Phytochemical Properties and Pharmacological Applications of Euphorbia Species
Summary
The genus Euphorbia encompasses over 2 000 species distributed globally, many of which have been employed in traditional medicine owing to their rich phytochemical profiles. These plants are characterised by milky latex containing diverse secondary metabolites such as terpenes, diterpenoids, steroids and polyphenols. Collectively, these compounds confer a range of biological activities including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antiviral effects. Recent developments in extraction and analytical methodologies have enabled more precise characterisation of individual constituents and elucidation of their mechanisms of action. Euphorbia species have demonstrated promise in targeting tumour cell proliferation, modulating immune responses, inhibiting pathogen entry and alleviating symptoms of gastrointestinal and respiratory disorders. Advances in molecular docking and in vivo pharmacology have further supported the development of lead compounds with optimised potency and selectivity. Current research aims to bridge traditional knowledge and modern drug development by validating efficacy, assessing safety profiles and exploring synergistic combinations. The global significance of this work lies in the potential to uncover novel therapeutic agents for widespread conditions such as inflammation, infection and metabolic disease, while also addressing emerging challenges such as viral pandemics.
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Phytochemical Properties and Pharmacological Applications of Euphorbia Species publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in phytochemical properties and pharmacological applications of euphorbia species across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Terpenes: A class of lipophilic organic compounds constructed from isoprene units, frequently bioactive in antimicrobial and anticancer contexts.
Flavonoids: Polyphenolic secondary metabolites based on a flavone backbone, notable for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and vascular effects.
Glycosides: Molecules comprising a sugar moiety linked to an aglycone, which modulates solubility and bioavailability of active constituents.
References
- Bioactivity-guided isolation of potential antidiarrheal constituents from Euphorbia hirta L. and molecular docking evaluation. Frontiers in Veterinary Science (2024).
- Antianxiety and antidepressant effects of aqueous latex extract of Euphorbia resinifera. Bangladesh Journal of Pharmacology (2022).
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