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 Botany
Dila-dila is a rather
coarse, rigid, erect, hairy herb 30 to 60 cm high. Stems are forked,
and the branches are few and stiff. Leaves are mostly in basal rosette, oblong-ovate to
oblong-lanceolate, 10-25 cm in length and often very much notched
on the margins; those on the stems are few and much smaller. Flowering heads are borne in clusters at the ends of the branches, usually enclosed by three leaflike bracts which are ovate to oblong-ovate, 1 to 1.5 cm long and heart-shaped at the base. The flowering heads are many and crowded
in each cluster; each head comprising about 4 flowers. Involucral
bracts are 8 to 10 mm long. Corolla are 8 to 10 mm long. Fruits are achenes and ribbed. Pappus is 4 to 6 mm long,
with rigid bristles.
Distribution
- Most likely introduced.
- In open grasslands and waste places.
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Common in
La Union, Bulacan, Rizal, Bataan, Laguna, and Quezon Provinces in Luzon; and in Mindoro.
Part utilized
and preparation
· Entire
plant.
· Collect from January to September.
· Wash, cut in pieces, dry under the sun.
Constituents
Study for essential oil revealed: hexadecanoic acid, 43.3%; isopropyl
dimethyl tetrahydronaphthalelol, 14.1%; b-sesquiphellandrene, 8.3%;
octadecadienoic acid, 5.5%; and phytol, 5.2%.
Properties
Bitter, alterative, antipyretic, antiinfection,
astringent, diuretic, mucilaginous, tonic.
Flowers are astringent, ophthalmic, aphrodisiac and expectorant.
Uses
Folkloric
· In the Philippines, decoction of roots and leaves used as diuretic, febrifuge and emollient.
· Upper respiratory
afflictions: Colds, flu, tonsillitis, laryngopharyngitis, conjunctivitis.
· Snakebites, furuncle swellings, eczema, ulcer the lower limb.
· Nephritis, beriberi, edema, hepatitis, chest pains, fever.
scabies.
· Dosage: 15 to 30 gms dried material in decoction.
· Pounded fresh material is applied as poultice for snakebites,
furuncle swelling.
· Juice of pounded leaves applie to scalp to slow down hair loss.
· Decoction of fresh material is used as wash for eczema.
· Decoction of roots and leaves for dysuria, diarrhea, bronchitis,
fevers.
· Decoction of root for hemorrhoids.
· Poultice of leaves for skin diseases.
· Flowers for liver problems, ophthalmopathy, bronchitis, cough.
· In Costa Rica, decoction is prescribed as specific for dysentery.
· In Antilles, decoction of plant is used as astringent.
· In the Malabar Coast, decoction of plant used for dysuria.
· Decoction of plant used as anthelmintic for round worms; also used for coughs.
· In Madagascar, used as diuretic and febrifuge.
· In Jamaica, used as vulnerary.
· In the West Indies, used as tonic, diaphoretic and emmenagogue.
· In Brazil, used as emollient and discutient in the form of decoction or poultice. Also, used as diuretic, to reduce fever, and eliminate bladder stones.
Studies
• Essential Oil / Anti-Rhinoviral / Antioxidant: Study of the
chemical composition of the sssential oil of Elephantopus scaber from Southern
China identified 21 compounds. The major constituents were hexadecanoic acid (42.3%), isopropyl dimethyl tetrahyudronaphthalenol (14.1%), ß-sesquiphellandrene (8.3%), octadecadienoic acid (5.5%) and phytol (5.2%). Results suggest B-sesquiphellandrene has anti-rhinoviral activity abd tetrahydronaphthalenel has hypocholesterolemic and antioxidant activity.
• Anti-Diabetes:
(1) Effect of Crude Extract and Fractions from E. Scaber on Hyperglycemia
in Streptozotocin-diabetic Rats: Study indicates E. scaber has an antihyperglycemic
action and is a source of potent hypoglycemic compounds. (2) Effect
of E. scaber leaf extract on STZ-induced diabetic rats showed the methanol
extract exhibited better hyperglycemic action than the hexane and ethyl
acetate extracts. (3) An acetone extract exhibited significant anti-diabetic activity by reducing blood glucose and restoring the insulin levels in STZ-induced diabetic rats.
• Hepatoprotective: Hepatoprotection
by Elephantopus scaber Linn. in CCl4-induced liver injury: Study
suggests the hepatoprotective effect of the medicinal plant.
• Antitumor / Anti-Chemical Carcinogenesis:
(1) Study indicates antitumor activity
of E. scaber sesquiterpene lactones. (2) Study of E scaber on skin papillomas induced by DMBA and croton oil in mice showed tumor inhibitory activity of the active fraction against chemically induced tumors and an ability to inhibit the development of solid tumors.
• Antibacterial: (1) A Novel
Terpenoid from Elephantopus Scaber – Antibacterial Activity on
Staphylococcus Aureus: A new terpenoid from E.
scaber extract showed antibacterial activity and suggests that it can
act as a drug for bacterial infections.
(2) Result of study confirmed the antimicrobial potential of the ethyl
acetate extract of E. scaber. (3) Study showed strong in vitro antibacterial activity of terpenoid derivatives against ES beta-lactamase-producing methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
• Antiinflammatory:
'Teng-Khia-U,' a Taiwanese folk medicine derived from E.
scaber, E. mollis and Pseudoelephantopus spicatus
was evaluated for its antiinflammatory activities. Results indicated
pre-treatment with Teng-Khia-U significantly inhibited the carrageenan-induced
arthritis and suppressed the development of chronic arthritis induced.
• Antidiarrheal / Cardiotonic: Study showed the ethyl acetate extract with significant antidiarrheal activity. The petroleum extract showed significant cardiotonic activity on the hypodynamic frog heart.
Availability
Wild-crafted.
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