A Review on Tissue Culture Studies in Eclipta alba – An Important Medicinal Plant

Eclipta alba (compositae) is an important medicinal herb found as a weed throughout India. Almost all of its parts are used in traditional system of medicine including seeds, roots and shoots and leaves. The review reveals that a number of phytochemical constituents have been isolated from the plant which possess pharmacological activities like antibacterial, antifungal, diuretic, antiinflammatory, hepatoprotective, anti-venomous, analgesic, anticancerous and various other important medicinal properties. It is used as a tonic and diuretic in hepatic and spleen enlargement. It is also used in catarrhal jaundice and for skin diseases. For the last few decades or so, extensive research work has been done to confirm its biological activities and pharmacology of its extracts. Since the plant has enormous medicinal properties, there is an increasing worldwide attention towards harnessing the plant products. There is growing demand for plant raw material from herbal industry and therefore needs prime attention for its cultivation and conservation. Tissue culture techniques have been developed for in situ conservation of this plant. The article gives an account of updated information on its phytochemical, pharmacological properties and developments in tissue culture studies on Eclipta alba.