1.0 Product and its applications

Bhringaraj (Eclipta alba Hassk.) is an important commercial herb. The plant is also known in Sanskrit as Bhringaraja or Kesaraja, in Hindi as Bhangra and as Kesuli Bangla), Maka (Marathi), Guruga (Tamil), Gulagara (Telugu).

Plant is bitter, hot, sharp, dry in taste and is used in Ayurveda & Siddha in the treatment of Kapha and Vata imbalances. It is purgative, emetic, expectorant and antiseptic. The decoction of the fresh plant is used as tonic and deobstruent in the enlargement of the liver and spleen. Its juice is a remedy for fever, dropsy and liver ailments. A paste of the herb with palm oil is used over glandular swellings, elephantiasis and skin diseases. The root decoction or root powder with honey is prescribed in scalding urine and is also as purgative and emetic. In Ayurveda the plant is also considered a rasayana for longevity and rejuvenation. Recent studies have shown that it has a profound antihepatotoxic activity. A cardio-depressant activity has also been observed in it when used for hepatic congestion. A complete symptomatic relief in epigastric pain, nausea and vomiting in ulcer patients has also been reported.

The expressed leaf juice is applied along with honey as a popular remedy for catarrh in infants. A preparation obtained from the leaf juice boiled with sesame or coconut oil is used for anointing the head to render the hair black and luxuriant. An oil prepared with amla, bhringraj and sometimes with brahmi is well known as ‘ Amla Bhringraj Oil' , which is said to blacken the hair. Plant is rubbed on the gums in toothache and applied with a little oil for relieving headache and with sesame oil in elephantiasis.

In Taiwan , entire plant is used as a remedy for the treatment of bleeding, haemoptysis, haematuria and itching, hepatitis, diphtheria and diarrhoea. In China , it is used as cooling and restorative herb, which supports the mind, nerves, liver and eyes. The leaf extract is considered to be powerful liver tonic, rejuvenative, and especially good for the hair. A black dye obtained from this plant is also used for dyeing the hair and tattooing. It also has traditional external uses, like athlete foot, eczema and dermatitis, on the scalp to address hair loss and the leaves have been used in the treatment of scorpion strings. It is used as anti-venom against snakebite in China and Brazil .

It contains mainly coumestans i.e. wedelolactone (I) and demethylwedelolactone (II), polypeptides, polyacetylenes, thiophene-derivatives, steroids, triterpenes and flavonoids. Coumestans are known to possess estrogenic activity. Wedelolactone possesses a wide range of biological activities and is used for the treatment of hepatitis and cirrhosis, as an antibacterial, anti-hemorrhagic and for direct inhibition of IKK complex resulting in suppression of LPS-induced caspase-11 expression. 2004)

2.0 Market Potential

Importers, buyers within the country, processors, traditional practitioners, Ayurvedic and Siddha drug manufacturers throng the markets for procurement of this plant every year.  Its domestic demand is quite large.  As the production is much less in India , the internal market itself is highly potential. 

3.0 Basis and Presumption

a) The agricultural land and related infrastructure is available with the entrepreneur.

b) Prices are calculated as per the prevailing market rates.

c) The yields depend on proper implementation of package of practices.

d) Economics of cultivation greatly improves on scale of operation.

e) This activity provides tax-free high returns. Additionally a number of government support schemes are  available. Latest provisions need to be checked up.

f) Market for medicinal plants is volatile and economics may vary from time to time.

4.0 Agri practices

Root is well developed cylindrical & greyish. Floral heads are 6-8 mm in diameter, solitary, white, achene compressed and narrowly winged. It grows commonly in moist places as a weed all over the world. It is widely distributed throughout India , China , Thailand , and Brazil .  

4.1 Soil & Climate

It is a hardy crop and can be grown on varied types of soil. Soils with high moisture content are preferred. Red loamy soils rich in organic matter are best for its cultivation. The crop is sufficiently hardy and comes up well in tropical, sub-tropical and temperate regions. However, it prefers warm climate with a temperature range of 25 C to 35 0 C for its good growth and yield.  

4.2 Land Preparation

The soil is prepared up to a depth of 30 cm and mixed with farm yard manure at the rate of 2 kg/m 2 with a little sand.

4.3 Propagation

The crop can be propagated either through seeds or cuttings. For raising the seedlings, seeds are sown in the nursery beds of 1 x 3 x 0.15 m in rows about 6 cm apart, gently covered with soil and watered using a sprinkler. Seedlings are ready for transplanting when 45-60 days old. Vegetatively this species can be propagated by using terminal cuttings with 5-6 nodes and 10-15 cm length. They are planted in well prepared nursery beds or polythene bags. In about 4-6 weeks time the rooting is complete and they are ready for transplanting into the main field. The plants are transplanted into the main field at a spacing of 15 x 20 cm. 2.5 kg seeds per hectare are required.

An efficient method of micropropagation of Bhringaraj from young nodal axils of shoot tip explants has now been developed. It results in increased number of roots, higher chlorophyll level in leaves and increase in plant biomass. The arrested undesirable shoot elongation makes the plants sturdier and more suitable for acclimatization. The primed micropropagated Bhringaraj plants are healthy and survive by higher frequency in soil in comparison to the non-treated plants.

4.4 Fertilizer

The recommended fertilizer dose is 20 t FYM and 50:75:30 kg NPK/ha. FYM along with half of nitrogen and the entire dose of phosphorus and potassium is given as a basal dose and the remaining nitrogen is applied in two split doses after first and second cuttings.

4.5 Irrigation

After transplanting, irrigation is provided twice a week till one month, so that the plants establish well. Later, it is given at weekly intervals depending upon the rainfall and soil moisture status.

4.6 Weed control

The first weeding is done 30-35 days after transplanting. After each harvest, weeding should be done to avoid weed growth in the interspaces, if any.

4.7 Pest control

There are no major insects noticed on this crop but diseases like yellownet, leaf blight and gall formation are known to cause damage to this crop. These diseases can be controlled by spraying the crop with 0.2 % Mancozeb.

4.8 Harvesting

Harvesting is done by plucking out the plant from the ground and the root of the plant is chopped.

5.0 Post harvest operations  

5.1 Drying

The plant material is cut into moderate size pieces. Shade drying is preferred. Careful and proper drying of the plant is important to avoid microbial attack and decomposition. The right time to collect the seed is when it begins to turn black in colour.

6.0 Yield

On an average Bhringaraj plant yields about 6000 kg of dried herbage per hectare per year.

7.0 Economics of cultivation per hectare land per year

The prevailing price is Rs. 18/kg (2009). With an average yield of 6,000 dry herbage per year, the gross returns are Rs.102, 000. The cost of cultivation is estimated as Rs. 12,000/ ha. Thus the plant provides a net return of Rs. 90,000 /ha/year.

8 .0 Addresses of Some Dealers in Medicinal plants/ Planting material  

Tropical Forest Research Institute
Mandla Road , Jabalpur (M.P.)

Cedmap,
60, Jail Road , Jahangirabad,
Bhopal (M.P.)

KRD Musli Farm,10/47, Station Road , Rau,
Indore-453331 (M.P.)

Mittal Musli Farm and Research Centre,
Jamod, Jalgaon ( Maharashtra )

Regional Research Laboratory
Jorhat ( Assam )

Jeevan Herbs & Agro Farms
178,Keshav Ganj, Sagar (M.P.)

SSS Biotic.com
C/o biosourcing.com (P)Ltd.
A-41, Janpath, Ashoknagar
Bhubaneswar (Orissa)

Kasiraj Exports,
37, Santhai Road ,
Tuticorin (TN)

A.Y. Agritec Private Limited
16-7-382/18, Azampura Masjid,
Hyderabad (A.P.)

Contact for more information:

Information Manager
TIMEIS Project
E-mail: timeis@ficci.com