Elephantopus scaber is a tropical species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to tropical Africa, Eastern Asia, Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and northern Australia. It has become naturalized in tropical Africa and Latin America. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.Flora of China, 地胆草 di dan cao Elephantopus scaber Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 814. 1753. Breedlove, D.E. 1986. Flora de Chiapas. Listados Florísticos de México 4: i–v, 1–246.Humbert, H. 1960. Composées. Fl. Madagasc. 189: 198-199 description in FrenchHumbert, H. 1960. Composées. Fl. Madagasc. 189: plate I (1), figures 10-12 at right line drawings of Elephantopus scaberJeffrey, C. 1988. Notes on Compositae: V. The Vernonieae in East Tropical Africa. Kew Bulletin 43(2): 195–277.Nelson, C. H. 2008. Catálogo de las Plantas Vasculares de Honduras 1–1576. Secretaria de Recursos Naturales y Ambiente, Tegucigalpa.
Uses Elephantopus scaber is used as a traditional medicine. Different parts of the plant are used in traditional medicine of India as an astringent agent, cardiac tonic, and diuretic, and is used for eczema, rheumatism, fever, and bladder stones. E. scaber modulates inflammatory responses by inhibiting the production of TNFα and IL-1β.
Etymology The genus name Elephantopus comes from the Greek words "elephantos" (elephant) and "pous" (foot). The term likely refers to the large basal leaves of some members of the genus.
Chemical constituents Elephantopus scaber contains elephantopin which is a germacranolide sesquiterpene lactone containing two lactone rings and an epoxide functional group. 17,19-Dihydrodeoxyelephantopin, iso-17,19- dihydro-deoxy elephantopin and 8-hydroxyl naringenin are the most important bioactive compounds responsible for anti-bacterial activity. By UPLC MS Q-TOF, 34 components were identified.
Subspecies and varieties Varieties of E. scaber include:The Plant List, Elephantopus scaber L. Elephantopus scaber subsp. plurisetus (O.Hoffm.) Philipson Elephantopus scaber subsp. scaber Elephantopus scaber var. scaber Elephantopus scaber var. sinuatus (Mor.) Miq.
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