Elephantopus scaber L.

Family : Asteraceae

English Name : Prickly-Leaved Elephant's Foot

Origin : West Indies and tropical America.

Description

Herb, branching into two parts. Stems forked, and the branches few and stiff.It has a basal rosette of leaves with very short and white hairy leaf stalks close to ground. The flowering heads many-crowded in each cluster. Each head comprises about 4 flowers. Involucral bracts 8 to 10 mm long.

Habitat
Wastelands and forests of the warmer regions of India.

Parts Used : Leaf, shoot and plant

Herb Effects
Antibiotic (shoot) and anticancer (plant)

Active Ingredients

Elephantopin, deoxyelephantopin, elephantol, lupeol, stigmasterol, epifriedelinol, methacrylate and triacontane (plant).

Medicinal Use

Skin diseases and wounds (leaf), jaundice (rhizome) and as a snakebite antidote (plant). Decoction of the root and leaves with cumin and buttermilk is given in dysuria and other urethral discharges or complaints. The drug is used in snake-bite also.

Dosage
15 to 30 gms dried material in decoction.


Contraindication
This herb should not be used in pregnant or lactating women unless recommended by physician.

Reference