Eclipta alba extract with potential for hair growth promoting activity

J Ethnopharmacol. 2009 May 27.
Eclipta alba extract with potential for hair growth promoting activity.
Datta K, Singh AT, Mukherjee A, Bhat B, Ramesh B, Burman AC.

Molecular Oncology Lab., Dabur Research Foundation, Sahibabad, Ghaziabad - 201010, India.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Eclipta alba is traditionally known to potentiate hair growth promotion. AIM OF THE STUDY: The study was aimed to investigate the efficacy of methanol extract of Eclipta alba as hair growth promoter. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pigmented C57/BL6 mice, preselected for their telogen phase of hair growth were used. In these species, the truncal epidermis lacks melanin-producing melanocytes and melanin production is strictly coupled to anagen phase of hair growth. The extract was applied topically to assess telogen to anagen transition. Immunohistochemical investigation was performed to analyze antigen specificity. Animals in anagen phase of hair growth were positive for FGF-7 and Shh and negative for BMP4, whereas the animals in telogen phase were positive only for BMP4 antigen. RESULTS: The methanol extract of whole plant when tested for hair growth promoting potential, exhibited dose dependent activity in C57BL6 mice. The activity was assessed by studying the melanogenesis in resected skin, follicle count in the subcutis, skin thickness and surrogate markers in vehicle control and extract treated animals. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that methanol extract of Eclipta alba may have potential as a hair growth promoter.

Finally something that is easy to find. I've been asked about this from time to time and its a great source of Vitamin C and it can lower triglycerides and improve blood sugar.

Best way to find this is searching under Amla (not alba).

For example:

http://www.iherb.com/Now-Foods-Tru-C-Bio-Vitamin-C-Complex-60-Vcaps/7260?at=0
http://www.iherb.com/Himalaya-USA-Amla-C-60-Veggie-Caps/3693?at=0

Amla hair oil is a staple in the indian sub continent. My aunt (probably in her late sixties now) has all sorts of chronic health problems, she was never healthy in her adult life, would always put Amla hair oil right after showering - so her hair was never w/o this oil her entire life - and yes, she still has a lot of black thick hair. So for some, it has worked very well...and as such has the reputation to help grow/keep healthy hair...

Caustic - Be careful : eclipta alba (called also False Daisy, yerba de tago, and bhringraj) and amla (called also indian gooseberry, Phyllanthus emblica, and Emblica officinalis) are not the same thing.

This product lists Alba and Alma differently


http://www.iherb.com/Paradise-Herbs-Vital-Treasures-60-Veggie-Caps/4736?at=0

Malik - That makes perfect sense, thanks!

I've used the Bio Bhringraj oil which contains eclipta alba among others ingredients but I stopped using it as I didn't like using an oil.

I found this study on Pub Med which used the whole herb:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19481595

I can't seem to locate a source for the whole herb but I've found a powdered version. I was thinking of making a tincture using ethanol. Anyone care to hazard a guess if this would be a good idea? Or how much of the powder I should use?

eclipta alba is well known herb in ayurveda and eastern medicine, and it has with many differnet purpose, like tonify liver and kidneys and restore hair of course...i have it in powdered extract form.

3 years ago i bought a very pricey ayurvedic ointment for regrowth called "sanjivani forte", from what i recall it worked good for me . it contains the extracts of eclipta alba, Bacopa monnieri, vitex negundo, Berberis aristata mixed with neem oil.

it was 200$ for a 100ml bottle that lasts at most for 3 month when you apply it 2 times a day...
i talked with the distributor of the u.s and asked him why it is so expensive, he told me that the herbs are picked in specfic places and times in india by ayurvedic specialists, when they are the most potent.

i want to try it out again, but the price stops me..

http://inhumanexperiment.blogspot.com/2009/07/eclipta-alba-extract-grows-hair-quicker.html

i dont know how to edit a message, sorry..

eclipta alba - http://inhumanexperiment.blogspot.com/2009/07/eclipta-alba-extract-grows-hair-quicker.html

asiasari radix -

We examined the effects of 45 plant extracts that have been traditionally used for treating hair loss in oriental medicine in order to identify potential stimulants of hair growth.

Among the tested plant extracts, the extract of Asiasari radix showed the most potent hair growth stimulation in C57BL/6 and C3H mice experiments. In addition, this extract markedly increased the protein synthesis in vibrissae follicle cultures and the proliferation of both HaCaT and human DP cells in vitro. Moreover, the A. radix extract induced the expression of VEGF in human DP cells that were cultured in vitro.

Conclusion:

These results suggest that the A. radix extract has hair growth-promoting potential, and that this effect may be due to its regulatory effects on both cell growth and growth factor gene expression.


http://inhumanexperiment.blogspot.com/2008/12/asiasari-radix-extract-grows-hair-in.html
http://www.folikul.com/Asiasari%20radix.pdf
.

Nanas--

I used it pretty religiously in the summer; I think there's something to it. However, if you really want results, you'd have to stick with it for a solid 6 to 18 months.

how did you used it???

thepureguild.com

Nanas--

Before applying ANY topical, I always firmly massage my scalp with my boar bristle brush. This loosens up junk in your follicles, opens up your pores, and increases bloodflow--all of which enhances the effect of the topical. Then, I'd simply massage it in after a shower and/or before bed.

Ayurvedic rocks. I did that last time before I had real re growth - years back...!

Good reminder...

M

I'm sorry for some reason i got mixed up between eclipta alba and Lupinus albus extract

Thepureguild is the latter (lupinus).
http://www.iht9.com/natural-shampoo.php has eclipta

What are these two extracts anyway?

http://www.ayurvedicspecialistindia.com/sanjivani_fort_herbal_extracts_reactivate_dead_hair_follicles.html

maybe someone here would talk with the company to send a few samples...

Link dead

http://www.ayurvedicspecialistindia.com/sanjivani_fort_herbal_extracts_reactivate_dead_hair_follicles.htm

@Nanas

Thank you for the link. As I mentioned before I had used Bio Bringhraj oil. It tended to get messy because I have diffuse loss and I feel that this product would have the same effect (as it is an oil).

Has anyone used Eclipta Alba immersed in ethanol? Or with ethanol and propylene glycol?

Mastery wrote:Ayurvedic rocks. I did that last time before I had real re growth - years back...!

Good reminder...

M

hi mastery, ayurvedic helped you regrow hair at one point? Were you using oils? Would you happen to remember which ones? I'm very curious about ayurvedic methods and respect your opinion greatly.

Does anyone know how bad that ayurvedic hair oil would really smell? Its mentioned on the website that if you're uncomfortable being around people with the smell to only use it at night. I'm very intrigued by this stuff but obviously dont' want to stink up my office.

as far as i was told by an indian friend that "B..." oil also makes you really sleepy. i would think it'd be awesome for applying just before bedtime. also awesome is that they reccomend applying it once a week... so hopefully if i applied it every night it would work wonders... but, again, i got my bottle smuggled from india for really cheap more than a year ago and actually never tried it....

well it says on the site that is linked here that it is to be applied "twice daily without fail". Maybe this is different stuff

A mixture of Eclipta and mineral oil keeps the hair dark and lustrous; when applied to the scalp it promotes hair growth. Eclipta alba (bhringraj) is also used against anemia, eye diseases, asthma and dysentery. It is believed that the juice of Eclipta when added with honey, can treat upper respiratory congestion in children.The Eclipta alba leaf juice boiled with sesame or coconut oil for anointing the head to render the hair black and luxuriant has been practiced since ancient times. Oil prepared out of amla and Eclipta and sometimes with brahmi is very popular formula as hair oil and is used to blacken the hair.

what about the the assiasari radix ? it has the most potent growth potential of 45 plants extracts...
someone ever tried it?
well, you see a lot of research of plant extract to regrow hair, but the probloem is that experiments are taking place in labs where they have the best equipmnet for extracting and drying or whatever..they use solvents like petroleum ether and methanol for the first extraction and then sometimes using other solvent like alcohol for the second extraction.
extratcs made with methanol or petroleum ether should be vaporized very well , you dont want it in your blood stream...

thay also add PEG and DMSO for better penetration.

so you cant really know the accurate procedure and probably your extract wont be as effective if you do it yourself at home...

here is an example -

The three Eclipta alba extracts

In the first paper, 500 grams of dried coarse powder of Eclipta alba was initially extracted with petroleum ether. The resulting marc was further extracted with ethanol to make the ethanol extract. These extracts were then incorporated into an ointment base in concentrations of 2% and 5% (i.e. the resulting ointments contained 2-5% ethanol extract).

In the second paper, 1 kilogram of Eclipta alba was extracted with 95% methanol and then filtered and concentrated. The final formulations contained either 3.2 mg/kg or 1.6 mg/kg of the extract in a solution of propylene glycol and DMSO.