Jatropha multifida Linn.
Family : Euphorbiaceae.
Habitat : Native to South America.
Naturalized in various parts of
India.
English : Coral plant, Physic Nut.
Ayurvedic : Brihat-Danti (bigger
var. of Danti, also equated with
Baliospermum montanum).
Folk : Danti (var.).
Action : Seeds—purgative, emetic.
Fruits—poisonous. Leaves—used
for scabies. Latex—applied to
wounds and ulcers.
The latex from the plant showed antibacterial
activity against Staphylococcus
aureus. It contains immunologically
active acylphloroglucinols, multifidol,
phloroglucinol and multifidol
beta-D-glucopyranoside. The latex also
contains an immunologically active,
cyclic decapeptide.
