Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
EUPHORBIA HIRTA
Botanical Name —
Euphorbia hirta
Linn. Syn. E. pilulifera
Synonyms —
Chamaesyce gemella
(Lag.) Small.,
Desmonema hirta
(L.) Raf.,
Ditritea hirta
(L.) Raf.,
Tithymalus pilulifer
( L.) Moench
Family —
Euphorbiaceae
Common Names —
Asthma herb, malomen, Australian asthma herb, malomay
African Names —
Hausa: nonan kurchiya; Igbo: udani; Yoruba: ege-ile, emi-ile; Efik: etinkeni-
ekpo; Bini: asen-uloko; Tivi: mbasombol mange; Bari: like babe
Description —
Euphorbia hirta
is a herb that grows to about 20-30 cm, with more or less erect
branches, spreading from a near-erect base and bearing yellowish hairs. The leaves are opposite and
in pairs, arising from somewhat swollen nodes. They measure about 4.5 cm long and 1.5 cm broad;
they are ovate to rhomboid, unequal sided at the base, and serrulate.
136
The flowers are stalked glo-
bose clusters. The fruits occur as single stalked capsules.
Habitat and Distribution —
Euphorbia hirta
is widespread and common throughout the
continent.
Ethnomedicinal Uses —
An aqueous decoction of the plant is used for the treatment of acute
enteritis and dysentery. The latex is instilled into the eye for the treatment of conjunctivitis. The plant
has a reputation as a remedy for bronchitis and asthma, and it is listed in the (British)
Martindale
Extra Pharmacopoeia
205
(pp. 599-560) for the treatment of coughs and asthma in the form of a liq-
uid extract or tincture. Other uses include those for increased lactation, as a tonic anthelmintic, for
treatment of wounds and tumors, and as an anticonvulsant, mild sedative, and antimicrobial agent.
The plant is slightly narcotic.
Constituents —
The latex contains I-inositol, pyrogallic, and catechuic tannins and an alka-
loid xanthorhamnine.
78
Taxerol, friedelin, β-sitosterol, myricyl alcohol, ellagic acid, and hentria-
contane have been isolated from the stem extracts.
561
A number of amino acids and ellagic gallic,
chlorogenic, and caffeic acids have been reported as occurring with the flavonoids kaempferol,
quercitol, and quercitrin in the plant.
561
Arthur indicated the presence of hydrogen cyanide and a
triterpenoid in the herb.
562
For the constituents and uses of the Asian species, please consult the
work of Perry.
226
Pharmacological Studies —
It has been shown that the plant contains two active principles,
one exerting a spasmodic or histamine-potentiating activity and the other an antispasmodic
prop er t y.
563
The antispasmodic principle was identified as shikimic acid and the contracting
principle as choline by EI Naggar and his colleagues; they also isolated iso-inositol, glucose,
and sucrose.
564
An alcoholic extract of the aerial parts of this herb, containing shikimic acid,
produced relaxation of the guinea pig ileum and was used in the treatment of asthma, hay fever,
bronchitis, and other respiratory conditions. The extract showed an antispasmodic effect on the
smooth muscles of mice and guinea pigs and was effective in clinical trials for the treatment of
amebic dysentery.
565
A single oral treatment appeared to be long lasting and produced remis-
sions in 83% of the cases treated for up to 6 months. The hypoglycemic activity of the plant and
its antiprotozoal effects have been reported.
566
The alcohol extract also showed activity against
leukemia virus in mice. A maximum dose of 1 g/kg p.o.has been recorded as tolerated by mice.
The drug appears to be well tolerated and was a proprietary product in both Europe and the
United States.
78
The processed extract was reported to be 20 times more active than the crude
extract when tested against
Entamoeba histolytica.
It does appear that the activity of
Euphorbia
is due to a wide range of compounds rather than a single isolate; it is therefore necessary to inten-
sify efforts at the purification of the extracts along the lines suggested by Ndir and Pousset.
567
Euphorbia
was previously accorded official status (B.P.C. 1954, Indian P.C., N.F. 1939) and was
withdrawn because of reports of toxicity.
