Bhringraj Powder | whatsinit

About

What it is and where it shows up.

Bhringraj powder is the dried, powdered whole plant of Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk. (syn. Eclipta prostrata), an Asteraceae family herb native to tropical and subtropical regions, long used in Ayurvedic, Unani, and Siddha medicine. It is used primarily as a nutraceutical/herbal health supplement for liver support, hair growth promotion, and antioxidant benefits.

Safety summary

The regulatory and scientific consensus.

No formal ADI has been established by EFSA, FDA, or WHO; FSSAI permits its use in nutraceuticals at 3–6 g/day as powder. A product recall was issued by FDA in 2025 due to elevated lead and arsenic contamination in a commercial bhringraj powder brand, highlighting heavy metal contamination as a key safety concern for commercially sourced powders. No IARC carcinogenicity classification exists; general toxicological studies in animals have not demonstrated acute toxicity at typical doses, but long-term human safety data remain limited.

Regulatory landscape

What food-safety regulators have decided.

Jurisdiction	Status	Note
FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States)	Restricted	No GRAS status established for bhringraj powder as a food ingredient in the US. FDA issued a March 2025 recall of a commercial bhringraj powder product (Zaarah Herbals Bhringraj Powder) due to contamination with elevated levels of lead and inorganic arsenic confirmed by Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. Marketed as a dietary supplement under DSHEA, not approved as a food additive.source
FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India)	Approved	Reaffirmed under FSSAI Nutraceuticals Direction (2022); Eclipta prostrata L. / E. alba (syn.), whole plant, Bhringaraj/Bhangra, 3–6 g as powder.source

Who should approach with care

Whose guidance would steer them away.

Pregnancy — No formal clinical safety data exist for bhringraj powder in pregnancy; some Ayurvedic texts caution against use of potent hepatoactive herbs during pregnancy, and the absence of human reproductive safety studies warrants medical consultation.

Lactation — No human safety data are available on transfer of Eclipta alba phytoconstituents into breast milk; medical consultation is advised before use during lactation.

Infants — Not appropriate for infants due to lack of any safety data in this population and the risk of heavy metal exposure from commercially sourced powders documented in the 2025 FDA recall.

Children — No paediatric clinical safety data available; FSSAI dosing guidance applies to adults only.

Liver Disease — Although Eclipta alba is traditionally regarded as hepatoprotective, individuals with pre-existing liver disease should consult a doctor before use, as herbal supplements can interact with liver metabolism and existing hepatic impairment.

Research citations

The sources behind this verdict.

1FDA. New York Wholesale Group Recalls Zaarah Herbals Bhringraj Powder Because of Possible Health Risk, 2025. fda.gov
2PubMed. Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. (Asteraceae): Ethnomedicinal Uses, Chemical Constituents, and Biological Activities, 2021. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
3FSSAI. Food Safety and Standards (Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, Food for Special Dietary Use, Food for Special Medical Purpose, Functional Food and Novel Food) Regulations, 2016 – Annexure I (Permitted Ingredients Schedule), 2018. fssai.gov.in
4PubMed. Alcoholic Extract of Eclipta alba Shows In Vitro Antioxidant and Anticancer Activity without Exhibiting Toxicological Effects, 2017. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
5PubMed. Ethnopharmacological Significance of Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk. (Asteraceae), 2016. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Independently researched6 citations