Action Latex—purgative, diuretic, antiasthmatic, expectorant, rubefacient. Used in ascites, polyuria,
anasarca, chlorosis, tympanitis; externally on warts, cutaneous
eruptions, scabies, unhealthy ulcers.
A succus compounded ofequal parts of the juice and simple syrup is said to be used for giving relief in asthma.
The triterpenoids, euphol, 24-meth- ylenecycloartenol, euphorbol hexacosonate, glut-S (10)-en-i-one, glut-5- en-3 beta-yet-acetate, taraxerol, friedelan-3 alpha-ol and —3 beta-ol have been reported from the plant.
Euphorbia nivulia Buch.-Ham. Family Euphorbiaceae.
Habitat Northern and central India, often planted in dry areas.
Ayurvedic Snuhi (substitute), Patra-Snuhi.
Siddha/Tamil Kalli, Naga-kalli.
Action Latex—used for treating jaundice, dropsy, enlargement of liver and spleen; colic; syphilis, leprosy; applied to haemorrhoids. Coagulated latex is used for
bronchitis. Leaf—juice is used as a purgative. Warmed in mustard oil, applied in cold and headache.
The latex gave cycloart-25-en-3 beta-ol, and cyclolaudenol; stem contained cyclolaudenol and sitosterol; leaves gave sitosterol. (None of these triterpenes have been reported from E. nerifolia.) These triterpenes exhibited antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli.
Euphorbia thomsoniana Boiss. 253
Euphorbia pilosa Linn.
Family Euphorbiaceae.
Habitat Western Himalayas from Garhwal, westwards to Kashmir.
Ayurvedic Saatala, Saptalaa. (Substitute).
Action Purgative, emetic. Root— used in fistulous sores.
Prostratin, isolated from the roots of var. corn igeria Hook. f., was found to be pro-inflammatory.
Euphorbia resinifera Berg.
Family Euphorbiaceae.
Habitat Native to Morocco.
English Euphorbium.
Unani Farfiyuun, Afarbiyuun.
Action A drastic purgative,
irritant, vesicant and toxic, pro- inflammatory. Internal use of the drug has been abandoned.
