Crude drug sample data base

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Crude drug name

Market nameTapak Liman
Other namesJava: tampak liman, tapak tangan, tapak liman (Javanese); balagaduk, jukut cangcang-cangcang, tapak liman (Sundanese); talpak tana (Madurese) [201]
English nameElephant’s foot
Original plant nameElephantopus scaber Linn., Elephant’s foot
Family nameCompositae
Used partClassificationPlant origin
Sub classification leaf
Collection informationRepublic of Indonesia, Toko Tjahaya Baru
Collection date1994/02/28
CollectorKatsuko Komatsu, et al.
IdentifierMangestuti Agil
TMPW No.14286

Scientific information data base

Crude drug nameIndonesian name,
English name		Daun tapak liman, Elephant's foot
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Original plant nameElephantopus scaber Linn.
Family nameCompositae
Used partLeaves, roots
Distribution areaWidespread in tropical America, Africa, Asia, Australia; throughout South-East Asia. It occurs in Java (Indonesia) from lowland up to 1200 m altitude. It is found in the undergrowth of teak forests, in waste places, grasslands, roadsides and forest fringes. They may occur on path in some plantantion and in lawns [201, 205].
DescriptionLeaves are in a radical rosette, oblong-obovate to spatulate, 5-38 cm x 1-6 cm.
The plant is an erect herb up to 80 cm tall, stems rigid, appressed long-haired or scabrous; flowers with corolla 7-9 mm long, bluish or purplish, sometimes white; fruit about 4 mm long [205].
Drug effectBitter, cooling, blood cleanser.
Specific actionsAnti-inflammatory, antipyretic, diuretic [231].
Frequency in useModerate.
Pharmacological effectDeoxyelephantopin significantly inhibited the growth of Walker 256 carcinosarcoma in rats [205].

Water extract of E. scaber decrease the level of serum glutamate-oxalate-transaminase and serum glutamate-pyruvate-transaminase in a study on the hepatoprotective effect against acute hepatic damage in rats induced by beta-D-galactosamine and paracetamol [205].

E. scaber inhibits the growth of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria [205].

Sesquiterpene lactones (scabertopin, isoscabertopin, deoxyelephantopin, isodeoxyelephantopin) isolated from Elephantopus scaber Linn. in vitro and in vivo have been studied for their antitumor effect. Results indicated that the activity shown by the compounds is through the induction of apoptosis in vitro. Isodeoxyelephantopin also has antitumor activity in vivo [PMID:16837899].

Study on the efficacy of E. scaber in the prevention of carbon tetrachloride -induced chronic liver dysfunction in the rats showed that the plant has hepatoprotective effect [PMID:11883157].

Aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts of whole plants of E. scaber were tested for acute toxicity, analgesic, antipyretic, antiinflammatory, cardiovascular, diuretic and constipating activities. Both extracts (0.3-6 g/kg I.p.) induced writhing, loss of muscle tone, ataxia, prostration and death in mice. No analgesic effects of these extracts were detected. Both extracts failed to modify diuresis or carrageenan-induced rat paw edema. Given intraperitoneally, both reduced brewer's yeast-induced hyperthermia in rats, but when given orally did not affect it., the aqueous extract decreased the intestinal transit time in mice while the hydroalcoholic extract increased it. These extracts, given intravenously, reduced blood pressure and heart rate in rats [PMID: 1453704].
Medical systemIndonesian medicine (Jamu)
Traditional usageThe leaves are applied as a poultice on the abdomen for curing high fever; it is used also as anthelmintic and aphrodisiac, and to treat cough, sprue and diarrhoea/diarrhea.
The root is used to cure malaria. Whole parts of the plant is finely crushed, add some salt and bark of Cinnamomum burmannii, and the juice obtained is used to treat fever in children.
The plant is pounded and squeezed on a piece of cloth, the juice obtained is used to cure leuchorrhea (white vaginal discharge) [201, 205].
Formulation1) Leucorrhoea/leucorrhea:
 2 herbs are boiled with 110 ml of water. Stand to cool and strain. Drink 100 ml of the decoction once a day for 10 days [231].

2) Wounds:
 2 herbs are pounded by adding a small amount of water, squeeze, drink 1/4 cup of the juice once a day for seven days [231].

3) Uterine inflammation:
 7 grams of roots are steeped with 100 ml of boiled water. Stand to cool, strain. Drink 100 ml of the tea once a day for 14 days. It is not recommended for pregnant women [231].
ReferencesReference book　

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[201] K. Heyne, Tumbuhan Berguna Indonesia, Vols. 1-4, 1987. Diedarkan Oleh Koperasi Karyawan Departemen Kehutanan, Jakarta, Indonesia.
Vol. 3, p 1824.

[205] de Pdua, L.S., Bunyapraphatsara, N. and Lemmens, R.H.M.J. (Editors), 1990. Plant Resources of South-East Asia No. 12 (1). Medicinal and poisonous plants 1. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, Netherlands.
pp 250-254.

[231] Soedibyo, Mooryati: Alam Sumber Kesehatan: Manfaat dan Kegunaan (Natural resources for health. Benefits and uses). Balai Pustaka. 1998.
p 359.

Research paper1. Xu G, Liang Q, Gong Z, Yu W, He S, Xi L. Antitumor activities of the four sesquiterpene lactones from EElephantopus scaber L. Exp Oncol. 28(2):106-9, 2006. (PMID: 16837899)

2. Rajesh MG, Latha MS. Hepatoprotection by Elephantopus scaber Linn. in CCl4-induced liver injury. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 45(4):481-6, 2001. (PMID: 11883157)

3. Poli A, Nicolau M, Simoes CM, Nicolau RM, Zanin M. Preliminary pharmacologic evaluation of crude whole plant extracts of Elephantopus scaber. Part I: In vivo studies. J Ethnopharmacol. 37(1):71-6, 1992. (PMID: 1453704)
Last renewal date2024/03/05
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