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Description
· A rather
coarse, rigid, erect, hairy herb 30 to 60 cm high. Stems forked,
and the few and stiff.
· Leaves: mostly in basal rosette and oblong-ovate to
oblong-lanceolate, 10-25 cm in length and often very much notched
on the margins. Those on the stem few and much smaller.
· Flowers: Corolla 8-10 mm long, purple. Flowering heads
borne in clusters at the end of the branches and usually enclosed
by 3 leaflike bracts which are ovate to oblong-ovate, 1 to 1.5
cm long, and heart-shaped at the base. The flowering heads many-crowded
in each cluster. Each head comprises about 4 flowers. Involucral
bracts 8 to 10 mm long.
· Fruits: achenes, ribbed. Pappus from 4 to 6 mm long
with rigid bristles.
Distribution
Most likely introduced.
Common in open ; grasslands and waste places Common in provinces
of La Union, Bulacan, Rizal, Bataan, Laguna, Quezon, and Mindoro.
Part utilized
and preparation
· Entire
plant.
· Collect from January to September.
· Wash, cut in pieces, dry under the sun.
Chemical constituents,
characteristics and pharmacological effects:
Bitter, antipyretic, antiinfection,
astringent, tonic, diuretic.
Flowers are astringent, ophthalmic, aphrodisiac and expectorant.
Study for essential oil revealed: hexadecanoic acid, 43.3%; isopropyl
dimethyl tetrahydronaphthalelol, 14.1%; b-sesquiphellandrene, 8.3%;
octadecadienoic acid, 5.5%; and phytol, 5.2%.
Uses
Folkloric
· Upper respiratory
afflictions: Colds, flu, tonsillitis, laryngopharyngitis, conjunctivitis.
· Snakebites, furuncle swellings, eczema, ulcer the lower limb.
· Nephritis, beriberi, edema, hepatitis, chest pains, fever.
scabies.
· Dosage: 15 to 30 gms dried material in decoction.
· Pounded fresh material is applied as poultice for snakebites,
furuncle swelling.
· Juice of pounded leaves applie to scalp to slow down hair loss.
· Decoction of fresh material is used as wash for eczema.
· Decoction of roots and leaves for dysuria, diarrhea, bronchitis,
fevers.
· Decoction of root for hemorrhoids.
· Poultice of leaves for skin diseases.
· Flowers for liver problems, ophthalmopathy, bronchitis, cough.
Studies
• Essential Oil: Study of the
chemical composition of the sssential oil of Elephantopus scaber from Southern
China identified 21 compounds. The major constituents were hexadecanoic acid (42.3%), isopropyl dimethyl tetrahyudronaphthalenol (14.1%), ß-sesquiphellandrene (8.3%), octadecadienoic acid (5.5%) and phytol (5.2%).
• Anti-Diabetes:
(1) Effect of Crude Extract and Fractions from E. Scaber on Hyperglycemia
in Streptozotocin-diabetic Rats: Study indicates E. scaber has an antihyperglycemic
action and is a source of potent hypoglycemic compounds. (2) Effect
of E. scaber leaf extract on STZ-induced diabetic rats showed the methanol
extract exhibited better hyperglycemic action than the hexane and ethyl
acetate extracts. (3) An acetone extract exhibited significant anti-diabetic activity by reducing blood glucose and restoring the insulin levels in STZ-induced diabetic rats.
• Hepatoprotective: Hepatoprotection
by Elephantopus scaber Linn. in CCl4-induced liver injury: Study
suggests the hepatoprotective effect of the medicinal plant.
• Antitumor / Anti-Chemical Carcinogenesis:
(1) Study indicates antitumor activity
of E. scaber sesquiterpene lactones. (2) Study of E scaber on skin papillomas induced by DMBA and croton oil in mice showed tumor inhibitory activity of the active fraction against chemically induced tumors and an ability to inhibit the development of solid tumors.
• Antibacterial: (1) A Novel
Terpenoid from Elephantopus Scaber – Antibacterial Activity on
Staphylococcus Aureus: A new terpenoid from E.
scaber extract showed antibacterial activity and suggests that it can
act as a drug for bacterial infections.
(2) Result of study confirmed the antimicrobial potential of the ethyl
acetate extract of E. scaber. (3) Study showed strong in vitro antibacterial activity of terpenoid derivatives against ES beta-lactamase-producing methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
• Antiinflammatory:
'Teng-Khia-U,' a Taiwanese folk medicine derived from E.
scaber, E. mollis and Pseudoelephantopus spicatus
was evaluated for its antiinflammatory activities. Results indicated
pre-treatment with Teng-Khia-U significantly inhibited the carrageenan-induced
arthritis and suppressed the development of chronic arthritis induced.
Availability
Wild-crafted.
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