Euphorbia cactus Ehrenb ex Boiss. is a plant species reported from central Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsula, belonging to the family of Euphorbiaceae. The plant has ethnobotanical values and is well-known for its milky latex, which has been turned into medicine to treat various ailments.
1. Introduction
Euphorbia is the third largest genus of flowering plants in the Euphorbiaceae family, with almost 2000 species distributed in tropical and subtropical climate zones. The rich morphological variability and near-cosmopolitan distribution of
Euphorbia have caught attention worldwide since ancient times
[1].
Euphorbia species are readily distinguishable by their specialized inflorescences and milky latex
[1][2][3]. The plants of this genus are commonly used for ornamental and household purposes
[4]. The genus is well known for the chemical diversity of its isoprenoid components
[5]. Some plants of this genus are of great importance, and they have been used as traditional folk medicine to treat skin disease, venomous bites, abdominal pain, abdominal distention, trichiasis, as wart removers, and to treat paralysis
[6].
Chemically, diterpenoids with various core frameworks such as jatrophanes, ingenanes, lathyranes, myrsinols, and tiglianes are the main components found in
Euphorbia. Other reported chemical constituents were sesquiterpenoids, cerebrosides, flavonoids, phloracetophenones, steroids, and glycerols
[5]. Various pharmacological properties have been reported for the genus
Euphorbia including antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic effects
[7][8]. The extract of latex of these plants has shown co-carcinogenic activity due to the presence of diterpene esters (tigliane and ingenane), and it has been banned from commercial uses
[9][10]. However, many secondary metabolites found in the latex extract have anticarcinogenic activities
[11][12].
Euphorbia cactus Ehrenb ex Boiss. (Family; Euphorbiaceae) is a perennial succulent leafless spiny shrub with 3–4 angled dark green branches mottled with radiating yellow streaks. It is widely distributed in central Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsula and reaches up to 3 m high. Fruit capsules are dull red 3-angular with 8–9 × 15–16 mm in size
[13]. The extract of
E. cactus latex showed antileishmanial activity
[14], whereas the crude methanolic extract of the whole plant has been reported to exhibit antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities
[15]. Considering the pharmacological activity of
E. cactus extracts, different parts of the plants need further investigation.
2. Preliminary Phytochemical Screening
The phytochemical study of ECME revealed a broad diversity of phytochemicals. The major phytochemical constituents included phenols, diterpenes, flavonoids, sesquiterpenoids, terpenoids, anthocyanins, tannins, steroids, anthraquinones, carbohydrates, cerebrosides, phloracetophenones, glycerols, and alkaloids were present in the methanol extract (
Table 1).
Table 1.
Qualitative screening of phytoconstituents present in the methanolic extract of aerial parts of
E. cactus
(ECME).
Phytochemicals |
ECME |
Inhibition | (%) |
Concentration (µg mL | −1 | ) |
Inhibition (%) |
Phenols |
+++ |
ECME |
200 |
Flavonoids |
++ |
89.75 ± 0.35 |
3000 |
36.12 ± 0.45 |
Diterpenes |
+++ |
Compound 1 |
200 |
52.34 ± 0.26 |
3000 |
Sesquiterpenoids |
++ |
41.23 ± 0.26 |
Compound 2 |
200 |
49.12 ± 0.34 |
3000 |
53.14 ± 0.22 |
Compound 3 |
200 |
69.35 ± 0.24 |
3000 |
56.24 ± 0.36 |
Terpenoids |
++ |
Compound 4 |
200 |
Anthocyanins |
++ |
62.21 ± 0.14 |
Tannins |
++ |
3000 |
Steroids |
++ |
Cerebrosides |
+ |
Anthraquinones |
++ |
Phloracetophenones |
+ |
Glycerols |
+ |
Alkaloids |
+ |
Carbohydrates |
++ |
Saponins |
- |