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CLASSIFICATION

ORDER	: Malpighiales
FAMILY	: Euphorbiaceae
GENUS	: Euphorbia L.
SPECIES	: heterophylla L.
BOTANICAL NAME	: Euphorbia heterophylla L.
SYNONYMS	: Euphorbia prunifolia Jacq.
COMMON NAME	: Wild spurge.
TAMIL NAME	: paalperukki.
HINDI NAME	: ---

PLANT DESCRIPTION

HABIT :  A small, annual herb, glabrous.

LEAVES :  Alternate, floral leaves (bracts) opposite, green towards the apex, rose-coloured towards the base, very variable from ovate to linear, entire or sinuate-toothed.

INFLORESCENCE :  Cyathium

FLOWERS :  Flowers in terminal cymes.

FLOWERING AND FRUITING TIME :  September-March

MEDICINAL USES

Euphorbia heterophylla Linn (Euphorbiaceae) is a medicinal plant used in ethnomedicine for the treatment of constipation, bronchitis and asthma.

The purpose of the present study was to determine the antioxidant, anti-proliferative and apoptotic activities of the methanol extract of the plant.

Euphorbia heterophylla is widely used in traditional African medicine and elsewhere in tropical countries.

In Africa a decoction or infusion of the stems and fresh or dried leaves is taken as a purgative and laxative to treat stomach-ache and constipation, and to expel intestinal worms.

IMAGES

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