The pharmacological and pathological studies on Taiwan folk medicine (VI): The effects of Elephantopus scaber subsp. oblanceolata, E. mollis and Pseudoelephantopus spicatus.

The liver protective effect of Elephantopus scaber subsp. oblanceolata, E. mollis and Pseudoelephantopus spicatus on CCL4 induced hepatotoxicity has been determined by liver enzyme functional test and pathological studies. As the result indicated, the acute increase of serum transaminase (SGOT and SGPT level which was caused by CCL4 administration (3.0ml/kg, s.c.) can be significantly reduced when treating with E. scaber subsp. oblanceolata (p less than 0.001), E. mollis (p less than 0.01), P. spicatus (p less than 0.01). The hepatic fatty metamorphosis and necrosis of central lobule were obviously improved by treating with E. scaber subsp. oblanceolata and E. mollis, while treated with P. spicatus demonstrated only a moderate protective effect. All pharmacological and pathological effects of these three crude drugs were compared with Bupleurum chinense which has been reported previously as a treatment criteria.