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Family Euphorbiaceae
Luhang-dalaga
Euphorbia tithymaloides Linn.
JEW BUSH
Hong que shan hu

Scientific names Common names
Crepidaria carinata (Donn) Haw. Luha (Tag.)
Crepidaria myrtifolia (L.) Haw. Luhang-dalaga (Tag.)
Crepidaria subcarinata Haw. Bird cactus (Engl.)
Euphorbia carinata Donn Christmas candle (Engl.)
Euphorbia tithymaloides L. Devil's backbone (Engl.)
Pedilanthus camporum Standl. & Steyerm. Jew bush (Engl.)
Pedilanthus canaliculatus (Lodd.) Sweet Redbird cactus (Engl.)
Pedilanthus carinaturs (Donn) Spreng. Redbird flower (Engl.)
Pedilanthus deamii Millsp. Slipper plant (Engl.)
Pedilanthus fendleri Boiss. Slipper spurge (Engl.)
Pedilanthus gritensis Zahlbr. Zigzag plant (Engl.)
Pedilanthus houlletii Baill.  
Pedilanthus ierensis Britton  
Pedilanthus myrtifolius (L.) Link  
Pedilanthus petraeus Brandegee  
Pedilanthus pringlei Rob.  
Pedilanthus subcarinatus (Haw.) Sweet  
Pedilanthus tithymaloides (L.) Poit.  
Tithymalus deamii (Millsp.) Croizat  
Tithymalus ierensis (Britton) Croizat  
Tithymalus myrtifolius (L.) Mill.  
Tithymalus petraeus (Brandegee) Croizat  
Tithymalus pringlei (Rob.) Croizat  
Tithymalus tithymaloides (L.) Croizat  
Tithymalus villicus Croizat  
Pedilanthus tithymaloides (L.) Poit. is a synonym of Euphorbia tithymaloides L. The Plant List
Euphorbia tithymaloides L. is an accepted name. The Plant List

Other vernacular names
CHINESE: Tuo xie hua, Yang shan hu, Niu qu cao, Yu dai gen, Hong que shan hu.
INDIA: Vilaayati-sher, Naagaphani, Naagadaman.
INDONESIAN: Penawar lipan, Penawar lilin, Phon sig-sag.
MALAYSIAN: Lelipan.

Gen info
The name derives from the Greek words pedilon, meaning "slipper," and ant-hos, meaning "flower."

Botany
Luha is a half-woody, succulent, and erect shrub growing to a height of 1.5 meters or less, with fleshy and stout branches which produce a milky latex. Leaves are green or variegated, fleshy, smooth, alternate, deciduous, ovate or oblong, 3.5 to 7.5 centimeters long, 2.5 to 5 centimeters wide, pointed at both ends. Flowers are reddish, clustered on leafless stems, terminal or axillary. Capsules are 9 millimeters broad.

Distribution
- Recently introduced species.
- Ornamental cultivation, especially as a hedge plant.
- Native of the West Indies.

Properties
• Considered emetic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiseptic, antihemorrhagic, antiviral, antitumoral and abortive.
• Milky juice is caustic, irritant, and emetic.


Constituents
• A study assessing its scavenging properties yielded the antioxidant principles: a kaempferol, quercitrin, isoquercitrin and scopoletin; phenolics and flavonoids - gallic acid and rutin.
• A new proteolytic enzyme, pedilanthain, with anti-inflammatory activity was isolated from the latex.
• Caustic, milky juice of the roots, stems and leaves contains euphorbol and other diterpene esters which are irritants and cocarcinogens. A lectin and proteolytic enzymes are experimentally indicated.

• Extracts of leaves yielded five known compounds, viz. epifriedelanyl acetate (1), friedelanol (2), β-sitosterol (3), ursolic acid (4), and luteolin (5), along with the new compound 1,2-tetradecanediol 1-(hydrogen sulfate) sodium salt (6). (see study below) (22)
• Study of leaves yielded a total phenolic content of 10.98 ± 0.08 mg TAE/g DW, flavonoid content of 11.49 ± 0.15 µg QE/g DW, and total antioxidant content of 6,64 ± 0.05 mg TAE/g DSW. (see study below) (30)

Parts utilized
Leaves, roots, latex.

Uses
Edibility
- In the southeastern foothills of Bhutan, the delicate bark is roasted and eaten in small doses as appetizer. (31)
Folkloric
- No reported folkloric medicinal use in the Philippines.
- In other folk systems, leaf tea used for laryngitis, mouth ulcers, venereal disease, asthma, cough.
- Root tea has been used as abortifacient and as purgative substitute for ipecacuanha.
- Latex has been used to treat cancer and umbilical hernia; also, dripped into painful dental caries and aching ears. (See eye toxicity: Caution)
- Used for treating warts, calluses and
ringworm.
- The centipede leg-like leaf arrangement has given it folkloric application for treatment of centipede and scorpion stings
.
- In Indian medicine, leaves used to heal wounds, burns, and mouth ulcers.
- Decoction of leaves used for abdominal afflictions. Latex used for treatment of venereal diseases and to relieve sprain. (26)
- In the Nawarangpur district of Odisha, India, leaf paste heated in castor oil is applied on sprains to reduce swelling and pain. (29)

Studies
Anti-inflammatory / Antioxidant / Tincture:
Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of a medicinal tincture from Pedilanthus tithymaloides: A Cuban study showed inhibition of carrageenan-induced rat paw edema while scavenging assays showed it to be effective against all assayed ROS and RNS. Study results support its traditional use as an anti-inflammatory medicine. (1)
Antimalarial / Anti-tuberculosis:
Study yielded six new poly-O-acylated jatrophane diterpenes along with five known compounds from the white latex of P tithymaloides. Antimalarial and antituberculous poly-O-acylated jatrophane diterpenoids from Pedilanthus tithymaloides: Compounds 1, 3, 4 and 5 showed antiplasmodial activity and antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
(3)
Antifungal:
Antimycotic Screening of 58 Malaysian Plants against Plant Pathogens: Of 58 Malaysian plants screened, PT was one of 34 plants that showed selective antifungal activity.
(5)
Antibacterial / Antifungal: Study investigated the antifungal and antibacterial properties of an ethanolic extract of leaves of P. tithymaloides and some of its constituents.
Antioxidants:
Study yielded principles identified as kaempferol 3-O-B-D-glucopyranoside-6"-(3-hydroxy-3-methylglutarate), quercitin, isoquercitrin and scopoletin.
Mosquito Control:
Ethanolic extract study of P tithymaloides yielded flavonoids, steroids and phenols and showed that phytochemicals from spurge exhibit significant biological activity against mosquitoes and presents a potential as a natural product-based biocide for disease vector control. (9)
Hemagglutination / Lectin / Diabetes: The usefulness of a galactose specific lectin from P. tithymaloides was examined to study the hemagglutination pattern in patients with diabetes mellitus. Significantly low titer was seen in patients with insulin dependent diabetes and no significant change in non-insulin dependent diabetics. The low titer was shown to occur along with increased duration of the diabetic condition.
(8)
Anti-inflammatory / Latex / Pedilanthain: Study isolated pedilanthin, a new protease, from the latex of P. tithymaloides, and was subjected to anti-inflammatory screening. (11)
Petrocrop Potential: Studies showed P. tithymaloides, PT var. cuculatus and PT var variegatus are promising varieties for development of petro-crops, with potential for good biomass and hydrocarbon yields. (12)
Larvicidal / Dengue Vector / Aedes aegypti: Study evaluated a crude ethanol leaf extract for larvicidal activity against dengue vector Aedes aegypti. Results showed moderate larvicidal property with LC50 of 0.32 and 0.12 percent after 24 and 48 hours. (16)
Anti-Inflammatory / Leaves: Study evaluated various extracts of leaves for anti-inflammatory activity in male albino rats using a carrageenan-induced paw edema model. A methanol extract showed significantly more anti-inflammatory activity in a dose-dependent manner. (17)
Renewable Hydrocarbon Source: Study evaluated P. tithymaloides for a renewable and potential source of hydrocarbons. Extractions yielded a white amorphous mixture of hydrocarbons comparable with gasoline. (18)
Wound Healing / Leaves: Study evaluated P. tithymaloides leaves for wound healing property. Fractionation yielded 2-(3,4-dihydroxy-phenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-chromen-4-one and 1, 2-tetradecanediol, 1-(hydrogen sulfate), sodium salt. An ointment formulation showed significant wound healing activity on excision, incision and dead space wound models in rats. (19)
Anthelmintic / Leaves: Study evaluated the in vitro anthelmintic activity of an ethanolic leaf extract of Euphorbia tithymaloides against adult earthworm Pheretima posthuma. Albendazole was used as standard drug. Results showed remarkable anthelmintic activity at 45 mg mL-1. (21)
Anti-Inflammatory / Analgesic / Antipyretic / Leaves: Study evaluated the anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, and antipyretic activity of chloroform and methanol leaf extracts in animal models. Results showed significant anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan-induced paw edema, vascular permeability, and cotton pellet granuloma models; antinociceptive activity with significant increase in hot-plate reaction time and decreased writhing response; and significant antipyretic activity in a yeast-induced pyrexia model. (see constituents above) (22)
Antibacterial: Study evaluated the antibacterial activity of P. tithymaloides against various gram positive and gram negative bacteria. n-Butanol extracts showed significant antibacterial activity against B. subtilis, P. mirabilis, S. pyogenes, Aermonas, K. pneumonia, S. aureus, E. coli, K. pneumonia and P. aeruginosa. (23)
• Antidiabetic / Anti-Inflammatory: Study evaluated the potential anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic activities of E. tithymaloides ethanol extract using RAW 264.7 murine macrophages cells and 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The ETE decreased NO production in macrophages RAW 264.7 cell line and reduced protein expression of COX-2, IL-6, iNOS, tumor necrosis factor a and nuclear factor kB in a dose dependent manner. The ETE stimulated 2-NBDG uptake through activation of the insulin pathway through insulin sensitizing PPARy agonists in a dose-dependent manner. Results showed the ETE has immunomodulatory activity and antidiabetic effects. (24)
• Antibacterial / Flowers69: In a study for antibacterial activity, the flowers of P. tithymaloides inhibited the growth of P. vulgaris and S. aureus. Flavonoids and steroids and triterpenoid contents were highest in the flowers of T. tithymaloides at 41.20% and 46.74%. The MIC values of flower extracts showed inhibitory activity against P. vulgaris and S. aureus. DMSO extracts of fresh flowers inhibited the growth of P. vulgaris alone, while dry flowers inhibited growth of both P. vulgaris and S. aureus, with highest ZOI of 16 mm against S. aureus. (26)
• Anti-Inflammatory: Study evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of E. tithymaloides ethanol extract in RAW264.7 macrophages. LPS was used to activate the cells. Results showed increasing extract concentration decreased mRNA expression of IL-6, iNOS, COX-2, TNF-a. IFN-y and MF-kB. as well as protein expression. Results support the use of E. tithymaloides ethanol extract as anti-inflammatory medicine. (27)
• Wound Healing Stimulation: Study evaluated the potential of an ethanolic extract of P. tithymaloides to stimulate excision wound healing in female mice. Parameters of wound healing were significantly (p<0.05) higher compared to the control group. Histopathological exam showed increased fibroblast, collagen fiber, and blood vessel formation. Wounds treated by 0.5% crude extract healed faster compared to 1.5% crude extract treatment. Results suggest the latter was too concentrated and caused irritation and inflammation, leading to delayed healing. (28)
• Antioxidant / Free Radical Scavenging / Leaves: Study evaluated a methanolic extract of leaves of P. tithymaloides for total phenol, total flavonoids, total antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity. Results showed significant free radical scavenging activity as assessed by FTC., TBA, FRAP. and ABTS assays. Structural elucidation by GC-MS analysis yielded five different compounds, including three esters, an amine and an alkaloid. (see constituents above) (30)
• Inhibition of Herpes Simplex Virus Infection by Modulation of NF-kB Signaling / Leaves: Study evaluated the in vitro antiviral activity of a methanolic extract of P. tithymaloides leaves and isolated compounds against Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). Bioactivity-guided assay showed the extract and one of its constituents, luteolin, exhibited potent antiviral activity against wild type and clinical isolates of HSV-2. Results indicate that both PT leaf extract and luteolin modulate the NF-kB signaling pathway, resulting in the inhibition of HSV-2 replication. (32)

Caution / Toxicity
Toxicity:
Ingested, a few drops of the juice produce irritation of the mouth and throat, vomiting and diarrhea. Externally, the juice produces irritation, inflammation and skin blistering. In the eye, it produces intense and painful irritation, followed by keratoconjuctivitis and temporary reduction of visual acuity. The seeds cause violent persistent vomiting and drastic diarrhea. In livestock, skin lesions are prone to secondary infections. (13)
• Euphorbol and other toxic components: The roots, stems, and leaves contain euphorbol (a complex terpene) and other diterpene esters which are known irritants and carcinogens. Leaves and stems also contain beta-sitosterol, cycloartenone, octalosanol and oxime, all known to have both medicinal and toxic properties. (25)
Case Report / Mechanism of Injury: A case of eye injury consisted of severe conjunctivitis with chemosis and corneal erosion secondary to contact with the sap. Probably mechanism was the combined effect of the plant sap, possible proteolytic activity, and mechanical trauma.
Treatment / Prevention: As a potential hazard to eyes, it should not be planted in places easily accessible to children, like gardens and playgrounds. Avoid contact with the sap. Wear goggles when cutting the plant. Skin contact should immediately be washed with soap and water. Topical steroids reduced pain and inflammation. Fluid replacement and hydration may be needed for acute gastrointestinal manifestations.


Availability
Wildcrafted.

Updated August 2019 / March 2016

Photos © Godofredo Stuart / StuartXchange
OTHER IMAGE SOURCE: Flower / Euphorbia tithymaloides specimen in the Buffalo and Erie Country Botanical Gardens, Buffalo, New York, USA./ PD / Daderot / 18 Jan 2010 / Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Additional Sources and Suggested Readings
(1)
Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of a medicinal tincture from Pedilanthus tithymaloides / Pedro Abreu et al / Life Sciences
, 2006; 78: pp 1578-1585
(2)
Isolation and identification of antioxidants from Pedilanthus tithymaloides / Pedro Abreu et al / Journal of Natural Medic • Volume 62, Number 1 / January, 2008 / DOI 10.1007/s11418-007-0186-z
(3)
Antimalarial and antituberculous poly-O-acylated jatrophane diterpenoids from Pedilanthus tithymaloides / Wantana Mongkolvisut and Somyote Sutthivaiyakit / J. Nat. Prod., 2007, 70 (9), pp 1434–1438 / DOI: 10.1021/np070174v
(5)
Antimycotic Screening of 58 Malaysian Plants against Plant Pathogens

(6)
Antimicrobial and phytochemical studies on Pedilanthus tithymaloides / Genbtil Jose Vidotti et al / Fitoterapia • Volume 77, Issue 1, January 2006, Pages 43-46/ doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2005.08.020
(7)
Pedilanthus tithymaloides (Euphorbiaceae) leaf extract phytochemicals: Toxicity to the filariasis vector, Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae). / Siva Kamalakannan, Pari Madhiyazhagan, Abirami Dhandapani, Kadarkarai Murugan, and Donald Barnard. Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases. October 2010, 10(8): 817-820. doi:10.1089/vbz.2009.0081.
(8)
Hemagglutination pattern of galactose specific lectin from Pedilanthus tithymaloides in diabetes mellitus / Nagda KK, Deshmukh B / Indian J Exp Biol. 1998; 36(4):426-428 /
(9)
Larvicidal activity of some Euphorbiaceae plant extracts against Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) / A. Abdul Rahuman et al / Parasitology Research • Volume 102, Number 5 / April, 2008 / DOI 10.1007/s00436-007-0839-6

(10)
Poisonous plants and animals of Florida and the Caribbean / David W. Nellis
(11)
Oral anti-inflammatory activity of pedilanthain : a new proteolytic enzyme from pedilanthus tithymaloides poit. / Dhar SN; Ray SM; Roy A; Dutta SK /I ndian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sept-Oct 1988; 50(5): pp 281-3
(12)
Potential of Pedilanthus tithymaloides as a petro-crop / Govind S Srivastava, Virendra K Bhatia et al / Fuel,
Volume 64, Issue 5, May 1985, Pages 720-721 / doi:10.1016/0016-2361(85)90064-X
(13)
Eye Injury from Plant Sap of Pedilanthus Tithymaloides Poit / Case Report / T K Lim, Engkik Soepadmo / Singapore Medical Journal, Vol 25, No 6, Dec 1984
(14)
Pedilanthus tithymaloides (L.) Poit. (accepted name) / Chinese names / Catalogue of Life, China
(15)
Pedilanthus tithymaloides / Vernacular names / GLOBinMED
(16)
LARVICIDAL ACTIVITY OF PEDILANTHUS TITHYMALOIDES (L.) POIT (EUPHORBIACEAE) LEAF AGAINST THE DENGUE VECTOR AEDES AEGYPTI (L.) (DIPTERA: CULICIDAE) / R. Raveen1, P. Dhayanidhi, K. Dhinamala, S. Arivoli and Samuel Tennyson*
/ International Journal of Environmental Biology 2012; 2(2): 36-40
(17)
EVALUATION OF ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF PEDILANTHUS TITHYMALOIDES (L.) POIT. LEAVES IN MALE ALBINO RATS / SOUMITRA ADHIKARY*, PALLAB KANTI HALDAR, CHANDI CHARAN KANDAR, PADMAKANA MALAKAR AND ARUP RATAN DEB /Int J Pharm Bio Sci 2013 July; 4(3): (P) 156 - 160 /
(18)
Potential use of Pedilanthus tithymaloides Poit. as a renewable resource of plant hydrocarbons
/ Srilekha De, Archana Bag, and Subhendu Mukherji / Bot. Bull. Acad. Sin. (1997) 38: 105-108
(19)
Evaluation of the wound healing activity of methanol extract of Pedilanthus tithymaloides (L.) Poit leaf and its isolated active constituents in topical formulation. / Ghosh S, Samanta A, Mandal NB, Bannerjee S, Chattopadhyay D. / J Ethnopharmacol. 2012 Aug 1;142(3):714-22. / doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2012.05.048. Epub 2012 Jun 7.
(20)
Euphorbia tithymaloides L. / Synonyms / The Plant List
(21)
Phytochemical Screening and Evaluation of Anthelmintic Activity of Euphorbia tithymaloidus. / Tarun Kumar, Anshita Gupta, Bina Gidwani and Chanchal Deep Kaur / International Journal of Biological Chemistry, 9: 295-301 (2015) / DOI: 10.3923/ijbc.2015.295.301
(22)
Bioactivity guided isolation of antiinflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic constituents from the leaves of Pedilanthus tithymaloides (L.) / Soma Ghosh, Debprasad Chattopadhyay, Anurup Mandal, Sudipta Kaity, Amalesh Samanta / Medicinal Chemistry Research, September 2013, Volume 22, Issue 9, pp 4347-4359
(23)
An investigation of Antibacterial activity of Pedilanthus tithymaloides on Different Strains of Bacteria / Yogesh Chaudhari*, Manisha Badhe, Dr. E. P. Kumar, Hardik Mody, Rashmi Kokardekar / Int. J. Pharm. Phytopharmacol.Res. 2012; 1(6):pp 385-386
(24)
In vitro evaluation of anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic potential effects of Euphorbia tithymaloides ethanol extract / Theresia Galuh Wandita et al / Indonesian J. Pharm., 2018; 29(1): pp 1-9 /
DOI: 10.14499/indonesianjpharm29iss1pp1
(25)
Phytochemical Screening and Elemental Analysis of Euphorbia tithymaloides / Uthman Saheed et al /
(26)
STUDY OF ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY AND PHYTOCHEMICAL EVALUATION OF JATROPHA GOSSYPIFOLIA, SAPIUM SEBIFERUM, KIRGANELIA RETICULATA, PHYLLANTHUS FRATERNUS AND PEDILANTHUS TITHYMALOIDES / U C Bapat and D R Mhapsekar / Internationa Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research
(27)
Anti-inflammatory activity of Euphorbia tithymaliodes L. ethanol extract in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages / Seong Gu Hwang / 12th World Pharma Congress, Oct 16-18, 2017 Budapest, JHungary
(28)
The effect of Pedilanthus tithymaloides (L.) Poit crude extract on wound healing stimulation in mice / Sriwiroch W, Chungsamarnyart N et al / Kasetsart Journal, Natural Sciences, 2010; 44(6): pp.1121-1127
(29)
Traditional uses of medicinal plants by native people in Nawarangpur district, Odisha, India / N. K. Dhal, S. S. Panda* and S. D. Muduli / Asian Journal of Plant Science and Research, 2015; 5(2): pp 27-33
(30)
ANTIOXIDANT, FREE RADICAL SCAVENGING ACTIVITY AND GC-MS STUDIES ON PEDILANTHUS TITHYMALOIDES (L.) POIT / N. K. UDAYA PRAKASH, M. RANJITHKUMAR, N. SRIPRIYA, R. PUJITHA LAKSHMI, S. DEEPA, S. BHUVANESWARI / Int J Pharm Pharm Sci., Vol 6, Issue 11: pp 284-287
(31)
Ethnobotanical Study of South Eastern Foothills of Bhutan / Bimal Kumar Chetri / Asian Plant Research Journal, 2019; 2(1): pp 1-20 / DOI: 10.9734/APRJ/2019/v2i126278
(32)
Pedilanthus tithymaloides Inhibits HSV Infection by Modulating NF-κB Signaling / Durbadal Ojha, Rashmi Das, Parveen Sobia, Vedprakash Dwivedi, Soma Ghosh, Amalesh Samanta, Debprassad Chattopadhyay / PLOS | ONE / https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0139338

It is not uncommon for links on studies/sources to change. Copying and pasting the information on the search window or using the DOI (if available) will often redirect to the new link page. (Citing and Using a (DOI) Digital Object Identifier)

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