Utilization of Elephantopus Scaber as Traditional Medicine and Its Bioactivity
April 2021
in “
GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences
”
Studysummary This review discusses the traditional uses and reported bioactivities of Elephantopus scaber, but provides no new experimental results; the authors call for more research on its anticancer potential. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
Elephantopus scaber had been traditionally used by various ethnic groups in Indonesia and other countries for treating wounds, nephritis, edema, chest pain, fever, scabies, sores, coughs, as a tonic, and for bronchitis and asthma. In China, its leaves were developed into a "tea" for curing various diseases. The plant exhibited multiple bioactivities, including anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anticancer, hepatoprotective, hair growth stimulation, anti-diabetes mellitus, anti-wound, antioxidant, and kidney disorder treatment. Deoxyelephantopin, a sesquiterpene lactone from E. scaber, showed potential in anticancer development, warranting further investigation, especially given the plant's abundance in Indonesia.
