ISSN 2169-303X
International Journal of Medicinal Plants Research ISSN 2169-303X Vol. 10 (6), pp. 001-010, June, 2021. © International Scholars Journals
Review
Traditional practice, bioactivities and commercialization potential of Elephantopus scaber Linn.
Wan Yong Ho1, Huynh Ky1,2, Swee Keong Yeap1, Raha Abdul Rahim1, Abdul Rahman Omar3, Chai Ling Ho1 and Noorjahan Banu Alitheen1,*
1Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400 Selangor, Malaysia.
2Department of Agriculture Genetics and Breeding, College of Agriculture and Applied Biology, Cantho University, 3/2 Street, CanTho City, VietNam.
3Institure of Bioscience, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang, 43400 Selangor, Malaysia.
Accepted 16 March, 2021
Abstract
Elephantopus scaber Linn. is known as Prickly-leaves elephant’s foot or di dan tou in Chinese. It has been used in traditional medicine to stimulate diuresis, reduce fever and eliminate bladder stones, as well as to treat nephritis, edema, dampness, chest pain, pneumonia, scabies, arthralgia and leukemia. A number of phytochemicals have also been isolated from this plant, such as deoxyelephantopin, 11,13, dihydrodeoxyelephantopin, lupeol, epifriedelinol and stigmasterol. Most of the major studies only involved the bioactivities of the compounds especially deoxyelephantopin. The effects of the plant extract which can benefit a broad mass of people are still lacking. This paper briefly reviews the traditional usage and scientifically proven bioactivities of E. scaber which contributed its commercialization potential.
Key words: Elephantopus scaber Linn, deoxyelephantopin, anticancer, antibacterial.