[Interference of allelopathic rice Huakangcao 78 on weeds under different
ecological conditions]

[Article in Chinese]

Wu J, Li Y, Chen Z, Wang Y.

Institute of Plant Protection, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences,
Nanjing, China. wujl4390228@163.com

A pot culture experiment was conducted to examine the interference effectiveness
of allelopathic rice Huakangcao 78 on weeds Echinochloa crusgalli L., Cyperus
difformis L., and Eclipta prostrata L. as affected by rice leaf age during
transplanting, plant density, and soil surface water depth and its retaining
days. The results showed that Huakangcao 78 could significantly reduce the dry
weight of weeds compared with non/​allelopathic rice Lemont. The control
effectiveness of Huakangcao 78 on E. crusgalli L. was better when the weed was
at 0/​1.5 leaf age than at 1.5/​2.4 leaf age, and that on C. difformis L. was
better when the weed was at 0/​0.3 leaf age than at 0.8/​2.0 leaf age. The
interactive effectiveness between rice leaf age during transplanting and plant
density on weed control was better than that between the leaf age and soil
surface water depth and its retaining days. To increase the rice leaf age during
transplanting and plant density could significantly promote the control
effectiveness of Huakangcao 78 on weeds.

Publication Types:
English Abstract

PMID: 17147174 [PubMed /​ in process]

2: J Ethnopharmacol. 2006 May 24;105(3):332/​5. Epub 2006 Jan 6.

Lipid lowering activity of Eclipta prostrata in experimental hyperlipidemia.

Kumari CS, Govindasamy S, Sukumar E.

Department of Biochemistry, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai 600
025, India.

The plant Eclipta prostrata is used in the traditional medical practices of
India to treat hepatic diseases and hyperlipidemia. The total alcoholic extract
of the plant when tested for antihyperlipidemic potential, exhibited a
dose/​dependent activity in albino rats when compared to standard drugs. The
activity was assessed by studying the lipid profiles of serum, liver and heart
of the control and drug/​treated animals. The results lend support to the
traditional use of Eclipta prostrata in the treatment of hyperlipidemia.

PMID: 16406413 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

3: Parasitol Res. 2005 Jan;95(1):17/​21. Epub 2004 Nov 18.

The in vitro anti/​giardial activity of extracts from plants that are used for
self/​medication by AIDS patients in southern Thailand.

Sawangjaroen N, Subhadhirasakul S, Phongpaichit S, Siripanth C, Jamjaroen K,
Sawangjaroen K.

Natural Products Research Unit and Department of Microbiology, Faculty of
Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat/​Yai, 90112, Songkhla, Thailand.
nongyao.s@psu.ac.th

This study evaluated the anti/​giardial activity of chloroform, methanol and
water extracts of 12 medicinal plants (39 extracts), commonly used as self
medication by AIDS patients in southern Thailand. The plant extracts and a
standard drug, metronidazole, were incubated with 2x10(5) trophozoites of
Giardia intestinalis per millilitre of growth medium in 96/​well tissue culture
plates under anaerobic conditions for 24 h. The cultures were examined with an
inverted microscope and the minimum inhibitory concentration and the IC50 value
for each extract was determined. The chloroform extracts from Alpinia galanga,
Boesenbergia pandurata, Eclipta prostrata, Piper betle, Piper chaba, Zingiber
zerumbet, and the methanol extracts from B. pandurata and E. prostrata were
classified as "active", i.e. with an IC50 of <100 microg/ml, whereas the
chloroform extract from Murraya paniculata was classified as being "moderately
active". This study shows that extracts from some medicinal plants have
potential for use as therapeutic agents against G. intestinalis infections.

Publication Types:
Comparative Study
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 15614584 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

4: J Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Feb;90(2/​3):347/​52.

Anti/​venom potential of butanolic extract of Eclipta prostrata against Malayan
pit viper venom.

Pithayanukul P, Laovachirasuwan S, Bavovada R, Pakmanee N, Suttisri R.

Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. pypph@hotmail.com

The butanolic and purified butanolic extracts (PBEs) of Eclipta prostrata were
evaluated for their anti/​venom potential. Inhibition of lethal, hemorrhagic,
proteolytic, and phospholipase A2 activities of Calloselasma rhodostoma (Malayan
pit viper (MPV)) venom by these extracts were determined. Demethylwedelolactone
was identified as their major constituent. The butanolic extract, at 2.5 mg per
mouse, was able to completely neutralize the lethal activity of 2LD50 of MPV
venom, but increasing the dose diminished the effect. The PBE, at 1.5/​4.5 mg per
mouse, was able to neutralize the lethality of the venom at around 50/​58%. Both
extracts partially inhibited the hemorrhagic activity but displayed very low
anti/​phospholipase A2 activity and did not inhibit proteolytic activity of MPV
venom.

PMID: 15013200 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

5: Fitoterapia. 2004 Jan;75(1):68/​73.

Antimicrobial screening of plants used for traditional medicine in the state of
Perak, Peninsular Malaysia.

Wiart C, Mogana S, Khalifah S, Mahan M, Ismail S, Buckle M, Narayana AK,
Sulaiman M.

Department of Pharmacy, University of Malaya, Malaysia.
christophe_wiart@yahoo.com

Seventy/​two extracts (methanol) obtained from the leaves, barks, and roots of 50
plant species used in the traditional medicine of Perak, Peninsular Malaysia,
have been screened for antibacterial and antifungal activities. Peristrophe
tinctoria, Polyalthia lateriflora, Knema malayana, Solanum torvum, Celosia
argentea, Eclipta prostrata, Ancistrocladus tectorius, Dillenia suffruticosa,
Piper stylosum and Rafflesia hasseltii displayed the broadest spectrum of
activity.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 14693223 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

6: Yao Xue Xue Bao. 2001 Sep;36(9):660/​3.

[Triterpenoid saponins from Eclipta prostrata L.]

[Article in Chinese]

Zhao YP, Tang HF, Jiang YP, Wang ZZ, Yi YH, Lei QY.

Department of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China.

AIM: To study the triterpenoid saponins in the Chinese traditional medicine
Eclipta prostrata L.. METHODS: Column chromatography with silica gel and HPLC
were employed for the isolation and purification. The molecular structures were
determined on the basis of spectral analysis (IR, MS, 1HNMR, 13CNMR, HMQC and
HMBC). RESULTS: Two new triterpenoid saponins, named eclalbasaponins XI (4) and
XII (5), were obtained and their structures were elucidated as
3/​O/​[beta/​D/​glucopyranosyl(1/​/​>2)/​beta/​D/​glucopyranosyl]/​16
alpha/​ethoxy/​olean/​12/​ene/​28/​oic acid/​28/​O/​beta/​D/​glucopyranoside and
3/​O/​[(2/​O/​sulfuryl/​beta/​D/​glucopyranosyl)
(1/​/​>2)/​beta/​D/​glucopyranosyl]/​echinocystic acid/​28/​O/​beta/​D/​glucopyranoside,
respectively, along with three known saponins, eclalbasaponins II (1), I (2) and
III (3). CONCLUSION: Compounds 4 and 5 are new compounds, 1 and 5 induced
morphological deformation of Pyricularia oryzae mycelia.

Publication Types:
English Abstract

PMID: 12580102 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

7: Yao Xue Xue Bao. 2001 Jan;36(1):34/​7.

[Studies on the chemical constituents of Eclipta prostrata (L)]

[Article in Chinese]

Zhang JS, Guo QM.

Institute of Materia Medica, Shanghai Institute for Biological Sciences, Chinese
Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China. jszhang@mail.shcnc.ac.cn

AIM: To study the chemical constituents of Eclipta prostrata (L). METHODS: The
constituents of E. prostrata were systematically separated with the Bohlmann
method and percolation and hot extraction methods, and various chromatographies.
The structures were elucidated by chemical and spectroscopic means. RESULTS: Ten
compounds were isolated from the Eclipta prostrata. Their structures were
determined as wedelolactone (1), demethylwedelolactone (2),
isodemethylwedelolactone (3), alpha/​formylterthienyl (4), strychnolactone (5),
beta/​sitosterol (6), nonacosanol (7), stearic acid (8), lacceroic acid (9),
3,4/​dihydoxy benzoic acid (10). Fourteen ocmpounds, including hydrocarbons and
its esters were identified by GC/​MS from the least polar fractions. CONCLUSION:
Compound 3 is a new coumestan named isodemethylwedelolactone. Compounds 2/​10 and
compounds characterized by GC/​MS analysis were obtained for the first time from
Eclipta prostrata.

Publication Types:
English Abstract
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 12579857 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

8: Zhong Yao Cai. 2000 Jul;23(7):407/​9.

[Effect of ethyl acetate extract of Eclipta prostrata on mice of normal and
immunosupression]

[Article in Chinese]

Liu X, Jiang Y, Zhao Y, Tang H.

Pharmaceutical Department, Xijing Hospital, the Fourth Military Medical
University, Xi'an 710032.

OBJECTIVE: The regulatory effects of ethyl acetate extract of Eclipta prostrata
(EAEEP) on immune function were studied. METHODS: The experimental
immunosuppressive mice models were induced by injection of cyclophosphamide or
hydrocartisone. RESULTS: The index of spleen in normal mice were decreased
significantly. So was the level of hemolysin in serum, Delayed trpe
hypersensitivity was also inhibited at the same condition. But EAEEP can
increase all these indexes in immunosuppressive mice. CONCLUSION: EAEEP
possesses obvious regulatory action on immune function in mice.

Publication Types:
English Abstract

PMID: 12575170 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

9: Phytochemistry. 2002 Feb;59(3):279/​91.

Serine proteinase inhibitors in the Compositae: distribution, polymorphism and
properties.

Konarev AV, Anisimova IN, Gavrilova VA, Vachrusheva TE, Konechnaya GY, Lewis M,
Shewry PR.

All/​Russian Institute of Plant Protection (VIZR), Podbelsky 3, St. Petersburg,
189620 Russia. al_konarev@hotmail.com

Multiple molecular forms of inhibitors of trypsin (TI) and chymotrypsin (CI),
which are typical digestive enzymes of insects, mammals and micro/​organisms, and
subtilisin (SI), a proteinase of many bacteria and phytopathogenic fungi, were
identified in seeds and vegetative organs of the majority of 128 wild and
cultivated species representing 65 genera of three of the subfamilies of the
Compositae. Inhibitors with M(r) ranging from 7450 to 7800 and combining
activities towards subtilisin and trypsin and/or chymotrypsin (T/C/SI) had the
widest distribution and may be involved in plant defense mechanisms. They were
found in many species of the subfamilies Carduoideae (genera Carthamus,
Centaurea, Cirsium), Cichorioideae (Lactuca, Taraxacum) and Asteroideae
(Helianthus, Cosmos, Bidens). Partial amino acid sequencing showed that the
safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) T/C/SI and Cosmos bipinnatus T/C/SI, T/SI and
C/SI belonged to the potato I inhibitor family. The most active, variable and
heterogeneous inhibitors were found in species of the tribe Heliantheae, which
is placed in the evolutionary advanced subfamily Asteroideae. Seeds of
Helianthus species, Eclipta prostrata, Gailardia aristata, Zinnia elegans and
Silphium perfoliatum contained various TI with M(r) ranging from 1500 to 14,750,
with some also containing SI. H. annuus seeds contain a unique cyclic TI of M(r)
1514 and similar TI were also present in other Helianthus spp. and the related
species Tithonia diversifolia. Zinnia elegans contained a TI with M(r) 11,350
which appeared to represent a novel type of inhibitor distantly related to the
cereal subgroup of Bowman/​Birk inhibitors. TI and T/SI varied widely in H.
annuus lines and wild Helianthus species in their presence or absence and
composition. Similar T/SI components were found in the cultivated diploid H.
annuus and annual diploid species with the B genome but not in perennials with
the A genome. Some T/SI, SI and TI were detected in vegetative organs of
sunflower and other Compositae. Studies of the polymorphism and distribution of
proteinase inhibitors are relevant to the evolution of protective protein
systems and the mechanisms of resistance to pathogenic organisms in the
Compositae and other plants.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 11830136 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

10: BMC Complement Altern Med. 2001;1:10. Epub 2001 Nov 30.

Medicinal and ethnoveterinary remedies of hunters in Trinidad.

Lans C, Harper T, Georges K, Bridgewater E.

Group Technology and Agrarian Development, Hollandseweg 1, 6706 KN Wageningen
University, the Netherlands. Cher2lans@netscape.net

BACKGROUND: Ethnomedicines are used by hunters for themselves and their hunting
dogs in Trinidad. Plants are used for snakebites, scorpion stings, for injuries
and mange of dogs and to facilitate hunting success. RESULTS: Plants used
include Piper hispidum, Pithecelobium unguis/​cati, Bauhinia excisa, Bauhinia
cumanensis, Cecropia peltata, Aframomum melegueta, Aristolochia rugosa,
Aristolochia trilobata, Jatropha curcas, Jatropha gossypifolia, Nicotiana
tabacum, Vernonia scorpioides, Petiveria alliacea, Renealmia alpinia, Justicia
secunda, Phyllanthus urinaria,Phyllanthus niruri,Momordica charantia, Xiphidium
caeruleum, Ottonia ovata, Lepianthes peltata, Capsicum frutescens, Costus
scaber, Dendropanax arboreus, Siparuma guianensis, Syngonium podophyllum,
Monstera dubia, Solanum species, Eclipta prostrata, Spiranthes acaulis, Croton
gossypifolius, Barleria lupulina, Cola nitida, Acrocomia ierensis (tentative
ID). CONCLUSION: Plant use is based on odour, and plant morphological
characteristics and is embedded in a complex cultural context based on
indigenous Amerindian beliefs. It is suggested that the medicinal plants exerted
a physiological action on the hunter or his dog. Some of the plants mentioned
contain chemicals that may explain the ethnomedicinal and ethnoveterinary use.
For instance some of the plants influence the immune system or are effective
against internal and external parasites. Plant baths may contribute to the
health and well being of the hunting dogs.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 11737880 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

11: Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 1998 Nov;23(11):680/​2, 703.

[Preliminary studies on chemical constituents and pharmacological action of
Eclipta prostrata L.]

[Article in Chinese]

Han Y, Xia C, Cheng X, Xiang R, Liu H, Yan Q, Xu D.

Jiangsu Provincial Institute of Materia Medica, Nanjing 210009.

OBJECTIVE: To study the pharmacologically active components of Eclipta
prostrata. METHOD: The components were extracted by alcohol and isolated by
silica gel column and subjected to pharmacological screening. RESULT: Four
compounds were isolated from E. prostrata, of which two were identified as
stigmasterol and alpha/​terthienyl. CONCLUSION: alpha/​Terthienyl was isolated
from the plant for the first time. The EtOAc part of alcoholic extraction
exhibits significant hepatoprotective activity against carbon
terachloride/​induced liver injury in rats.

Publication Types:
English Abstract

PMID: 11599347 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

12: Toxicon. 1994 May;32(5):595/​603.

Inhibition of the myotoxic and hemorrhagic activities of crotalid venoms by
Eclipta prostrata (Asteraceae) extracts and constituents.

Melo PA, do Nascimento MC, Mors WB, Suarez/​Kurtz G.

Departamento de Farmacologia Basica e Clinica, Universidade Federal do Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil.

The antimyotoxic and antihemorrhagic effects of Eclipta prostrata (EP) and three
of its constituents (wedelolactone, WE; stigmaterol, ST; and sitosterol, SI)
were investigated. The myotoxicity of crotalid venoms (Bothrops jararaca,
Bothrops jararacussu and Lachesis muta), purified myotoxins (bothropstoxin,
BthTX; bothropasin; and crotoxin), and polylysine was quantified in vitro by the
release rate of creatine kinase (CK) from rat or mouse extensor digitorum
muscles, and in vivo by the plasma CK activity in mice. The in vitro myotoxicity
of the crotalid venoms and myotoxins was neutralized by simultaneous exposure of
the muscles to an aqueous extract of EP or to WE. ST and SI were less effective
than WE, but interacted synergistically with it. Both the EP extract and WE
failed to neutralize the in vitro myotoxic effects of polylysine. The in vivo
myotoxicity of venoms and myotoxins was neutralized by their preincubation with
the EP extract or WE. Intravenous administration of the plant extract or WE
attenuated the increase in plasma CK activity induced by subsequent
intramuscular injections of the crotalid venoms or the myotoxins. EP and WE
inhibited the hemorrhagic effect of B. jararaca venom, as well as the
phospholipase A2 activity of crotoxin and the proteolytic activity of B.
jararaca venom. The data provide direct evidence for antimyotoxic and
antihemorrhagic effects of EP and WE against the crotalid venoms responsible for
most cases of envenomation by snakebites in Brazil. These effects are
interpreted as consequences of antiproteolytic and antiphospholipase A2
activities of EP and its constituents.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 8079371 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

13: Toxicon. 1992 Oct;30(10):1131/​42.

Plants with a reputation against snakebite.

Martz W.

Institute of Legal Medicine, Christian/​Albrechts University, Kiel, F.R.G.

Many plants are recommended in traditional medicine as active against various
effects of snakebite. Few attempts have been made to investigate the veracity of
these assertions in controlled experiments. Several workers, mainly Oriental,
have investigated the reputation of such plants by performing in vitro and in
vivo experiments in order to demonstrate whether there was any protective
effect, using drugs or mixtures of drugs prepared using traditional formulae. In
some studies, these extracts were administered to mice before or after treatment
with different elapid or crotalid venoms. Other papers deal with selected
compounds isolated from Schumanniophyton magnificum, Eclipta prostrata or
Aristolochia shimadai, and their capacity to inhibit phospholipase A2 or other
enzymes (e.g. ATPase) or for physiological and biochemical properties (such as
effects on uterine tone or the protection of mitochondrial membranes). Japanese
workers have described the antihaemorrhagic effect of persimmon tannin from
Diospyros kaki. Atropine has been attributed a life/​prolonging effect after
black mamba venom treatment. Prolonged survival was also observed after
pretreatment with extracts of Diodia scandens and Andrographis paniculata. Some
authors have found little or no beneficial effects. The papers collected so far
show that there are no systematic investigations in this field.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 1440620 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

14: Hua Xi Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao. 1992 Sep;23(4):408/​11.

[Effects of mixture of Astragalus membranaceus, Fructus Ligustri lucidi and
Eclipta prostrata on immune function in mice]

[Article in Chinese]

He J, Li Y, Wei S, Guo M, Fu W.

A Chinese medicine mixture containing Astragalus membranaceus, Fructus Ligustri
Lucidi and Eclipta prostrata(AFE), was fed to mice 9g/kg, 20g/kg, respectively
for seven days. Observe the effects of AFE on the immune function in mice. The
experiment showed that the two dosages of AFE could obviously raise the
conversion percentage of lymphocytes (P < 0.01) and serum IgG level (41%/​47%) of
the mice. The weights of the thymus and spleensed increased in the two groups
compared with those in the normal control. The larger dosage of AFE could also
raise activity of Adenosine Deaminase (ADA) obviously (P < 0.01). AFE turned out
a resistance to the immunosuppressive effect caused by cyclophosphamide.

Publication Types:
English Abstract

PMID: 1304546 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

15: Am J Chin Med. 1992;20(1):51/​64.

Development of natural crude drug resources from Taiwan (X). Pharmacognostical
studies on the Chinese crude drug "han/​lian/​cao".

Chen JY, Lin CC, Namba T.

School of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Medical College, Taiwan.

In a previous paper(1), it was reported that the drug "Han/​lian/​cao", in Taiwan
was derived from the entire plant or aerial part of Eclipta prostrata L. and
Alternanthera sessilis R. Brown. In this paper, the histological studies of
"Han/​lian/​cao" derived from Wedelia and Hypericum plants, and of 3 species of
Wedelia related plants distributed in Taiwan were made. The results showed that
it was possible to classify these species by their external and internal
characteristics. In addition, a key to the characteristics of the whole plants
of Eclipta, Alternanthera, Wedelia and Hypericum plants are hereby given.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 1605130 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

16: Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 1990 Nov;15(11):656/​8, 702.

[Cytological study on Eclipta prostrata L.]

[Article in Chinese]

Ge C, Wan P.

Shandong College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan.

The authors report that the karyotype formula of Eclipta prostrata is K(2n) = 22
= 16m + 6sm, which belongs to "1A" of stebbins, the chromosome composition based
on relative length is 2n = 22 = 10M2 + 12M1, and the total length of the
chromosome is 29.3 microns. The chromosome volume of E. prostrata has also been
calculated.

Publication Types:
English Abstract

PMID: 2282154 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]

17: Toxicon. 1989;27(9):1003/​9.

Neutralization of lethal and myotoxic activities of South American rattlesnake
venom by extracts and constituents of the plant Eclipta prostrata (Asteraceae).

Mors WB, do Nascimento MC, Parente JP, da Silva MH, Melo PA, Suarez/​Kurtz G.

Nucleo de Pesquisas de Produtos Naturais, Universidade Federal do Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil.

Ethanolic extracts of the aerial parts of Eclipta prostrata L. (Asteraceae)
neutralized the lethal activity of the venom of South American rattlesnake
(Crotalus durissus terrificus) when mixed in vitro before i.p. injection into
adult Swiss mice. Samples of ethanolic extract corresponding to 1.8 mg of dry
extract per animal neutralized up to four lethal doses of the venom (LD50 = 0.08
micrograms venom/g animal). Three substances isolated from the
plant/​/​wedelolactone (0.54 mg/animal), sitosterol (2.3 mg/animal) and
stigmasterol (2.3 mg/animal)/​/​were able to neutralize three lethal doses of the
venom. Aqueous extracts of the plant inhibited the release of creatine kinase
from isolated rat muscle exposed to the crude venom. The protection conferred
against the myotoxic effects of the venom could be demonstrated also in vivo,
when the venom was preincubated with the extract prior to injection into mice.

Publication Types:
In Vitro
Research Support, Non/​U.S. Gov't

PMID: 2799833 [PubMed /​ indexed for MEDLINE]