation.

6. Dose

• Churna (Powder): 2–5 g                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Ref: Bhavaprakash Nighantu