Utilization of Elephantopus scaber as traditional medicine and its bioactivity

Elephantopus scaber has been used various ethnic groups in Indonesia and other countries as traditional medicine. Comprehensive study of the bioactivity of E. scaber is still limited, therefore this paper aims to explain the relationship between the use and its bioactivity. The writing of this article is based on a study of literature published online and offline used keywords E. scaber, bioactivities of E. scaber and uses of E. scaber. Ethnobotanically, E. scaber used to tread wound, nephritis, edema, chest pain, fever, scabies, sores, coughs, tonics, fever, and bronchitis, and asthma. The local communities in China, E. scaber leaves have been developed into "tea" to cure various diseases. The bioactivity of E. scaber is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anticancer, hepatoprotective, stimulates hair growth, anti-diabetes mellitus, anti-wound, antioxidant, and overcoming kidney disorders. Deoxyelephantopin is one of the main sesquiterpenes lactones derived from E. scaber has anti-cancer anticancer development. The development of E. scaber tea as an anti-cancer needs to be further investigated because this plant is very easy to find in Indonesia.