Elephantopus scaber Linn.: A review on its ethnomedical, phytochemical and pharmacological profile

Elephantopus scaber Linn., family Asteraceae, is a small herb found in Neotropics, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. The plant parts of this herb have been used traditionally for the treatment of a number of diseases in many countries. Sesquiterpene lactones, triterpenoids, steroids, flavonoids and essential oil constituents have been reported from various parts of the plant. The plant has been extensively screened for anticancer activity. Sesquiterpene lactones such as deoxyelephantopin, isodeoxyelephantopin, scabertopin, and isoscabertopin have been found to be prominent anticancer constituents. Many other biological activities such as antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiasthamatic, antiplatelet, and wound healing have been reported in various research papers. The present review has been envisaged with an intension to provide scientific information about the ethnomedical, phytochemical and pharmacological profile of E. scaber.