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A REVIEW ON MEDICINAL USES OF DIFFERENT PLANTS OF EUPHORBIACEAE FAMILY

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Md. Shahidul Islam at University of Science and Technology Chittagong
Md. Shahidul Islam
Hasnat Ara
Hasnat Ara
Hasnat Ara
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Kazi Ishtiaq Ahmad at East West University
Kazi Ishtiaq Ahmad
Md. Mayin Uddin
Md. Mayin Uddin
Md. Mayin Uddin
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Abstract and Figures

Euphorbiaceae is an important family which contains numerous medicinal plants. Today estimate that most of the people in developing countries still relays on traditional medicine based largely on species of plants in human being and animals for their primary healthcare. The family Euphorbiaceae is one of the largest family of flowering plants comprising of plants with over 300 genera and 8,000 species. Acalyphaindica L, Euphorbia hirta L, Euphorbia thymifolia L, Croton bonplandianumbaill, Jatropha gossypifolia L, Ricinus communis L are important plants of this family because these plants have different compounds like alkaloids, flavinoids, steroids, saponin, phenolic compounds, fatty acid, esters, minerals etc that have showed different activitiesin humen being and animal.This study provides important data for identification of different plants in Euphorbiaceae family. Species of Euphorbiaceae are extensively used as remedies against several diseases and complaints such as cancer, diabetes, diarrhoea, heart diseases, hemorrhages, hepatitis, jaundice, malaria, ophthalmic diseases, rheumatism and scabies etc.
Acalypha indica L. Parts utilized Leaves, stem, flowers, rootsand seeds Medicinal uses  Plants are emetic, expectorant, laxative and diuretic; useful in bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma and pulmonary tuberculosis. Leaves are laxative and antiparasitic; ground with common salt or quicklime or lime juice applied externally in scabies 8.  Leaf paste with lime juice prescribed for ringworm. Leaf juice is emetic for children.
Acalypha indica L. Parts utilized Leaves, stem, flowers, rootsand seeds Medicinal uses  Plants are emetic, expectorant, laxative and diuretic; useful in bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma and pulmonary tuberculosis. Leaves are laxative and antiparasitic; ground with common salt or quicklime or lime juice applied externally in scabies 8.  Leaf paste with lime juice prescribed for ringworm. Leaf juice is emetic for children.
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Euphorbia hirta L. Parts utilized Leaves, stem and rootsand flower Medicinal uses  The plant is astringent and haemostatic; as poultice applied to abscesses, inflamed glands, ulcers, oedema and phlegmon and also used in affections of childhood, in worms, bowel complaints and cough 9.  The juice is considered tonic, narcotic, antiasthmatic and febrifuge; effective against dysentery, diarrhoea and colic; especially in amoebiasis. Decoction is useful in asthma and chronic bronchial affections.  The extract of this plant has sedative effect on the mucous membrane of the respiratory and genitourinary tract and on cardiovascular system.  The plant has as an analgesic to treat severe headache, toothache, rheumatism, colic, and pains during pregnancy. EUPHORBIA THYMIFOLIA L.  Binomial Name : Euphorbia thymifolia L.  Local Name: Dudhiya.  Family: Euphorbiaceae. Habit: Herb. Habitat: Open sunny places. Flower color: Reddish-purple. Flowering season: April-August.
Euphorbia hirta L. Parts utilized Leaves, stem and rootsand flower Medicinal uses  The plant is astringent and haemostatic; as poultice applied to abscesses, inflamed glands, ulcers, oedema and phlegmon and also used in affections of childhood, in worms, bowel complaints and cough 9.  The juice is considered tonic, narcotic, antiasthmatic and febrifuge; effective against dysentery, diarrhoea and colic; especially in amoebiasis. Decoction is useful in asthma and chronic bronchial affections.  The extract of this plant has sedative effect on the mucous membrane of the respiratory and genitourinary tract and on cardiovascular system.  The plant has as an analgesic to treat severe headache, toothache, rheumatism, colic, and pains during pregnancy. EUPHORBIA THYMIFOLIA L.  Binomial Name : Euphorbia thymifolia L.  Local Name: Dudhiya.  Family: Euphorbiaceae. Habit: Herb. Habitat: Open sunny places. Flower color: Reddish-purple. Flowering season: April-August.
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Croton bonplandianumbaill Habit: herb. Habitat: Dry and sandy exposed areas. Flower color: White. Flowering season: April-September Parts utilized: Leaves, fruits and flowers. Medicinal uses  The plant is used as antiseptic.  The leaves, stems and seeds contain alkaloid.
Croton bonplandianumbaill Habit: herb. Habitat: Dry and sandy exposed areas. Flower color: White. Flowering season: April-September Parts utilized: Leaves, fruits and flowers. Medicinal uses  The plant is used as antiseptic.  The leaves, stems and seeds contain alkaloid.
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Jatropha gossypifolia L. Parts utilized Leaves, flowers and root Medicinal uses  The leaves are used on boils and carbuncles, eczema and itches 12.  The Seeds cause insanity and act as an emetic.  It is also grown as an ornamental plant. The leaves and the seeds are used as purgative.  The stem-juice in nostrils to cure headache  The leaves and bark have the same purgative effect.  The oil is applied to treat rheumatic conditions and a variety of skin infections, although its use on the skin may also cause an irritative rash.  The sap has a widespread reputation for healing wounds, as a haemostatic and for curing  Skin problems; it is applied externally to treat infected wounds, ulcers, cuts, abrasions, ringworm, eczema, dermatomycosis, scabies and venereal diseases. RICINUS COMMUNIS L.  Botanical Name : R. comanis L.  Binomial Name: Ricinus communis L.  Local Name : Bherenda.  Family: Euphorbiaceae. Habit: Small tree. Habitat: Dry and sandy expose areas. Flower color: Red. Flowering season: April-September. Parts Utilized: Whole plants, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds.
Jatropha gossypifolia L. Parts utilized Leaves, flowers and root Medicinal uses  The leaves are used on boils and carbuncles, eczema and itches 12.  The Seeds cause insanity and act as an emetic.  It is also grown as an ornamental plant. The leaves and the seeds are used as purgative.  The stem-juice in nostrils to cure headache  The leaves and bark have the same purgative effect.  The oil is applied to treat rheumatic conditions and a variety of skin infections, although its use on the skin may also cause an irritative rash.  The sap has a widespread reputation for healing wounds, as a haemostatic and for curing  Skin problems; it is applied externally to treat infected wounds, ulcers, cuts, abrasions, ringworm, eczema, dermatomycosis, scabies and venereal diseases. RICINUS COMMUNIS L.  Botanical Name : R. comanis L.  Binomial Name: Ricinus communis L.  Local Name : Bherenda.  Family: Euphorbiaceae. Habit: Small tree. Habitat: Dry and sandy expose areas. Flower color: Red. Flowering season: April-September. Parts Utilized: Whole plants, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds.
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A REVIEW ON MEDICINAL USES OF DIFFERENT PLANTS OF EUPHORBIACEAE FAMI
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Euphorbia hirta L. (Euphorbiaceae) has been used as a folk remedy in Southeast Asia for the treatment of various ailments. The current study evaluates the cytotoxicity, cell-cycle arrest, and apoptotic induction by E. hirta in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Cytotoxic activity of methanol extract of whole part of E. hirta was determined by the MTT assay at various concentrations ranging from 1.96 to 250.00 µg/mL in MCF-7 cells. Cell morphology was assessed by light and fluorescence microscopy. Apoptosis and cell-cycle distribution were determined by annexin V staining and flow cytometry. DNA fragmentation, caspase activity, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) assays were performed using the commercially available kits. To identify the cytotoxic fraction, E. hirta extract was subjected to bioassay-guided fractionation. Euphorbia hirta exhibited significant inhibition of the survival of MCF-7 cells and the half inhibitory concentration (IC50) values was 25.26 µg/mL at 24 h. Microscopic studies showed that E. hirta-treated cells exhibited marked morphological features characteristic of apoptosis. Euphorbia hirta extract also had an ignorable influence on the LDH leakage and generating intracellular ROS. The flow cytometry study confirmed that E. hirta extract induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. Euphorbia hirta also resulted in DNA fragmentation in MCF-7 cells. Moreover, E. hirta treatment resulted in the accumulation of cells at the S and G2/M phases as well as apoptosis. The caspase activity study revealed that E. hirta extract induced apoptosis through the caspase-3-independent pathway by the activation of caspase-2, 6, 8, and 9. Euphorbia hirta hexane fraction, namely HFsub4 fraction, demonstrated highest activity among all the fractions tested with an IC50 value of 10.01 µg/mL at 24 h. This study revealed that E. hirta induced apoptotic cell death and suggests that E. hirta could be used as an apoptosis-inducing anticancer agent for breast cancer treatment with further detailed studies.
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In Vitro Anti-inflammatory Activity of Fractionated Euphorbia hirta Aqueous Extract on Rabbit Synovial Fibroblasts
Article
  • Feb 2015
Background: Euphorbia hirta has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory activity. This study was carried out to determine the prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) inhibition activity of the fractions of the E. hirta aqueous extract on rabbit synovial fibroblast cells (HIG-82). Methods: E. hirta aqueous extract was fractionated into five fractions (fractions A, B, C, D, and E) by reversed phase flash chromatography. Rabbit synovial fibroblast cells (HIG-82) were activated with phorbol myristate acetate and treated with the fractions. The amount of PGE 2 released into the medium was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Fraction A (0.1, 1, and 10 μg/ml) had the greatest PGE 2 inhibitory effect among the five fractions, and showed a greater extent of PGE 2 inhibition compared to the aqueous extract. In contrast, Fraction E had the greatest stimulatory effect on PGE 2 release. Conclusions: Fraction A of the aqueous extract inhibited the production of PGE 2 from activated HIG-82 cells to a greater extent than the crude aqueous extract. Bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory activity are likely to be concentrated in Fraction A of E. hirta aqueous extract.
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