Dried latex gave diterpene esters; derivatives of 12-deoxyphorbol, which are pro-inflammatory, tumour promoting and cause platelet aggregation; exhibit co-carcinogenic activity.
Euphorbia royleana Boiss.
Family Euphorbiaceae.
Habitat Western Himalaya from Kumaon to Nepal.
Ayurvedic Snuhi, Snuk, Sehunda, Gudaa (Substitutes.) (Adhogudaa
of Ayurvedic medicine and Banamuuli of folk medicine have been equated with Euphorbia acaulis
Rox.)
Unani Thuuhar
Folk Thor, Surai.
Action Latex—cathartic, anthelmintic.
The latex yield euphol, cycloeucalenol, an inseparable mixture of four tetra-and four tn-esters of macrocyclic diterpene ingenol, octacosanol, tetracosanol, beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol, alpha-amyrin and campesterol. The plant gave ingenol.
The latex is a valuable source of ingenol esters. Ingol is a macrocyclic diterpene and is of therapeutic interest due to its antileukemic properties. Fractionation of the latex gave ingol12-acetate and 8-tigloyl-12-acetate. The acylation of ingol-12-acetate yielded derivatives which inhibit the growth of the basophiic leukaemia cells in rats.
Euphorbia thomsoniana Boiss.
Family Euphorbiaceae.
Habitat Kashmir, above 2,350 m.
Ayurvedic Hiyaavali, Svarnakshiri (also equated with Argemone
mexicana L., Papaveraceae.), Kanchanakshiri, Pitadugdhaa, Katuparni.
Folk Hiravi (Kashmir). Titan (Himachal Pradesh).
Action Root—purgative. Latex— used in eruptions and other skin diseases.
254 Euphorbia thymifolia Linn.
Dosage Latex—125—250 mg (CCRAS.)
Euphorbia thymifolia Linn.
Family Euphorbiaceae.
Habitat Smaller var., equated with E. thymfolia, is found in tropical plains and low hills of India, ascending to 1,750 m. Bigger var., E. pilulfera/E. hirta Linn. is found in warmer parts of India from Punjab eastwards, and southwards to Kanyakumari.
